▼TCS OFF Indicator Light*
This indicator light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched ON.
It also illuminates when the TCS OFF
switch is pressed and TCS is switched off.
Refer to TCS OFF Switch on page 4-101.
If the light remains illuminated and the
TCS is not switched off, take your vehicle
to an Authorized Mazda Dealer. The DSC
may have a malfunction.
▼TCS OFF Switch*
Press the TCS OFF switch to turn off the
TCS. The TCS OFF indicator light in the
instrument cluster and TCS OFF switch
indicator light turn on.
Indicator light
Press the switch agai
n to turn the TCS
back on. The TCS OFF indicator light and
TCS OFF switch indicator light will turn
off.
NOTE
When TCS is on and you attempt to free
the vehicle when it is stuck, or drive it
out of freshly fallen snow, the TCS (part
of the DSC system) will activate.
Depressing the accelerator will not
increase engine power and freeing the
vehicle may be difficult. When this
happens, turn off the TCS.
If the TCS is off when the engine is
turned off, it automatically activates
when the ignition is switched ON.
Leaving the TCS on will provide the best
traction.
If the TCS OFF switch is pressed and
held for 10 seconds or longer, the TCS
can no longer be turned off even if the
TCS OFF switch is pressed.
In this case, the TCS OFF switch will
operate normally when the ignition is
switched ON again after being switched
OFF.
When Driving
ABS/TCS/DSC/Trailer Stability Control (TSC)/Off-Road Traction Assist
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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 4-99) and TCS (page
4-100).
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 Contact Authorized Mazda
Dealer and Have Vehicle Inspected on
page 7-31.
WA R N I N G
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
The DSC may not operate correctly
unless the following are observed:
Use tires of the correct size specified for
your Mazda on all 4 wheels.
Use tires of the same manufacturer,
brand and tread pattern on all 4
wheels.
Do not mix worn tires.
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, DSC or the Trailer Stability
Control (TSC) is operating, the indicator
light flashes.
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.
When Driving
ABS/TCS/DSC/Trailer Stability Cont
rol (TSC)/Off-Road Traction Assist
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Trailer Stability Control(TSC)
If the vehicle sways while being driven
and towing a trailer, the Trailer Stability
Control (TSC) auto matically controls
braking and engine torque to suppress the
swaying and enhance vehicle stability.
The Trailer Stability Control (TSC) is
operable at a vehicle speed of about 65
km/h (40 mph) or more.
When the Trailer Stab ility Control (TSC)
operates while driving the vehicle, the
TCS/DSC indicator light flashes.
Refer to TCS/DSC Indicator Light on page
4-102.
WA R N I N G
Do not rely solely on the Trailer Stability
Control (TSC)
Assured vehicle stability is limited even if
the Trailer Stability Control (TSC) is
operating. Drive carefully to prevent
accidents.
In particular, if the TCS/DSC indicator light
is flashing, drive the vehicle carefully as it is
in a less stable condition and could sway
more easily. Drive with caution and in
accordance with the road, vehicle and
trailer conditions.
CAUTION
The Trailer Stability Control (TSC) may
not operate correctly unless the
following are observed:
Use tires of the correct size
specified for
your Mazda on all four wheels.
Use tires of the same manufacturer,
brand and tread pattern on all four
wheels.
Do not mix worn tires.
The Trailer Stability Control (TSC) may
not operate correctly when tire chains
are used or a temporary spare tire is
installed because the tire diameter
changes.
NOTE
The Trailer Stability Control (TSC) uses
the TCS/DSC functions. The Trailer
Stability Control (TSC) does not operate
if there is a malfunction in the TCS/DSC
(the TCS/DSC indicator light turns on).
When the Trailer Stability Control (TSC)
is operating, the brake lights may turn
on.
For information regarding trailer
towing, refer to Trailer Towing (U.S.A.
and Canada) on page 3-57.
When Driving
ABS/TCS/DSC/Trailer Stability Control (TSC)/Off-Road Traction Assist
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▼Off-Road Traction Assist Switch
When the switch is pressed after stopping
the vehicle, the Off-Road Traction Assist
becomes operational.
The Off-Road Traction Assist indicator
light in the instrument cluster and the
Off-Road Traction Assist switch indicator
light turn on.
Indicator light
If the switch is pressed again, the
Off-Road Traction Assist is stopped and
the Off-Road Traction Assist indicator
light and the Off-Road Traction Assist
switch indicator light turn off.
NOTE
If the engine is stopped with the Off-Road
Traction Assist operational, the Off-Road
Traction Assist is stopped when the engine
is started the next time.
