2021 MAZDA MODEL 3 HATCHBACK snow chains

WARNING
Never stop the engine when going
down a hill:
Stopping the engine when going down
a hill is dangerous. This causes the loss
of power steering and power brake
control, and may cause damage to the
drivetrain. Any loss of steering or
braking control could cause an
accident.
Hazardous Driving
▼Hazardous Driving
WARNING
Be extremely careful if it is necessary
to downshift on slippery surfaces:
Downshifting into lower gear while
driving on slippery surfaces is
dangerous. The sudden change in tire
speed could cause the tires to skid.
This could lead to loss of vehicle
control and an accident.
When driving on ice or in water, snow,
mud, sand, or similar hazards:
Be cautious and allow extra distance
for braking.
Avoid sudden braking and sudden
maneuvering.
Do not pump the brakes. Continue
to press down on the brake pedal.
Refer to Antilock Brake System (ABS)
on page 4-77.
If you get stuck, select a lower gear
and accelerate slowly. Do not spin
the front wheels.
For more traction in starting on
slippery surfaces such as ice or
packed snow, use sand, rock salt,
chains, carpeting , or other nonslip
material under the front wheels.
NOTE
Use snow chains only on the front
wheels.
Before Driving
Driving Tips
3-45
Mazda3_8JM2-EA
-20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34

Winter Driving
▼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
6-20.
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
6-17).
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 6-22).
NOTE
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 a ffected 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 4 wheels
Do not go faster than 120 km/h (75
mph) while driving with snow tires.
In
flate 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.

Mexico
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.
Except Mexico
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 to
replace them with snow tires during
the winter months to further improve
traction on snow and ice covered
roads.
Before Driving
Driving Tips
3-47
Mazda3_8JM2-EA -20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34

WARNING
Use only the same size and type tires
(snow, radial, or non-radial) on all 4
wheels:
Using tires different in size or type is
dangerous. Your vehicle's handling
could be greatly a ffected and result in
an accident.
CAUTION
Check local regulations before using
studded tires.
NOTE
The tire pressure monitoring system
may not function correctly when using
tires with steel wire reinforcement in
the sidewalls (page 4-220).
▼ Tire Chains
Check local regulations before using
tire chains.
CAUTION

Chains may a ffect 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
The tire pressure monitoring 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
3-48
Mazda3_8JM2-EA -20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34

Tra c t i o n C o n t r o l Sy s te m(TCS)
▼Traction Control System (TCS)
The Traction Control System (TCS)
enhances traction and safety by
controlling engine torque and braking.
When the TCS detects driving wheel
slippage, it lowers engine torque and
operates the brakes to prevent loss of
traction.

This means that on a slick surface, the
engine adjusts automatically to provide
optimum power to the drive wheels,
limiting wheel spin and loss of traction.

The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction.
Refer to TCS/DSC Indication/
Indicator Light (Turns on) on page
7-32.
WARNING
Do not rely on the Traction Control
System (TCS) as a substitute for safe
driving:
The Traction Control System (TCS)
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.
Use snow tires or tire chains and drive
at reduced speeds when roads are
covered with ice and/or snow:
Driving without proper traction devices
on snow and/or ice-covered roads is
dangerous. The Traction Control
System (TCS) alone cannot provide
adequate traction and you could still
have an accident.
NOTE
To t u r n o
ff the TCS, press the DSC OFF
switch (page 4-80).
▼ 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
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.
NOTE
In addition to the indicator light fl ashing , a slight lugging sound will
come from the engine. This indicates
that the TCS/DSC is operating
properly.
On slippery surfaces, such as fresh
snow, it will be impossible to achieve
high rpm when the TCS is on.
When Driving
ABS/TCS/DSC
4-78
Mazda3_8JM2-EA -20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34

