wheel size MAZDA MODEL MX-5 2017 Owners Manual (in English)

3–54
Before Driving
Driving Tips
 


y 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 snow tires. InÀ ate 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.

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.
WARNING
Use only the same size and type tires
(snow, radial, or non-radial) on all four
wheels:
Using tires diff erent in size or type is
dangerous. Your vehicle's handling
could be greatly aff ected and result in
an accident.

CAUTION
Check local regulations before using
studded tires.

Tire Chains
Check local regulations before using tire
chains.
CAUTION
 


¾ Chains may aff ect handling.



¾ Do not go faster than 50 km/h (30
mph) or the chain manufacturer's
recommended limit, whichever is lower.
 


¾ Drive carefully and avoid bumps, holes,
and sharp turns.
 


¾ Avoid locked-wheel braking.







¾ Do not use chains on roads that are free
of snow or ice. The tires and chains could
be damaged.
 


¾ Chains may scratch or chip aluminum
wheels.

N O T E
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 rear tires only.
Do not use chains on the front tires.
Please consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
Installing the chains
1. Secure the chains on the rear tires as
tightly as possible.
Always follow the chain manufacturer's
instructions.
2. Retighten the chains after driving
1/2—1 km (1/4—1/2 mile).

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4–67
When Driving
ABS/TCS/DSC
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 4-65 ) and TCS
(page 4-66 ).

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 Warning Indication/Warning
Lights on page 4-26 .
WARNING
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
 


¾ The DSC may not operate correctly
unless the following are observed:
 


¾ Use tires of the correct size specifi ed
for your Mazda on all four wheels.
 


¾ Use tires of the same manufacturer,
brand and tread pattern on all four
wheels.
 


¾ Do not mix worn tires. 



¾ 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 or DSC is operating, the
indicator light À ashes.

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.
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4–106
When Driving
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
CAUTION
 


¾ Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly when cold and
infl ated to the infl ation pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle
placard or tire infl ation pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires of a diff erent size than the
size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire infl ation pressure label, you should determine
the proper tire infl ation pressure for those tires.)
  As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system ( TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale when one or more of your tires
is signifi cantly under-infl ated. Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illuminates,
you should stop and check your tires as soon as possible, and infl ate them to the proper
pressure. Driving on a signifi cantly under-infl ated tire causes the tire to overheat and can
lead to tire failure. Under-infl ation also reduces fuel effi ciency and tire tread life, and may
aff ect the vehicle's handling and stopping ability.

 Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire maintenance, and it is the
driver's responsibility to maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-infl ation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
  Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when
the system is not operating properly.
  The TPMS malfunction indicator is combined with the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale will fl ash for approximately one minute and then
remain continuously illuminated. This sequence will continue upon subsequent vehicle
start-ups as long as the malfunction exists. When the malfunction indicator is illuminated,
the system may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended. TPMS
malfunctions may occur for a variety of reasons, including the installation of replacement
or alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS from functioning properly.
Always check the TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing one or more tires or wheels on
your vehicle to ensure that the replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to
continue to function properly.
 


¾ To avoid false readings, the system samples for a little while before indicating a problem. As
a result it will not instantaneously register a rapid tire defl ation or blow out.

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6–41
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Tires
For reasons of proper performance, safety,
and better fuel economy, always maintain
recommended tire inÀ ation pressures and
stay within the recommended load limits
and weight distribution.
WARNING
Using Diff erent Tire Types:
Driving your vehicle with diff erent
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
specifi ed for the vehicle (page 9-8 )
is dangerous. It could seriously aff ect
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 specifi ed for the
vehicle.

Tire InÀ ation Pressure
WARNING
Always infl ate the tires to the correct
pressure:
Overinfl ation or underinfl ation of tires
is dangerous. Adverse handling or
unexpected tire failure could result in a
serious accident.
Refer to Tires on page 9-8 .

