2017 MAZDA MX5 MIATA Owners Manual

8 –29 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 –30 Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
Location of the Tire Label (Placard)You will find the tire label containing tire inflation 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 Inflation PressureOn the tire label you will find the recommended tire inflation pr essure in both kPa and
psi for the tires installed as original equipment on the vehicl e. It is very important that the
inflation pressure of the tires on your vehicle is maintained at the recommended pressure.
You should check the tire pressure regularly to insure that the proper inflation pressure is
maintained.
Refer to Tires on page 9-8 .
NOTE
Tire pressures listed on the vehicle placard or tire information label indicate the
recommended cold tire inflation 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 –31 Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
WARNING Always check the tire inflation pressures on a regular basis according to the
recommended tire inflation pressure on the tire label and in conjunction with the
information in this owner's manual:
Driving your vehicle with under-inflated tires is dangerous.
Under-inflation 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-inflation increases sidewall flexing 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 flat!
It is impossible to determine whether or not tires are properly inflated just by looking at
them.
Checking Tire Pressure1. When you check the air pressure, make sure the tires are cold — meaning 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 overfill the tire, release air by pushing on the metal st em in the center of the 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 inflation pressure.
8. Visually inspect the tires to make sure there are no nails or other objects 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, cracks or other
irregularities.
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8 –32 Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.) Glossary of TermsTire Placard: A label indicating the OE tire sizes, recommended inflation pressure, and the
maximum weight the vehicle can carry.
Tire Identification 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.
Inflation 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 which they replace,
and not previously considered in the curb weight or accessory weight, including 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 upon which the tire
beads are seated.
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8 –33 Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
Tire MaintenanceImproper or inadequate vehicle maintenance can cause tires to w ear abnormally. Here are
some important maintenance points:
Tire Inflation PressureInspect 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 t ire label for optimum service.
Tire RotationTo equalize tread wear, rotate the tires every 12,000 km (7,500 miles) at the latest or sooner
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.
Do not include (TEMPORAR Y 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: 
Incorrect tire pressure 
Improper wheel alignment 
Out-of-balance wheel 
Severe braking
After rotation, inflate all tire pressures to specification (page 9-8 ) and inspect the lug
nuts for tightness.
(With tire pressure monitoring system)
After adjusting the tire pressure, initialization of the tire pressure monitoring system is
necessary to make the system operate normally.
Refer to Tire Pressure Monitoring System Initialization on page 4-108 .
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8 –34 Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
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.
(With limited-slip differential)
Don't use the following: 
Tires not of the designated size 
Tires of different sizes or types at the same time 
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.
Replacing a Tire
WARNINGAlways 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.
Ne w tread Tread wear indicator
Worn tread
You should replace the tire before the band crosses the entire tread.
(With tire pressure monitoring system)
After adjusting the tire pressure, initialization of the tire pressure monitoring system is
necessary to make the system operate normally.
Refer to Tire Pressure Monitoring System Initialization on page 4-108 .
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8 –35 Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)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. 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 8-24 .
Safety PracticesThe way you drive has a great deal to do with your tire mileage and safety. So cultivate good
driving habits for your own benefit. 
Observe posted speed limits and drive at speeds that are safe for the existing weather
conditions 
Avoid fast starts, stops and turns 
Avoid potholes and objects on the road 
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-
inflated or damaged, deflate 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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8 –36 Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
Vehicle LoadingWARNINGDo not tow a trailer with this vehicle:
Towing a trailer with this vehicle is dangerous because it has not been designed to tow a
trailer and doing so will affect the drive system which could result in vehicle damage.
This section will guide you in the proper loading of your vehicle, to keep your loaded
vehicle weight within its design rating capability. Properly loading your vehicle will provide
maximum return of vehicle design performance. Before loading yo ur vehicle, familiarize
yourself with the following terms for determining your vehicle's weight ratings, from the
vehicle's Safety Certification Label and Tire and Load Information Label:
WARNINGOverloaded Vehicle:
Overloading a vehicle is dangerous. The results of overloading can have serious
consequences in terms of passenger safety. Too much weight on a vehicle's suspension
system can cause spring or shock absorber failure, brake failure, handling or steering
problems, irregular tire wear, tire failure or other damage.
Overloading makes a vehicle harder to drive and control. It also increases the distance
required for stopping. In cases of serious overloading, brakes can fail completely,
particularly on steep grades. The load a tire will carry safely is a combination of the size of
the tire, its load range, and corresponding inflation pressure.
Never overload the vehicle and always observe the vehicle's weight ratings from the
vehicle's Safety Certification and Tire and Load Information labels.
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