i-ACTIV AWD Operation*
▼i-ACTIV AWD Operation
AWD provides excellent drivability on
snow-covered and ice-packed roads,
sand and mud, as well as on steep
slopes and other slippery surfaces.
A system malfunction or operation
conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to AWD Wa
rning Indication/
Warning Light on page 7-31.
WARNING
Never spin a wheel that is o ff the
ground:
Spinning a wheel that is o ff the ground
as a result of the vehicle being stuck or
in a ditch is dangerous. The drive
assembly could be seriously damaged
which could lead to an accident or
could even lead to overheating, oil
leakage, and a fire.
▼AWD Driving
This vehicle has not been designed for
the purpose of o
ff-road driving or
rallies. Do not attempt to drive over
uneven or rocky surfaces, or across
rivers.
Although this vehicle is equipped with
AWD, acceleration, steering and
braking operations should be
conducted in the same manner as with
a non-AWD vehicle, with the emphasis
placed on safe driving.
▼ Tires and Tire Chains
The condition of the tires plays a large
role in the performance of the vehicle.
Moreover, to prevent adverse eff
ects to
the drive assembly, please note the
following:
Tires
When replacing tires, always replace
all front and rear tires at the same
time.
All tires must be of the same size,
manufacture, brand and tread
pattern. Pay particular attention
when equipping snow or other types
of winter tires.
Do not mix tread-worn tires with
normal tires.
Inspect tire inflation pressures at the
speci fied periods adjust to the
speci fied pressures.
NOTE
Check the tire
inflation pressure label
attached to driver's door frame for the
correct tire inflation pressure.
Make sure to equip the vehicle with
genuine tires of the speci
fied size, on
all wheels. With AWD, the system is
calibrated for all 4 wheels being of
the same dimensions.
Tire chains
Install tire chains to the front tires.Do not use tire chains on the rear
wheels.
Do not drive the vehicle faster than
30 km/h (19 mph) with the tire
chains installed.
Do not drive the vehicle with tire
chains on road conditions other than
snow or ice.
▼ To w i n g
If the vehicle requires towing, have it
towed with all 4 wheels completely
off
the ground.
Refer to Towing Description on page
7-23.
When Driving
i-ACTIV AWD
*Some models.4-83
Mazda3_8JM2-EA -20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34

The TJA may not be able to detect a
vehicle ahead depending on the type
of vehicle ahead and its conditions,
the weather conditions, and the road
conditions. Additionally, the system
might be unable to decelerate
su fficiently if a vehicle ahead applies
the brakes suddenly, another vehicle
cuts into the driving lane, or the di fference in vehicle speed between
your vehicle and the vehicle ahead is
larger, which could result in an
accident. Check the surrounding
conditions and always drive carefully
while keeping a safe distance from
vehicles ahead and on-coming
vehicles.

For the purposes of safety, switch the
TJ A o ff when it is not being used.
Leaving the TJA turned on when it is
not in use is dangerous as it could
operate unexpectedly, resulting in an
accident.

Do not use the TJA under the
following conditions. Otherwise, it
may result in an accident.
 General roads other than
expressways or highways (Driving
under these conditions using the TJA
is not possible.)
 Roads with sharp curves and where
vehicle traffi c is heavy with
insuffi cient space between vehicles,
or roads where frequent and
repetitive acceleration and
deceleration occur (Driving under
these conditions using the TJA is not
possible). When entering and exiting
interchanges, service areas, and
parking areas of expressways (If you
exit an expressway while headway
control is in use, the vehicle ahead
will no longer be tracked and your
vehicle may accelerate to the set
speed).
 Slippery roads such as icy or
snow-covered roads (Tires could spin
causing you to lose vehicle control,
or the stop hold control may not
operate.)
 Long, descending slopes (to
maintain distance between vehicles,
the system automatically and
continuously applies the brakes
which could result in the loss of
brake power.)
 Two-wheeled vehicles such as
motorcycles or bicycles are ahead.
 (Automatic transmission vehicle)
Slopes with a steep gradient (The
vehicle ahead may not be detected
correctly, your vehicle may slip while
stopped by the stop hold control, or
it may accelerate suddenly after it
starts moving.)
 Driving under bad weather
conditions (rain, fog , and snow).
 The vehicle is driven on slippery
roads such as icy or snow -covered
roads and unpaved roads (Tires
could spin causing you to lose
vehicle control, or the stop hold
control may not operate.)
 Tires of a di fferent specified size are
used, such as a temporary spare tire.
 Tires with insu fficient tread are used.
 The tire pressures are not adjusted to
the
speci fied pressure.
 The vehicle is being used to tow a
camper or boat trailer.
 Tire chains are used.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
4-140
Mazda3_8JM2-EA -20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34

