2014 MAZDA MODEL 3 5-DOOR Owners Manual

8–27
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
Information on Temporary Tires
Please refer to the sample below.
1. Temporary tires
2. Nominal width of tire in millimeters
3. Ratio of height to width (aspect ratio)
4. Diagonal
5. Rim diameter code
6. Load index & speed symbol
T115/70D16 90M is an example of a tire size and load index rating. Here is an explanat\
ion
of the various components of that tire size and load index rating. Note \
that the tire size and
load index rating may be different from the example.
T
Indicates a tire that may be installed on cars, SUVs, minivans and light\
trucks as designated
by the Tire and Rim Association (T&RA).
11 5
“115” is the nominal width of the tire in millimeters. This three-digit number gives the width
in millimeters of the tire from sidewall edge to sidewall edge. In gener\
al, the larger the
number, the wider the tire.
70
“70” is the aspect ratio. This two-digit number indicates the tire's ratio of height to width.
D
“D” is the tire construction symbol. D indicates “diagonal ply \
construction”.
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8–28
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
16
“16” is the wheel rim diameter in inches.
90
“90” is the Load Index. This two-or three-digit number indicates how much weight each tire
can support.
M
“M” is the speed rating. The speed rating denotes the maximum speed for which the use of
the tire is rated.
Letter Rating Speed Rating
M 81 mph
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8–29
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
Location of the Tire Label (Placard)
You will fi nd the tire label containing tire infl ation pressure by tire size and other important
information on the driver's side B-pillar or on the edge of the driver's\
door frame.
SAMPLE
Recommended Tire Infl ation Pressure
On the tire label you will fi nd the recommended tire infl ation pressure in both kPa and
psi for the tires installed as original equipment on the vehicle. It is \
very important that the
infl ation pressure of the tires on your vehicle is maintained at the recomme\
nded pressure.
You should check the tire pressure regularly to insure that the proper in\
fl ation pressure is
maintained.
Refer to Tires on page 9-9 .
NOTE
Tire pressures listed on the vehicle placard or tire information label indicate the
recommended cold tire infl ation pressure, measured when the tires are cold, after the vehicle
has been parked for at least 3 hours. As you drive, the temperature in the tire warms up,
increasing the tire pressure.
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8–30
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
WARNING
Always check the tire infl ation pressures on a regular basis according to the
recommended tire infl ation pressure on the tire label and in conjunction with the
information in this owner's manual: Driving your vehicle with under-infl ated tires is dangerous.
Under-infl ation is the most common cause of failures in any kind of tire and may result
in severe cracking, tread separation or “blowout”, with unexpected loss of vehicle
control and increased risk of injury. Under-infl ation increases sidewall fl exing and
rolling resistance, resulting in heat buildup and internal damage to the tire. It results in
unnecessary tire stress, irregular wear, loss of control and accidents. A tire can lose up to
half of its air pressure and not appear to be fl at!
It is impossible to determine whether or not tires are properly infl ated just by looking at
them.
Checking Tire Pressure
1. When you check the air pressure, make sure the tires are cold —meanin\
g they are not hot from driving even a mile.
2. Remove the cap from the valve on one tire.
3. Firmly press a tire gauge onto the valve.
4. Add air to achieve recommended air pressure.
5. If you overfi ll the tire, release air by pushing on the metal stem in the center of t\
he valve.
Then recheck the pressure with your tire gauge.
6. Replace the valve cap.
7. Repeat with each tire, including the spare.
NOTE
Some spare tires require higher infl ation pressure.
8. Visually inspect the tires to make sure there are no nails or other objec\
ts embedded that could poke a hole in the tire and cause an air leak.
9. Check the sidewalls to make sure there are no gouges, cuts, bulges, crac\
ks or other irregularities.
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8–31
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
Glossary of Terms
Tire Placard: A label indicating the OE tire sizes, recommended infl ation pressure, and the
maximum weight the vehicle can carry.
Tire Identifi cation Number (TIN): A number on the sidewall of each tire providing
information about the tire brand and manufacturing plant, tire size, and\
date of manufacture.
Infl ation Pressure: A measure of the amount of air in a tire.
kPa: Kilopascal, the metric unit for air pressure.
psi: Pounds per square inch, the English unit for air pressure.
B-pillar: The structural member at the side of the vehicle behind the front door.
Original Equipment (OE): Describes components originally equipped on the vehicle.
Vehicle Load Limit: The maximum value of the combination weight of occupants and
cargo.
Bead Area of the Tire: Area of the tire next to the rim.
Sidewall Area of the Tire: Area between the bead area and the tread.
Tread Area of the Tire: Area on the perimeter of the tire that contacts the road when it's
mounted on the vehicle.
Seating capacity means the total allowable number of vehicle occupants. Seating capacity\

is described on the tire label.
Production options weight is the combination weight of installed regular production
options weighing over 2.3 kilograms in excess of the standard items whic\
h they replace,
and not previously considered in the curb weight or accessory weight, in\
cluding heavy duty
brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy duty battery, and special trim.
Rim is the metal support (wheel) for a tire or a tire and tube assembly u\
pon which the tire
beads are seated.
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8–32
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
Tire Maintenance
Improper or inadequate vehicle maintenance can cause tires to wear abnor\
mally. Here are
some important maintenance points:
Tire Infl ation 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 specifi ed on the vehicle tire information placard or tire label for optimum ser\
vice.
Tire Rotation
To equalize tread wear, rotate the tires every 12,000 km (7,500 miles) at the latest or soon\
er
if irregular wear develops. Mazda recommends to rotate every 8,000 km (\
5,000 miles) to
help increase tire life and distribute wear more evenly.
D o not include ( TE MP ORA RY USE ON LY )
spar e tir e in r otation.For war d
Inspect the tires for uneven wear and damage. Abnormal wear is usually caused by one or a
combination of the following:
 y
 Incorrect tire pressure y Improper wheel alignment y Out-of-balance wheel y Severe braking
After rotation, infl ate all tire pressures to specifi cation (page 9-9 ) 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 weakened if
rotated from side to side.

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8–33
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
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.
If a tire wears evenly, a wear indicator will appear as a solid band across the tread.
Replace the tire when this happens.
N ew tr ead Tr ead wear indicator
Wor n tr ead
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 8-23 .
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8–34
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
Safety Practices
The way you drive has a great deal to do with your tire mileage and safe\
ty. So cultivate good
driving habits for your own benefi t.
 y Observe posted speed limits and drive at speeds that are safe for the ex\
isting weather
conditions
 y  Avoid fast starts, stops and turns y Avoid potholes and objects on the road y Do not run over curbs or hit the tire against the curb when parking
CAUTION
If you feel a sudden vibration or ride disturbance while driving or you suspect your tire
or vehicle has been damaged, immediately reduce your speed. Drive with caution until
you can safely pull off the road. Stop and inspect the tire for damage. If the tire is under-
infl ated or damaged, defl ate it, remove the tire and rim and replace it with your spare tire.
If you cannot detect a cause, have the vehicle towed to the nearest vehicle or tire dealer to
have the vehicle inspected.
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