2014 MAZDA MODEL 3 HATCHBACK tire size

3–48
Before Driving
Driving Tips
NOTE
 


y Do not use the parking brake in
freezing weather as it may freeze.
Instead, shift to P with an automatic
transaxle and to 1 or R with a manual
transaxle. Block the rear wheels.
 


y Remove snow before driving. Snow left
on the windshield is dangerous as it
could obstruct vision.
 


y Do not apply excessive force to a
window scraper when removing ice or
frozen snow on the mirror glass and
windshield.
 


y Never use warm or hot water for
removing snow or ice from windows
and mirrors as it could result in the
glass cracking.
 


y Drive slowly. Braking performance
can be adversely affected if snow or
ice adheres to the brake components. If
this situation occurs, drive the vehicle
slowly, releasing the accelerator pedal
and lightly applying the brakes several
times until the brake performance
returns to normal.
Snow Tires
Use snow tires on all four wheels
Do not go faster than 120 km/h (75 mph)
while driving with snow tires. Infl ate snow
tires 30 kPa (0.3 kgf/cm
2 , 4.3 psi) more
than recommended on the tire pressure
label (driver's door frame), but never
more than the maximum cold-tire pressure
shown on the tires.
The vehicle is originally equipped with
all season radials designed to be used all
year around. In some extreme climates you
may fi nd it necessary to replace them with
snow tires during the winter months to
further improve traction on snow and ice
covered roads.
WARNING
Use only the same size and type tires
(snow, radial, or non-radial) on all four
wheels:
Using tires diff erent in size or type is
dangerous. Your vehicle's handling
could be greatly aff ected and result in
an accident.
CAUTION
Check local regulations before using
studded tires.
Tire Chains
Check local regulations before using tire
chains.
CAUTION
 


¾ Chains may aff ect handling.



¾ Do not go faster than 50 km/h (30
mph) or the chain manufacturer's
recommended limit, whichever is lower.
 


¾ Drive carefully and avoid bumps, holes,
and sharp turns.
 


¾ Avoid locked-wheel braking.



¾ Do not use chains on a temporary spare
tire; it may result in damage to the
vehicle and to the tire.
 


¾ Do not use chains on roads that are free
of snow or ice. The tires and chains could
be damaged.
 


¾ Chains may scratch or chip aluminum
wheels.
NOTE
The tire pressure monitoring system may
not function correctly when using tire
chains.
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4–67
When Driving
Radar Sensor
NOTE
 


y In the following cases, the radar sensor may not be able to detect vehicles ahead or
obstructions.
 


y The rear surface of a vehicle ahead does not refl ect radio waves effectively, such as
an unloaded trailer or an automobile with a loading platform covered by a soft top,
vehicles with a hard plastic tailgate, and round-shaped vehicles.
 


y Vehicles ahead with low vehicle height and thus less area for refl ecting radio waves.



y Visibility is reduced due to a vehicle ahead casting off water, snow, or sand from its
tires and onto your windshield.
 


y The trunk/luggage compartment is loaded with heavy objects or the rear passenger
seats are occupied.
 


y Ice, snow, or soiling is on the front surface of the front emblem.



y During inclement weather such as rain, snow, or sand storms.



y When driving near facilities or objects emitting strong radio waves.




y In the following cases, the radar sensor may detect vehicles in the opposite lane or
surrounding obstructions, or it may not be able to detect vehicles ahead or obstructions.
 


y The beginning and end of a curve.



y Roads with continuous curves.



y Narrow lane roads due to road construction or lane closures.



y The vehicle ahead enters the radar sensor's blind spot.



y The vehicle ahead is running abnormally due to accident or vehicle damage. 



y Roads with repeated up and down slopes



y Driving on poor roads or unpaved roads.



y The distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead is extremely short.



y A vehicle suddenly comes close such as by cutting into the lane.




y To prevent incorrect operation of the system, use tires of the same specifi ed size,
manufacturer, brand, and tread pattern on all four wheels. In addition, do not use tires
with signifi cantly different wear patterns or tire pressures on the same vehicle. (Including
the temporary spare tire)
 


y If the battery power is weak, the system may not operate correctly.



y When driving on roads with little traffi c and few vehicles ahead or obstructions for the
radar sensor to detect, Forward Obstruction Warning/Smart City Brake Support (FOW/
SCBS) indicator light temporarily illuminates, however, this does not indicate a problem.
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4–74
When Driving
Brake
CAUTION
 


¾ When driving off -road in areas where there is grass or forage, it is recommended that the
Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) system be turned off .




