2012 MAZDA MODEL 3 HATCHBACK spare wheel

Black plate (419,1)
Inspect the electrolyte level at least once a
week. If it's low, remove the caps and add
enough distilled water to bring the level
between the upper and lower level
(illustration).
Don't overfill.
Examine the specific gravity of the
electrolyte with a hydrometer, especially
during cold weather. If it's low, recharge
the battery.Tires
For reasons of proper performance, safety,
and better fuel economy, always maintain
recommended tire inflation pressures and
stay within the recommended load limits
and weight distribution.
WARNING
Using Different Tire Types:Driving your vehicle with different
types of tires is dangerous. It could
cause poor handling and poor
braking; leading to loss of control.
Except for the limited use of the
temporary spare tire, use only the
same type tires (radial, bias-belted,
bias-type) on all four wheels.
Using Wrong-Sized Tires: Using any other tire size than what is
specified for your Mazda (page 10-11)
is dangerous. It could seriously affect
ride, handling, ground clearance, tire
clearance, and speedometer
calibration. This could cause you to
have an accident. Use only tires that
are the correct size specified for your
Mazda.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Form No.8BY7-EC-11F

Black plate (421,1)
NOTElAlways check tire pressure when tires are
cold.
lWarm tires normally exceed recommended
pressures. Don't release air from warm tires
to adjust the pressure.
lUnderinflation can cause reduced fuel
economy, uneven and accelerated tire wear,
and poor sealing of the tire bead, which
will deform the wheel and cause separation
of tire from rim.
lOverinflation can produce a harsh ride,
uneven and accelerated tire wear, and a
greater possibility of damage from road
hazards.
Keep your tire pressure at the correct
levels. If one frequently needs inflating,
have it inspected.
qTire Rotation
WARNING
Rotate tires periodically:
Irregular tire wear is dangerous. To
equalize tread wear for maintaining
good performance in handling and
braking, rotate the tires according to
the scheduled maintenance charts.
Refer to Scheduled Maintenance on
page 8-3. During rotation, inspect them for correct
balance.
Do not include (TEMPORARY USE ONLY)
spare tire in rotation.
Forward
Also, inspect them for uneven wear and
damage. Abnormal wear is usually caused
by one or a combination of the following:
lIncorrect tire pressurelImproper wheel alignmentlOut-of-balance wheellSevere braking
After rotation, inflate all tire pressures to
specification (page 10-11) and inspect the
lug nuts for tightness.
CAUTION
Rotate unidirectional tires and radial
tires that have an asymmetrical tread
pattern or studs only from front to
rear, not from side to side. Tire
performance will be reduced if
rotated from side to side.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Form No.8BY7-EC-11F

Black plate (422,1)
CAUTION
Limited-Slip Differential system;
don't use the following:
ØTires not of the designated size
Ø Tires of different sizes or types at
the same time
Ø Tires not sufficiently inflated
If these instructions aren't followed,
the rotation of the left and right
wheels will be different and will thus
apply a constant load on the limited-
slip differential.
This will cause a malfunction.
q Replacing a Tire
WARNING
Always use tires that are in good
condition:
Driving with worn tires is dangerous.
Reduced braking, steering, and
traction could result in an accident.
Replace all four tires at the same time: Replacing just one tire is dangerous.
It could cause poor handling and
poor braking resulting in loss of
vehicle control. Mazda strongly
recommends that you replace all four
tires at the same time.
CAUTION
(With Tire Pressure Monitoring
System)
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
(With Tire Pressure Monitoring System)lWhen tires with steel wire reinforcement in
the sidewalls are used, the system may not
function correctly even with a genuine
wheel.
Refer to System Error Activation on page
5-35.
lBe sure to install the tire pressure sensors
whenever tires or wheels are replaced.
Refer to Tires and Wheels on page 5-35.
If a tire wears evenly, a wear indicator
will appear as a solid band across the
tread.
Replace the tire when this happens.
New tread
Tread wear indicator
Worn tread
You should replace the tire before the
band crosses the entire tread.
NOTE
Tires degrade over time, even when they are
not being used on the road. It is recommended
that tires generally be replaced when they are
6 years or older. Heat caused by hot climates
or frequent high loading conditions can
accelerate the aging process. You should
replace the spare tire when you replace the
other road tires due to the aging of the spare
tire. The period in which the tire was
manufactured (both week and year) is
indicated by a 4-digit number.
Refer to Tire Labeling on page 9-24.
8-40
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Mazda3_8BY7-EC-11F_Edition1 Page422
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Form No.8BY7-EC-11F