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 when
the tires are cold. Maintain recommended
pressures for the best ride, handling, and
minimum tire wear.
Refer to the speci¿ cation charts (page
9-8 ).
(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 4-108 .
N O T E
 


y Always check tire pressure when tires
are cold.
 


y Warm tires normally exceed
recommended pressures. Do not release
air from warm tires to adjust the
pressure.
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6–42
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
 


y UnderinÀ ation 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.
 


y OverinÀ ation can produce a harsh ride,
uneven and accelerated tire wear, and a
greater possibility of damage from road
hazards.
  Keep your tire pressure at the correct
levels. If one frequently needs inÀ ating,
have it inspected.

Tire Rotation
WARNING
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 for uneven wear and
damage. Abnormal wear is usually caused
by one or a combination of the following:

 


y Incorrect tire pressure



y Improper wheel alignment



y Out-of-balance wheel



y Severe braking

After rotation, inÀ ate all tire pressures to
speci¿ cation (page 9-8 ) and inspect the
lug nuts for tightness.
(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 4-108 .
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.
(With limited-slip diff erential)
Do not use the following:
 


¾ Tires not of the designated size



¾ Tires of diff erent sizes or types at
the same time
 


¾ Tires not suffi ciently infl ated
If these instructions are not followed,
the rotation of the left and right wheels
will be diff erent and will thus apply
a constant load on the limited-slip
diff erential.
This will cause a malfunction.

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6–43
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
*Some models.
Replacing a Tire
WARNING
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.
Replace the tire when this happens.

New treadTread wear indicator
Worn tread

You should replace the tire before the band
crosses the entire tread.
(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 4-108 .
N O T E
Tires degrade over time, even when
they are not being used on the road. It
is recommended that tires generally be
replaced when they are 6 years or older.
Heat caused by hot climates or frequent
high loading conditions can accelerate the
aging process. The period in which the tire
was manufactured (both week and year) is
indicated by a 4-digit number.
Refer to Tire Labeling on page 8-24 .

Replacing a Wheel
WARNING
Always use wheels of the correct size on
your vehicle:
Using a wrong-sized wheel is
dangerous. Braking and handling
could be aff ected, leading to loss of
control and an accident.

CAUTION
A wrong-sized wheel may adversely
aff ect:




¾ Tire fi t



¾ Wheel and bearing life



¾ Ground clearance



¾ Snow-chain clearance



¾ Speedometer calibration



¾ Headlight aim



¾ Bumper height



¾ Tire Pressure Monitoring System *
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7–16
If Trouble Arises
Flat Tire
Changing a Tire
WARNING
Be sure to follow the directions for
changing a tire:
Changing a tire is dangerous if not
done properly. The vehicle can slip off
the jack and seriously injure someone.
No person should place any portion
of their body under a vehicle that is
supported by a jack.

Never allow anyone inside a vehicle
supported by a jack:
Allowing someone to remain in
a vehicle supported by a jack is
dangerous. The occupant could cause
the vehicle to fall resulting in serious
injury.

N O T E
Make sure the jack is well lubricated
before using it.

1. Park on a hard, level surface off the
right-of-way and ¿ rmly set the parking
brake.
2. Put a vehicle with an automatic
transmission in Park (P), a manual
transmission in Reverse (R) or 1, and
turn off the engine.
3. Turn on the hazard warning À asher.
4. Have everyone get out of the vehicle
and away from the vehicle and traf¿ c.
5. Remove the jack and tool (page
7-3 ). 6. Block the wheel diagonally opposite
the tire to be changed. When blocking
a wheel, place a tire block both in front
and behind the tire.


N O T E
When blocking a tire, use rocks or wood
blocks of suf¿ cient size if possible to hold
the tire in place.

Removing a Tire
1. Loosen the lug nuts by turning them
counterclockwise one turn each, but do
not remove any lug nuts until the tire
has been raised off the ground.