¾ Always use tires for all wheels that are of the specifi ed size, and the same manufacturer,
brand, and tread pattern. In addition, do not use tires with signifi cantly diff erent wear
patterns on the same vehicle as the Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) system may not
operate normally.
 


¾ The laser sensor includes a function for detecting a soiled windshield and informing the
driver, however, depending on the conditions, it may not detect plastic shopping bags, ice
or snow on the windshield. In such cases, the system cannot accurately determine a vehicle
or obstruction ahead and may not be able to operate normally. Always drive carefully and
pay attention to the road ahead.
NOTE
 


y The Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) system will operate under the following
conditions.
 


y The engine is running.



y The Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) indicator light does not illuminate.



y The vehicle speed is between about 4 to 30 km/h (2 to 18 mph).



y The Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) system is not turned off.



y The DSC operation is not turned off using the DSC OFF switch.



y The DSC is not malfunctioning.



y The driver is not deliberately performing driving operations (accelerator pedal,
steering wheel, and braking operations).
 


y The Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) detects a vehicle ahead by emitting a near-infrared
laser beam and receiving the beam refl ected off the refl ector of the vehicle ahead, and
then using it for the measurement. Consequently, the Smart City Brake Support (SCBS)
may not operate under the following conditions:
 


y Refl ection of the laser is poor due to the shape of the vehicle ahead.



y The vehicle ahead is signifi cantly dirty.



y Under bad weather condition, such as rain, fog and snow.



y The window washer is being used or the windshield wipers are not used when it's
raining.
 


y The windshield is dirty.



y The steering wheel is turned completely left or right, or the vehicle is accelerated
rapidly and comes close to the vehicle ahead.
 


y Trucks with low loading platforms, vehicles traveling at extremely low speeds, and
vehicles with a high profi le.
 


y Vehicles with certain shapes such as a vehicle carrier.
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4–81
When Driving
ABS/TCS/DSC
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)
The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
automatically controls braking and engine
torque in conjunction with systems such
as ABS and TCS to help control side slip
when driving on slippery surfaces, or
during sudden or evasive maneuvering,
enhancing vehicle safety.
Refer to ABS (page 4-79 ) and TCS (page
4-80 ).
DSC operation is possible at speeds
greater than 20 km/h (12 mph).
The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction.
Refer to Warning Lights on page 4-22 .
WARNING
Do not rely on the Dynamic Stability
Control as a substitute for safe driving:
The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
cannot compensate for unsafe and
reckless driving, excessive speed,
tailgating (following another vehicle
too closely), and hydroplaning
(reduced tire friction and road contact
because of water on the road surface).
You can still have an accident.
CAUTION
 


¾ The DSC may not operate correctly
unless the following are observed:
 


¾ Use tires of the correct size specifi ed
for your Mazda on all four wheels.
 


¾ Use tires of the same manufacturer,
brand and tread pattern on all four
wheels.
 


¾ Do not mix worn tires.




¾ The DSC may not operate correctly when
tire chains are used or a temporary
spare tire is installed because the tire
diameter changes.
TCS/DSC Indicator Light
This indicator light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched
ON. If the TCS or DSC is operating, the
indicator light fl ashes.
If the light stays on, the TCS, DSC
or the brake assist system may have a
malfunction and they may not operate
correctly. Take your vehicle to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
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4–105
When Driving
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
CAUTION
 


¾ Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly when cold and
infl ated to the infl ation pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle
placard or tire infl ation pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires of a diff erent size than the
size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire infl ation pressure label, you should determine
the proper tire infl ation 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 signifi cantly under-infl ated. Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illuminates,
you should stop and check your tires as soon as possible, and infl ate them to the proper
pressure. Driving on a signifi cantly under-infl ated tire causes the tire to overheat and can
lead to tire failure. Under-infl ation also reduces fuel effi ciency and tire tread life, and may
aff ect 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-infl ation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
  Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when
the system is not operating properly.
  The TPMS malfunction indicator is combined with the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale will fl ash for approximately one minute and then
remain continuously illuminated. This sequence will continue upon subsequent vehicle
start-ups as long as the malfunction exists. When the malfunction indicator is illuminated,
the system may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended. TPMS
malfunctions may occur for a variety of reasons, including the installation of replacement
or alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS from functioning properly.
Always check the TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing one or more tires or wheels on
your vehicle to ensure that the replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to
continue to function properly.
 


