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qSnow Tires
Use snow tires on all four wheels
Don't go faster than 120 km/h (75 mph)
while driving with snow tires. Inflate
snow tires 30 kPa (0.3 kgf/cm
2, 4.3 psi)
more than recommended on the tire
pressure label (rear door on the driver's
side), but never more than the maximum
cold-tire pressure shown on the tires.
Your vehicle is originally equipped with
summer tires designed for optimum
traction on wet and dry roads. If your
vehicle is to be used on snow and ice
covered roads, Mazda recommends that
you replace the tires originally equipped
on your vehicle with snow tires during the
winter months.
WARNING
Use only the same size and type tires
(snow, radial, or non-radial) on all
four wheels:
Using tires different in size or type is
dangerous. Your vehicle's handling
could be greatly affected and result in
an accident.
CAUTION
Check local regulations before using
studded tires.
NOTE
If your vehicle is equipped with the tire
pressure monitoring system, the system
may not function correctly when using
tires with steel wire reinforcement in
the sidewalls (page 5-30).
qTire Chains
Check local regulations before using tire
chains.
CAUTION
lChains may affect handling.
lDo not go faster than 50 km/h (30
mph) or the chain manufacturer's
recommended limit, whichever is
lower.
lDrive carefully and avoid bumps,
holes, and sharp turns.
lAvoid locked-wheel braking.
lDo not use chains on a temporary
spare tire; it may result in damage to
the vehicle and to the tire. Your
vehicle is not equipped with a
factory installed temporary spare
tire.
lDo not use chains on roads that are
free of snow or ice. The tires and
chains could be damaged.
lChains may scratch or chip
aluminum wheels.
NOTE
If your vehicle is equipped with the tire
pressure monitoring system, the system
may not function correctly when using
tire chains.
Install the chains on the rear tires.
Do not use chains on the front tires.
Use only SAE Class“S”chains, and make
sure they fit.
4-10
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
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Tire Pressure Monitoring
System
í
The tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) monitors the pressure for each
tire.
If tire pressure is too low in one or more
tires, the system will inform the driver via
the warning light in the instrument panel
and by the warning beep sound.
The tire pressure sensors installed on each
wheel send tire pressure data by radio
signal to the receiver unit in the vehicle.
Tire pressure sensors
NOTE
When the ambient temperature is low
due to seasonal changes, tire
temperatures are also lower. If the tire
temperature lowers, the air pressure
lowers as well, and the TPMS warning
light illuminates more frequently.
Inspect the tire pressure dailybefore
driving, and check the tire pressures
monthly with a tire pressure gauge.
When checking the tire pressures, use
of a digital tire pressure gauge is
recommended.TPMS does not alleviate your need to
check the pressure and condition of all
four tires before you drive each day.
CAUTION
lEach tire, including the spare (if
provided), should be checked
monthly when cold and inflated to
the inflation pressure recommended
by the vehicle manufacturer on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label. (If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size
indicated on the vehicle placard or
tire inflation pressure label, you
should determine the proper tire
inflation pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your
vehicle has been equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
that illuminates a low tire pressure
telltale when one or more of your
tires is significantly under-inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire
pressure telltale illuminates, you
should stop and check your tires as
soon as possible, and inflate them to
the proper pressure. Driving on a
significantly under-inflated tire
causes the tire to overheat and can
lead to tire failure. Under-inflation
also reduces fuel efficiency and tire
tread life, and may affect the
vehicle's handling and stopping
ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a
substitute for proper tire
maintenance, and it is the driver's
responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if under-inflation has
not reached the level to trigger
illumination of the TPMS low tire
pressure telltale.
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
5-27íSome models. RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page161
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Adjust the tire pressure to the correct tire
pressure. Refer to the specification charts
(page 10-6).
CAUTION
When replacing/repairing the tires or
wheels or both, have the work done by
an Authorized Mazda Dealer, or the tire
pressure sensors may be damaged.
NOTE
lPerform tire pressure adjustment
when the tires are cold. Tire pressure
will vary according to the tire
temperature, therefore let the vehicle
stand for 1 hour or only drive it 1.6
km (1 mile) or less before adjusting
the tire pressures. When pressure is
adjusted on hot tires to the cold
inflation pressure, the TPMS
warning light/beep may turn on after
the tires cool and pressure drops
below specification.
Also, an illuminated TPMS warning
light, resulting from the tire air
pressure dropping due to cold
ambient temperature, may go out if
the ambient temperature rises. In this
case, it will also be necessary to
adjust the tire air pressures. If the
TPMS warning light illuminates due
to a drop in tire air pressure, make
sure to check and adjust the tire air
pressures.
NOTE
lAfter adjusting the tire air pressures,
it may require some time for the
TPMS warning light to go out. If the
TPMS warning light remains
illuminated, drive the vehicle at a
speed of at least 25 km/h (16 mph)
for 10 minutes, and then verify that it
goes out.
lTires can loose a little air quite
naturally over time and the TPMS
cannot tell if the tires are getting too
soft over time or you have a flat.
However, when you find one low tire
in a set of four - that is an indication
of trouble; you should have someone
drive the vehicle slowly forward so
you can inspect any low tire for cuts
and any metal sticking through tread
or sidewall. Put a few drops of water
in the valve stem to see if it bubbles
indicating a bad valve. Leaks need to
be addressed by more than simply
refilling the trouble tire as leaks are
dangerous - take it to an Authorized
Mazda Dealer which has all the
equipment to fix tires, TPMS
systems and order the best
replacement tire for your vehicle.
If the warning light illuminates again even
after the tire pressures are adjusted, there
may be a tire puncture.
Vehicles with Instant Mobility System
(IMS) emergency flat tire repair kit
If an emergency tire repair is needed,
repair the punctured tire with the
emergency flat tire repair kit (page 7-5).
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
5-29
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