2. Place the jack on the ground.
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7–39
If Trouble Arises
Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds
*Some models.
Signal Warning


(Illuminate)
Lane Departure
Warning System
(LDWS) Warning
Indication/Warning
Light
*
y The warning indication/warning light illuminates if there is a problem with the system.
Have your vehicle inspected at an Authorized Mazda Dealer.

y The LDWS does not operate when the warning indication/warning light illuminates.
CAUTION
¾
A problem in the system may be indicated under the following conditions. Have your
vehicle inspected at an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
¾
When the warning indication/warning light illuminates while driving the vehicle.
When the system is canceled automatically, the warning indication/warning
light illuminates. Normally, the system restores automatically and the warning
indication/warning light turns off , however, if the warning indication/warning light
illuminates, there may be a problem with the system.
¾
The warning indication/warning light does not illuminate when the ignition is
switched ON.
¾
Always use tires for all wheels that are of the specifi ed size, and the same
manufacture, brand, and tread pattern. In addition, do not use tires with signifi cantly
diff erent wear patterns on the same vehicle. If such improper tires are used, the LDWS
may not operate normally.
¾
When an emergency spare tire is used, the system may not operate normally.
N O T E
If the windshield area in front of the Forward Sensing Camera (FSC) is fogged or
obstructed, the light turns on temporarily. If the light remains turned on, there may be a
problem with the system.


(Amber)
High Beam Control
System (HBC)
Warning Indication/
Warning Light
* The warning indication/warning light illuminates if there is a problem with the system.
Have your vehicle inspected at an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
N O T E
If the windshield area in front of the Forward Sensing Camera (FSC) is fogged or
obstructed, the warning indication/warning light illuminates temporarily. If the warning
indication/warning light illuminates, there may be a problem with the system.


Blind Spot
Monitoring (BSM)
Warning Indication
* The message is displayed when the system has a malfunction. Have your vehicle inspected
by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
N O T E
If the vehicle is driven on a road with less traf¿ c and few vehicles that the radar sensors
can detect, the system may pause. However, it does not indicate a malfunction.


Blind Spot
Monitoring (BSM)
OFF Indicator
Light
* A problem in the system may be indicated under the following conditions.
Have your vehicle inspected at an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
y The light does not turn on when the ignition is switched ON.
y The light remains on even when the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) system can be operated.
y The light turns on while driving the vehicle.
N O T E
If the vehicle is driven on a road with less traf¿ c and few vehicles that the radar sensors
can detect, the system may pause (The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) OFF indicator light in
the instrument cluster illuminates). However, it does not indicate a malfunction.
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8–25
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
P215/65R15 95H is an example of a tire size and load index rating. Here is an explanation
of the various components of that tire size and load index rating. Note that the tire size and
load index rating may be different from the example.
P
Indicates a tire that may be installed on cars, SUVs, minivans and light trucks as designated
by the Tire and Rim Association (T&RA).
N O T E
If your tire size does not begin with a letter this may mean it is designated by either ETRTO
(European Tire and Rim Technical Organization) or JATMA (Japan Tire Manufacturing
Association).

215
“215” is the nominal width of the tire in millimeters. This three-digit number gives the
width in millimeters of the tire from sidewall edge to sidewall edge. In general, the larger
the number, the wider the tire.
6 5
“65” is the aspect ratio. This two-digit number indicates the tire's ratio of height to width.
R
“R” is the tire construction symbol. R indicates “Radial ply construction”.
1 5
“15” is the wheel rim diameter in inches.
9 5
“95” is the Load Index. This two-or three-digit number indicates how much weight each tire
can support.
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8–27
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
Maximum Permissible InÀ ation 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
Tread wear: The tread wear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled conditions on a speci¿ ed 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.
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 pavement as measured under controlled conditions
on speci¿ ed government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have
poor traction performance.
Temperature: 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 speci¿ ed 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:
 


y EXPLOSION OF TIRE/RIM ASSEMBLY DUE TO IMPROPER MOUNTING-MATCH
TIRE DIAMETER TO RIM DIAMETER; NEVER EXCEED 40 psi (275 kPa) TO SEAT
BEADS-ONLY SPECIALLY TRAINED PERSONS SHOULD MOUNT TIRES.
 


y TIRE FAILURE DUE TO UNDER-INFLATION/OVERLOADING/DAMAGE-
FOLLOW OWNER'S MANUAL AND PLACARD IN VEHICLE-FREQUENTLY
CHECK INFLATION PRESSURE AND INSPECT FOR DAMAGE.

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