2020 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 Owners Manual (in English)

▼Safety Practices
The 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 f or 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 again st 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 yo ur 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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Vehicle Loading
WARNING
Do 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:
WARNING
Overloaded 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 failu re, handling or steering problems, irregular tire
wear, tire failure or other damage.
Overloading makes a vehicle harder to drive an d 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 th e vehicle's weight ratings from the vehicle's
Safety Certification and Tire and Load Information labels.
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Base Curb Weight is the weight of the vehicle including a full tank of fuel and all
standard equipment. It does not include passengers, cargo, or optional equipment.

Vehicle Curb Weight is the weight of your new vehicle when you picked it up from y our
dealer plus any aftermarket equipment.

PAYLOAD
Payload is the combination weight of cargo and passengers that the veh icle is designed to
carry. The maximum payload for your vehicle can be found on the Tire and Load
Information label on t he driver's door frame or door pillar. Look for “THE COMBINATION
WEIGHT OF OCCUPANTS AND CARGO SHOULD NEVER EXCEED XXX kg or XXX
lbs” for your maximum payload. The payload listed on the tire l abel is the maximum
payload for the vehicle as built by the assembly plant. If any aftermarket or dealer installed
equipment has been installed on the vehicle, the weight of the equipment must be subtracted
from the payload listed on the tire label in order to be accura te.

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SAMPLE


CARGO
Cargo Weight includes all weight added to the Base Curb Weight, including c argo and
optional equipment.

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The cargo weight limit decreases depending on the number of vehicle occupants. The cargo
weight limit can be calculated by subtracting the total weight of the vehicle occupants from
the “combination weight of occupants and cargo should never exc eed” value on the tire
label.

Examples: Based on a single occupant weight of 68 kg (150 lbs), and a value of 385 kg (849
lbs) for the “combination weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed”:
The cargo weight limit with on e occupant is 385 kg (849 lbs) － 68 kg (150 lbs) = 317 kg
(699 lbs)
The cargo weight limit with two occupants is 385 kg (849 lbs) － (68 × 2) kg ( (150 × 2)
lbs) = 249 kg (549 lbs)
If the weight of the occupant increases, the cargo weight limit decreases by that much.

GAW (Gross Axle Weight) is the total weight placed on each axle (front and rear) -
including vehicle curb weight and all payload.

GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) is the maximum allowable weight that can be carried
by a single axle (front or rear). These numbers are shown on the Safety Compliance
Certification Label located on the driver's door frame or door pillar. The total load on
each axle must never exceed its GAWR.

GVW
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) is the Vehicle Curb Weight cargo passengers.

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GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) is the maximum allowable weight of the fully
loaded vehicle (including all options, equipment, passengers and cargo). The GVWR is
shown on the Safety Compliance C ertification Label located on the driver's door
frame or door pillar. The GVW must never exceed the GVWR.

SAMPLE

WARNING
Never Exceed Axle Weight Rating Limits:
Exceeding the Safety Certification Label axle weight rating limits is dangerous and could
result in death or serious injury as a result of substandard vehicle handling, performance,
engine, transmission and/or structural damage , serious damage to the vehicle, or loss of
control.
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Always keep the vehicle within the axle weight rating limits.

GCW
GCW (Gross Combination Weight) is the weight of the loaded vehicle (GVW).

GCWR (Gross Combinat ion Weight Rating) is the maximum allo wable weight of the
vehicle - including all cargo and passengers - that the vehicle can handle without risking
damage. The GCW must never exceed the GCWR.

WARNING
Never Exceed GVWR or GAWR Specifications:
Exceeding the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the
certification label is dangerous. Exceeding
any vehicle rating limitation could result in a serious accident, injury, or damage to the
vehicle.
Do not use replacement tires with lower load carrying capacities than the originals because
they may lower the vehicle's GVWR and GAWR limitations. Replacement tires with a higher
limit than the originals do not increase the GVWR and GAWR limitations.
Never exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the certification label.
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Steps for Determining the Correct Load Limit
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit-
(1) Locate the statement “The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never
exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your vehicle's placard.
(2) Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers t hat will be riding in your
vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
(4) The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo an d luggage load capacity. For
example, if the “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be five 150 lb passengers
in your vehicle, the amount of available cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs.
(1400 － 750 (5 × 150) = 650 lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and luggage lo ad capacity calculated
in Step 4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your tra iler will be transferred to your
vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how this reduces the available cargo and
luggage load capacity of your vehicle.
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