wheel size MAZDA MODEL 3 5-DOOR 2004 Owners Manual
Page 110 of 372
4-10
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Snow Tires
Use snow tires on all four wheels
Don
’t go faster than 120 km/h (75 mph) 
while driving with snow 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), but never 
more than the maximum cold-tire 
pressure shown on the tires. Except Brazil
Your 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.
Brazil
Your 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, you may find it necessary 
to replace the original equipment tires 
with snow tires, during the winter months.
Mixing Tire Types:
Using tires different in size or type is 
dangerous. Your vehicle
’s handling 
could be greatly affected and result in 
an accident. Use only the same size 
and type tires (snow, radial, or non-
radial) on all four wheels.
Check local regulations before using 
studded tires.
NOTE
If your vehicle is equipped with the tire 
pressure monitoring system, the system 
may not function correctly when using 
tires with steel wire reinforcement in 
the sidewalls (page 5-24).
WARNING
CAUTION
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Page 221 of 372
7-7
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
1. Park on a level surface off the right-of-way and firmly set the parking brake.
2. Put a vehicle with an automatic  transaxle in Park (P), a manual 
transaxle in Reverse (R) or 1, and turn 
off the engine.
3. Turn on the hazard warning flasher.
4. Have everyone get out of the vehicle  and away from the vehicle and traffic.
5. Remove the jack, tool, and spare tire  (page 7-3). 6. Block the wheel diagonally opposite 
the flat tire. When blocking a wheel, 
place a block both in front and behind 
the tire.
Removing a Flat Tire
1. If your vehicle is equipped with a 
wheel cover, pry off the wheel cover 
with the beveled end of the lug wrench.
(With Tire Pressure Monitoring 
System)
 
The wheels equipped on your Mazda 
are specially designed for installation 
of the tire pressure sensors. Do not use 
non-genuine wheels, otherwise it may 
not be possible to install the tire 
pressure sensors.
NOTE
• Make sure the jack is well 
lubricated before using it.
(With Tire Pressure Monitoring 
System)  
•Be sure to register the tire pressure 
sensor ID signal code whenever 
tires or wheels are changed (page 
5-24).
CAUTION
NOTE
When blocking a tire, use rocks or 
wood blocks of sufficient size to hold 
the tire in place.
Wheel cover
Lug wrench
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Page 269 of 372
8-31
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
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.
Tire Inflation Pressure
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System* 
does not alleviate the need to check the 
tire condition every day, including 
whether the tires all look inflated 
properly. Inspect 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.
Refer to the specification charts (page 
10-8).
Tires
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 your Mazda (page 10-8) 
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 your 
Mazda.
WARNING
Incorrect Tire Inflation:
Overinflation or underinflation of 
tires is dangerous. Adverse handling 
or unexpected tire failure could result 
in a serious accident. Always inflate 
the tires to the correct pressure (page 
10-8).
WARNING
Tire pressure label
*Some models.
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8-34
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Replacing a Wheel
• Don
’t use your temporary spare tire 
rim with a snow tire or a 
conventional tire. Neither will 
properly fit and could damage both 
tire and rim.
• The temporary spare tire has a tread 
life of up to 5,000 km (3,000 miles), 
depending on road conditions and 
driving habits.
• The temporary spare tire is for 
limited use, however, if the tread 
wear solid-band indicator appears, 
replace the tire with the same type 
of temporary spare (page 8-33).
CAUTION
Using a Wrong-Sized Wheel:
Using a wrong-sized wheel is 
dangerous. Braking and handling 
could be affected, leading to loss of 
control and an accident. Always use 
wheels of the correct size on your 
vehicle.
•A wrong-sized wheel may 
adversely affect:
Tire fit
 Wheel and bearing life
 Ground clearance
 Snow-chain clearance
 Speedometer calibration
 Headlight aim
 Bumper height
 Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• (With Tire Pressure Monitoring 
System)
 
 When replacing/repairing the 
tires or wheels or both, have the 
work done by an Authorized 
Mazda Dealer, or the tire 
pressure sensors may be 
damaged.
 The wheels equipped on your 
Mazda are specially designed for 
installation the tire pressure 
sensors. Do not use non-genuine 
wheels, otherwise it may not be 
possible to install the tire 
pressure sensors.
WARNING
CAUTION
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