Black plate (423,1)
qTemporary Spare Tire
Inspect the temporary spare tire at least
monthly to make sure it's properly inflated
and stored.
NOTE
The temporary spare tire condition gradually
deteriorates even if it has not been used.
The temporary spare tire is easier to
handle because of its construction which
is lighter and smaller than a conventional
tire. This tire should be used only for an
emergency and only for a short distance.
Use the temporary spare tire only until the
conventional tire is repaired, which should
be as soon as possible.
Maintain its pressure at 420 kPa (4.2
kgf/cm
2or bar, 60 psi).
CAUTION
Ø Do not use your temporary spare
tire rim with a snow tire or a
conventional tire. Neither will
properly fit and could damage
both tire and rim.
Ø The temporary spare tire has a
tread life of less than 5,000 km
(3,000 miles). The tread life may
be shorter depending on driving
conditions.
Ø The temporary spare tire is for
limited use, however, if the tread
wear solid-band indicator
appears, replace the tire with the
same type of temporary spare
(page 8-40). NOTE
Tires degrade over time, even when they are
not being used on the road. It is recommended
that tires generally be replaced when they are
6 years or older. Heat caused by hot climates
or frequent high loading conditions can
accelerate the aging process. You should
replace the spare tire when you replace the
other road tires due to the aging of the spare
tire. The period in which the tire was
manufactured (both week and year) is
indicated by a 4-digit number.
Refer to Tire Labeling on page 9-24.
q
Replacing a Wheel
WARNING
Always use wheels of the correct size
on your vehicle:
Using a wrong-sized wheel is
dangerous. Braking and handling
could be affected, leading to loss of
control and an accident.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-41
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Form No.8BY7-EC-11F

Black plate (487,1)
Tire Maintenance
Improper or inadequate vehicle maintenance can cause tires to wear abnormally. Here are
some important maintenance points:
qTire Inflation Pressure
Inspect all tire pressure monthly (including the spare) when the tires are cold. Maintain
recommended pressures for the best ride, top handling, and minimum tire wear. Use the
pressures specified on the vehicle tire information placard or tire label for optimum service.
qTire Rotation
To equalize tread wear, rotate the tires every 12,000 km (7,500 miles) or sooner if irregular
wear develops. During rotation, inspect them for correct balance.
Do not include (TEMPORARY USE ONLY)
spare tire in rotation.Forward
Inspect the tires for uneven wear and damage. Abnormal wear is usually caused by one or a
combination of the following:
lIncorrect tire pressurelImproper wheel alignmentlOut-of-balance wheellSevere braking
After rotation, inflate all tire pressures to specification (page 10-11) and inspect the lug
nuts for tightness.
Customer Information
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
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Form No.8BY7-EC-11F