When Driving
ABS/TCS/DSC/Trailer Stability Control (TSC)/Off-Road Traction Assist
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▼Tire Rotation
WA R N I N G
Rotate tires periodically:
Irregular tire wear is dangerous. To
equalize tread wear for maintaining good
performance in handling and braking,
rotate the tires every 12,000 km (7,500
miles). However Mazda recommends to
rotate every 8,000 km (5,000 miles) to help
increase tire life and distribute wear more
evenly.
Refer to Scheduled Maintenance on page
6-4.
During rotation, inspect them for correct
balance.
Do not include (TEMPORARY USE ONLY)
spare tire in rotation.Forward
Also, inspect them fo
r 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 9-7) 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.
▼ Replacing a Tire
WA R N I N G
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.
If a tire wears evenly, a wear indicator will
appear as a solid band across the tread.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS)
This information relates to the tire grading system developed by the U.S. National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration for grading t ires by tread wear, traction, and temperature
performance.
▼ Tr e a d We a r
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear on e-and-a-half times as well on the government
course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions of their use, however,
and may depart significantly from the norm because of variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road characteristics and climate.
▼ Traction-AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. These grades represent the
tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as meas
ured under controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt and conc rete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
WA R N I N G
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on braking (straight ahead) traction tests and
does not include acceleration cornering (turning), hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
▼ Te m p e r a t u r e - A , B , C
The temperature grades A (the highest), B, and C, represent the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its abili
ty to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire
life, and excessive temperatures can lead to sudden tire failure.
Grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger vehicle tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher
levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS)
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Letter RatingSpeed Rating
V1 49 m ph
W 168
* mph
Y 186
* mph
* For tires with a maximum speed capability over 149 mph, tire manufacturers sometimes use the letters ZR. For
tires with a maximum speed capability over 186 mph, tire manufacturers always use the letters ZR.
MS or M/S: Mud and Snow
AT: All Terrain.
AS: All Season. The “M
S” or “M/S” indicates that the tire has some functional use in mud
and snow.
U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number (TIN)
This begins with the letters “DOT” which indicates the tire meets all federal standards. The
next two numbers or letters are the plant code where it was manufactured, and the last four
numbers represent the week and year the tire was manufactured. For example, the numbers
457 means the 45st week of 1997. After 2000 the numbers go to four digits. For example,
the number 2102 means the 21th week of 2002. The other numbers are marketing codes
used at the manufacturer's discretion. This information is used to contact consumers if a tire
defect requires a recall.
Tire Ply Composition and Materials Used
The number of plies indicates the number of layers of rubber-coated fabric in the tire. In
general, the greater the number of plies, the more weight a tire can support. Tire
manufacturers also must indicate the tire mate rials, which include steel, nylon, polyester,
and other.
Maximum Load Rating
This number indicates the maximum load in kilograms and pounds that can be carried by the
tire.
Maximum Permissible Inflation Pressure
This number is the greatest amount of air pressure that should ever be put in the tire under
normal driving conditions.
Tread Wear, Traction and Temperature Grades
Tr e a d w e a r : The tread wear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and one-half (1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
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Traction: The traction grades, from highest to lowest are AA, A, B, and C. The grades
represent the tire's ability to stop on wet pave ment as measured under controlled conditions
on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have
poor traction performance.
Te m p e r a t u r e : The temperature grades are A (the highest), B and C, representing the tire's
resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specif ied indoor laboratory test wheel.
Snow Tires
In some heavy snow areas, local governments may require true snow tires, those with very
deeply cut tread. These tires should only be used in pairs or placed on all four wheels. Make
sure you purchase snow tires that are the same size and construction type as the other tires
on your vehicle.
SAFETY WARNING
The following safety warning appears on the tire's sidewall.
SERIOUS INJURY MAY RESULT FROM:
EXPLOSION OF TIRE/RIM ASSEMBLY DUE TO IMPROPER MOUNTING-MATCH
TIRE DIAMETER TO RIM DIAMETER; NEVE R EXCEED 40 psi (275 kPa) TO SEAT
BEADS-ONLY SPECIALLY TRAINED PERSONS SHOULD MOUNT TIRES.
TIRE FAILURE DUE TO UNDER-INFLATION/OVERLOADING/
DAMAGE-FOLLOW OWNER'S MANUAL AND PLACARD IN
VEHICLE-FREQUENTLY CHECK INFLATION PRESSURE AND INSPECT FOR
DAMAGE.
▼ Information on Temporary Tires
Please refer to the sample below.
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
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