¾ To avoid false readings, the system samples for a little while before indicating a problem.
As a result it will not instantaneously register a rapid tire defl ation or blow out.
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4–106
When Driving
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
NOTE
Because this system detects slight changes in tire conditions, the timing of the warning may
be faster or slower in the following cases:
 


y The size, manufacturer, or the type of tires is different from the specifi cation.



y The size, manufacturer, or the type of a tire is different from the others, or the level of tire
wear is excessively different between them.
 


y A run-fl at tire, studless tire, snow tire, or tire chains are used.



y An emergency tire is used (The tire pressure monitoring system warning light may fl ash
and then continue illuminating).
 


y A tire is repaired using the puncture tire repair kit.



y The tire pressure is excessively higher than the specifi ed pressure, or the tire pressure is
suddenly lowered for some reason such as a tire burst during driving.
 


y The vehicle speed is lower than about 15 km/h (9.3 mph) (including when the vehicle is
stopped), or the drive period is shorter than 5 minutes.
 


y The vehicle is driven on an extremely rough road or a slippery, icy road.



y Hard steering and rapid acceleration/deceleration are repeated such as during
aggressive driving on a winding road.
 


y Load on the vehicle is applied to a tire such as by loading heavy luggage to one side of
the vehicle.
 


y System initialization has not been implemented with the specifi ed tire pressure.
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6–41
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Tires
For reasons of proper performance, safety,
and better fuel economy, always maintain
recommended tire infl ation pressures and
stay within the recommended load limits
and weight distribution.
WARNING
Using Diff erent Tire Types:
Driving your vehicle with diff erent
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
specifi ed for the vehicle (page 9-10 )
is dangerous. It could seriously aff ect
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 specifi ed for the
vehicle.
Tire Infl ation Pressure
WARNING
Always infl ate the tires to the correct
pressure:
Overinfl ation or underinfl ation of tires
is dangerous. Adverse handling or
unexpected tire failure could result in a
serious accident.
Refer to Tires on page 9-10 .

Use only a Mazda-genuine tire valve
cap:
Use of a non-genuine part is
dangerous as the correct tire air
pressure cannot be maintained if the
tire valve becomes damaged. If the
vehicle is driven under this condition,
the tire air pressure will decrease which
could result in a serious accident. Do
not use any part for the tire valve cap
that is not a Mazda-genuine part.
Inspect all tire pressures monthly
(including the spare) when the tires are
cold. Maintain recommended pressures for
the best ride, handling, and minimum tire
wear.
Refer to the specifi cation charts (page
9-10 ).
After adjusting the tire pressure,
initialization of the tire pressure
monitoring system is necessary to make
the system operates normally.
Refer to Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Initialization on page 4-107 .
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*Some models.6–44
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
CAUTION
 


¾ Do not use your temporary spare tire
rim with a snow tire or a conventional
tire. Neither will properly fi t and could
damage both tire and rim.
 


¾ 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.
 


¾ 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 6-44 ).
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 .
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 aff ected, leading to loss of
control and an accident.
CAUTION
A wrong-sized wheel may adversely
aff ect:




¾ Tire fi t



¾ Wheel and bearing life



¾ Ground clearance



¾ Snow-chain clearance



¾ Speedometer calibration



¾ Headlight aim



¾ Bumper height



¾ Tire Pressure Monitoring System *
When replacing a wheel, make sure the
new one is the same as the original factory
wheel in diameter, rim width, and offset
(inset/outset).
Proper tire balancing provides the best
riding comfort and helps reduce tread
wear. Out-of-balance tires can cause
vibration and uneven wear, such as
cupping and fl at spots.
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