Black plate (522,1)
P
Paint Damage .................................... 8-63
Parking Brake ..................................... 5-6
Parking in an Emergency .................... 7-2
Personalization Features ................. 10-12
Power Door Locks ............................ 3-33
Power Steering .................................. 5-21Fluid ........................................... 8-25
Power steering malfunction indicator
light ............................................ 5-21
Power Windows ................................ 3-45
Push-Starting ..................................... 7-24
R
Rear Coat Hooks ............................. 6-113
Rear Door Child Safety Locks .......... 3-36
Rear Seat ............................................. 2-7
Rear Window Defroster .................... 5-75
Rear Window Washer ....................... 5-74
Rear Window Wiper .......................... 5-74
Rearview Mirror ................................ 3-66
Recreational Towing ......................... 7-28
Registering Your Vehicle in A Foreign
Country ............................................. 9-18
Rocking the Vehicle ............................ 4-9
S
Safety Defects, Reporting ................. 9-43
Seat Belt System 3-point type ................................ 2-18
Automatic locking ...................... 2-17
Emergency locking .................... 2-16
Extender ..................................... 2-23
Pregnant women ........................ 2-16
Pretensioner and load limiting .... 2-20
Seat belt precautions .................. 2-14
Seat belt reminder ....................... 2-25
S
Seats
Front seat
(Electrically operated seats) ......... 2-4
Front seat
(Manually operated seats) ............ 2-2
Rear seat ....................................... 2-7
Seat warmer ................................ 2-12
Security System Immobilizer system
(with advanced key) ................... 3-54
Immobilizer system
(without advanced key) .............. 3-58
Theft-deterrent system ............... 3-62
Service Publications .......................... 9-45
Shopping Bag Hook ........................ 6-113
Spare Tire and Tool Storage ................ 7-3
Specifications .................................... 10-4
Speedometer ...................................... 5-43
Starting the Engine .............................. 5-3
Steering Wheel .................................. 3-65 Horn ........................................... 5-76
Storage Compartments .................... 6-111 Cargo securing loops ................ 6-112
Center console .......................... 6-111
Glove compartment .................. 6-111
Overhead console ..................... 6-111
Rear coat hooks ........................ 6-113
Shopping bag hook .................. 6-113
Sunshade ........................................... 3-53
Sunvisors .......................................... 6-95
T
Tachometer ........................................ 5-44
Temporary Spare Tire ....................... 8-41
Theft-Deterrent System ..................... 3-62
Tiedown Hook .......................................... 7-26
11-6
Index
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Form No.8BY7-EC-11F

Black plate (523,1)
T
Tire Information ................................ 9-24
Tire Pressure Monitoring System ...... 5-31System error activation .............. 5-35
Tire pressure monitoring system
warning light .............................. 5-33
Tires and wheels ......................... 5-35
Tires
Flat Tire ........................................ 7-3
Inflation pressure ........................ 8-38
Replacement ............................... 8-40
Rotation ...................................... 8-39
Snow tires .................................. 4-10
Spare tire and tool storage ............ 7-3
Specifications ........................... 10-11
Tire chains .................................. 4-10
Uniform tire quality grading system
(UTQGS) ................................... 9-22
Tool ..................................................... 7-3
Towing Description ................................. 7-25
Emergency towing ..................... 7-25
Recreational towing ................... 7-28
Trailer towing ............................. 4-15
Traction Control System (TCS) ........ 5-27 TCS/DSC indicator light ............ 5-28
Trailer Towing .................................. 4-15
Trip Meter ......................................... 5-43
Trunk Lid .......................................... 3-41 Inside trunk release lever ............ 3-43
Trunk Light ....................................... 3-42
Turn and Lane-Change Signals ......... 5-69
V
Vanity Mirrors ................................... 6-95
Vehicle Information Labels ............... 10-2
W
Warning Lights ................................. 5-47 ABS ............................................ 5-50
Air bag system ........................... 5-53
Automatic transaxle ................... 5-54
Brake system .............................. 5-49
Charging system ......................... 5-51
Check engine .............................. 5-52
Check fuel cap ........................... 5-53
Door-ajar .................................... 5-54
Engine oil pressure ..................... 5-51
Front seat belt pretensioner
system ........................................ 5-53
High engine coolant
temperature ................................ 5-52
KEY ............................................ 5-57
Low fuel ..................................... 5-53
Low washer fluid level ............... 5-54
Malfunction ................................ 5-50
Seat belt ...................................... 5-54
Tire pressure monitoring
system ........................................ 5-55
Warranty ............................................ 9-15
Washer Fluid ..................................... 8-27
Weights ............................................. 10-8
Wheel Replacement .......................... 8-41
Windows Power windows .......................... 3-45
Windshield Washer ........................... 5-74
Windshield Wipers ............................ 5-71 Blades replacement .................... 8-29
Winter Driving .................................... 4-9
Index
11-7
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Form No.8BY7-EC-11F