Winter Driving
Carry emergency gear, including tire
chains, window scraper, flares, a small
shovel, jumper cables, and a small bag of
sand or salt.
Ask an Authorized Mazda Dealer to check
the following:
Have the proper ratio of antifreeze in the
radiator.
Refer to Engine Coolant on page 6-25.
Inspect the battery and its cables. Cold
reduces battery capacity.
Use an engine oil appropriate for the
lowest ambient temperatures that the
vehicle will be driven in (page 6-23).
Inspect the ignition system for damage
and loose connections.
Use washer fluid made with
antifreeze―but do not use engine
coolant antifreeze for washer fluid (page
6-27).
NOTE
(Without electric parking brake (EPB))
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.
Remove snow before driving. Snow left
on the windshield is dangerous as it
could obstruct vision.
Do not apply excessive force to a
window scraper when removing ice or
frozen snow on the mirror glass and
windshield.
Never use warm or hot water for
removing snow or ice from windows and
mirrors as it could result in the glass
cracking.
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 sno
w tires. Inflate 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 c old-tire pressure
shown on the tires.
Except Mexico (18–inch wheel vehicle)
The vehicle is originally equipped with all
season radials designed to be used all year
around. In some extreme climates you
may find it necessary t o replace them with
snow tires during the winter months to
further improve traction on snow and ice
covered roads.
Mexico (18–inch wheel vehicle)
The 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.
Before Driving
Driving Tips
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WA R N I N G
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.
▼ Tire Chains
Check local regulations before using tire
chains.
CAUTION
Chains may affect handling.
Do not go faster than 50 km/h (30 mph)
or the chain manufacturer's
recommended limit, whichever is lower.
Drive carefully and avoid bumps, holes,
and sharp turns.
Avoid locked-wheel braking.
Do not use chains on a temporary spare
tire; it may result in damage to the
vehicle and to the tire.
Do not use chains on roads that are free
of snow or ice. The tires and chains could
be damaged.
Chains 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 front tires only.
Do not use chains on the rear tires.
Please consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
Installing the chains
1. If your vehicle is equipped with wheel covers remove them, otherwise the
chain bands will scratch them.
2. Secure the chains on the front tires as tightly as possible.
Always follow the chain
manufacturer's instructions.
3. Retighten the chains after driving 1/2―1 km (1/4―1/2 mile).
Before Driving
Driving Tips
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The SBS system may not operate under the following conditions:
If the vehicle is accelerated rapidly and it comes cl ose to a vehicle ahead.
The vehicle is driven at the same speed as the vehicle ahead.
The accelerator pedal is depressed.
The brake pedal is depressed.
The steering wheel is being operated.
The selector lever is being operated.
The turn signal is being used.
When the vehicle ahead is not equipped with taillights or the taillights are turned off.
When warnings and messages, such as a dirty windshield, related to the Forward
Sensing Camera (FSC) are being di splayed in the center display.
Although the objects which activate the syst em are four-wheeled vehicles, the radar
sensor (front) could detect the following objects, determine them to be an obstruction, and
operate the SBS system.
Objects on the road at the entrance to a curve (including guardrails and snow banks).
A vehicle appears in the opposite lane while cornering or rounding a curve.
When crossing a narrow bridge.
When passing under a low gate or through a tunnel or narrow gate.
When entering an underground parking area.
Metal objects, bumps, or protruding objects on the road.
If you suddenly come close to a vehicle ahead.
When driving in areas where there is high grass or forage.
Two-wheeled vehicles such as motorbikes or bicycles.
Pedestrians or non-metallic objects such as standing trees.
When the system operates, the user is notified by the active driving display.
The SBS warning indication (amber) turn s on when the system has a malfunction.
Refer to Warning Lights on page 4-24.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
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Tire Pressure Monitoring System*
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) monitors the air pressure of all four tires. If
the air pressure of one or more tires is too low, the system warns the driver b y indicating the
tire pressure monitoring system warning light in the instrument cluster and operating a beep
sound. The system monitors the tire pressures indirectly using the data sent from the ABS
wheel speed sensors.
To allow the system to operate c orrectly, the system needs to be initialized with the specified
tire pressure (value on the tire pressure label). Follow the pr ocedure and perform the
initialization.
Refer to Tire Pressure Monitorin g System Initialization on page 4-148.
The warning light flashes when the system has a malfunction.
Refer to Warning Lights on page 4-24.
ABS wheel speed sensor
When Driving
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
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An emergency tire is used (The tire pressure monitoring system warning light may flash
and then continue illuminating).
A tire is repaired using the emergency flat tire repair kit.
The tire pressure is excessively higher than the specified pressure, or the tire pressure is
suddenly lowered for some reason such as a tire burst during driving.
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.
The vehicle is driven on an extremely rough road or a slippery, icy road.
Hard steering and rapid acceleration/decelera tion are repeated such as during aggressive
driving on a winding road.
Load on the vehicle is applied to a tire such as by loading heavy luggage to one side of
the vehicle.
System initialization has not been implem ented with the specified tire pressure.
▼Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Initialization
In the following cases, system
initialization must be
performed so that the
system operates normally.
A tire pressure is adjusted.
Tire rotation is performed.
A tire or wheel is replaced.
The battery is repl aced or completely
drained.
The tire pressure monitoring system
warning light is illuminated.
Initialization method
1. Park the car in a sa fe place and firmly
apply the parking brake.
2. Let the tires cool, then adjust the tire pressure of all four (4) tires to the
specified pressure indicated on the tire
pressure label located on the driver's
door frame (door open).
Refer to Tires on page 9-10.
3. Switch the ignition ON.
4. Press and hold the tire pressure monitoring system set switch and
verify that the tire pressure monitoring
system warning light in the instrument
cluster flashes twice and a beep sound
is heard once.
When Driving
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
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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.
WA R N I N G
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 the vehicle (page 9-10) 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
the vehicle.
▼ Tire Inflation Pressure
WA R N I N G
Always
inflate the tires to the correct
pressure:
Overinflation or underinflation 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 recom mended pressures for
the best ride, handling, and minimum tire
wear.
Refer to the specification charts (page 9-
10).
(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 4-148.
NOTE
Always check tire pressure when tires
are cold.
Warm tires normally exceed
recommended pressures. Do not release
air from warm tires to adjust the
pressure.
Underinflation 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.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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