The functions of the LAS have
limitations. Always stay on course
using the steering wheel and drive
with care.
 Do not use the LAS under the
following circumstances, otherwise it
may result in an accident.
 The vehicle is driven on slippery
roads such as icy or snow-covered
roads, and unpaved roads.
 Tires of a
different
speci fied size
are used, such as a temporary
spare tire.
 Tires with
insufficient tread are
used.
 The tire pressures are not adjusted
to the
specified pressure.
 The vehicle is being used to tow a
camper or boat trailer.
 Tire chains are used.
 The vehicle is driven on roads with
lane lines other than white (yellow)
lines, such as an expressway.
CAUTION
Heed the following cautions so that
the LAS can operate normally.
Do not modify the vehicle's
suspensions.
 Always use tires of the speci fied type
and size for the front and rear
wheels. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer for tire replacement.
NOTE
The system may not operate normally
under the following conditions.
The white (yellow) lane lines are less
visible because of dirt or paint
fl aking.
White (yellow) lane lines are less
visible because of bad weather (rain,
fog , or snow).
The vehicle is driven on a temporary
lane or section with a closed lane
resulting from construction where
there might be multiple white
(yellow) lane lines, or they are
interrupted.
The camera picks up an obscure line,
such as a temporary line being used
for construction, or because of
shade, unmelted snow, or grooves
filled with water.
The surrounding brightness suddenly
changes such as when entering or
exiting a tunnel.
Back-light is re flected off the road
surface.
The road surface is wet and shiny
after rain, or there are puddles on
the road.
The width of a lane is excessively
narrow.
The vehicle is driven on roads with
tight curves.
Heavy luggage is loaded in the
trunk/luggage compartment or on
the rear seat causing the vehicle to
tilt.
The vehicle is driven through a fork in
the road or a junction.
The shade of a guardrail parallel to a
white (yellow) lane line is cast on the
road.
The illumination of the headlights is
weakened because of dirt or the
optical axis is deviated at night.
The road is excessively uneven.The vehicle is shaken after hitting a
road bump.
A vehicle in front of your vehicle is
running near a white (yellow) lane
line making it less visible.
The windshield is dirty or foggy.Strong light is directed from the front
of the vehicle (such as sunlight, or
headlights (high-beam) of
on-coming vehicles).
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
4-155
Mazda3_8JM2-EA -20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34

WARNING
Always confirm the safety of the area
around the vehicle with the mirrors
and directly with your eyes when
driving:
The 360°View Monitor is an auxiliary
device which assi sts the driver in
checking the safety of the area around
the vehicle.
The shooting range of the cameras and
detection range of the sensors are
limited. For example, the areas in black
at the front and rear of the vehicle
image and the seams where each of
the camera images merge are blind
spots where an obstruction may not be
visible. In addition, the extended
vehicle width lines and projected
vehicle path lines are only to be used
as references, and the images on the
screen may di ffer from the actual
conditions.
CAUTION
 Do not use the 360°View Monitor
under any of the following
conditions.
 Icy or snow-covered roads.
 Tire chains or a temporary spare
tire is installed.
 The front or rear doors are not fully
closed.
 The vehicle is on a road incline.
 The door mirrors are retracted.
 Do not hit the front/rear camera,
front/rear bumper, and door mirrors
forcefully. The camera position or
installation angle may shift.
 The cameras are waterproof. Do not
disassemble, modify, or remove a
camera.
The camera cover is made of hard
plastic, therefore do not apply oil
fi lm remover, organic solvents, wax,
or coating agents. If any such agent
gets on the camera cover, wipe it o ff
using a soft cloth immediately.
 Do not rub the camera lens
forcefully, or clean it with an abrasive
or hard brush. Otherwise, it could
scratch the camera lens and
negatively a ffect the images.
 Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer
for repair, painting, or replacement
of the front/rear camera, front/rear
bumper and door mirrors.
 Heed the following cautions to
assure that the 360°View Monitor
operates normally.
 Do not modify the vehicle
suspensions or lower/raise the
vehicle body, or both.
 Always use tires of the speci fied
type and size for the front and rear
wheels. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer for tire replacement.
 When the display is cold, images
may leave trails or the screen might
be darker than usual, making it
diffi cult to check the vehicle
surroundings. Always con firm the
safety at the front and around the
vehicle visually when driving.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
4-170
Mazda3_8JM2-EA -20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34