tires MAZDA MODEL 3 4-DOOR 2014 Owner's Guide

8–21
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS)
Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS)
This information relates to the tire grading system developed by the U.S\
. National Highway
Traffi c Safety Administration for grading tires by tread wear, traction, and temperature
performance.
Tread Wear
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of t\
he tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specifi ed government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one-and-a-half times as well o\
n 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 signifi cantly 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 measured under controlled cond\
itions on specifi ed
government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
WARNING
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.
Temperature-A, B, C
The temperature grades A (the highest), B, and C, represent the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under c\
ontrolled conditions on
a specifi ed indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire to degener\
ate and reduce tire
life, and excessive temperatures can lead to sudden tire failure.
Grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger vehicl\
e 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 requ\
ired by law.
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8–22
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS)
WARNING
Keep your vehicle's tires properly infl ated and not overloaded:
Driving with improperly infl ated or overloaded tires is dangerous. Excessive speed,
underinfl ation, or excessive loading, either separately or in combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure. The temperature grade for this tire is established for a
tire that is properly infl ated and not overloaded.
These grades will be added to the sidewalls of passenger vehicle tires o\
ver the next several
years according to a schedule established by the NHTSA and the tire manufacturers.
The grade of tires available as standard or optional equipment on Mazda \
vehicles may vary
with respect to grade.
ALL PASSENGER VEHICLE TIRES MUST CONFORM TO THESE GRADES AND TO
ALL OTHER FEDERAL TIRE-SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the tire sidewall betwee\
n tread shoulder
and maximum section width.
For example:
TREADWEAR 200 TRACTION AA TEMPERATURE A
UTQGS MARK (example)
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8–23
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
Tire Labeling
Federal law requires tire manufacturers to place standardized informatio\
n on the sidewall of
all tires. This information identifi es and describes the fundamental characteristics of the tire
and also provides a tire identifi cation number for safety standard certifi cation and in case of
a recall.
Information on Passenger Vehicle Tires
Please refer to the sample below.
1. TIN: U.S. DOT tire identifi cation number
2. Passenger car tire
3. Nominal width of tire in millimeters
4. Ratio of height to width (aspect ratio)
5. Radial
6. Run-fl at tire
7. Rim diameter code
8. Load index & speed symbol
9. Severe snow conditions
10. Tire ply composition and materials used
11. Max. load rating
12. Tread wear, traction and temperature grades
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8–25
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
H
“H” is the speed rating. The speed rating denotes the maximum speed for which the use of
the tire is rated.
Letter Rating Speed Rating
Q 99 mph
R 106 mph
S 112 mph
T 118 mph
U 124 mph
H 130 mph
V 149 mph
W 168
* mph
Y 186 * mph
* For tires with a maximum speed capability over 149 mph, tire manufactur\
ers sometimes
use the letters ZR. For tires with a maximum speed capability over 186 m\
ph, tire
manufacturers always use the letters ZR.
M S 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 Identifi cation 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 examp\
le, 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 materials, 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.
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8–26
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
Maximum Permissible Infl ation Pressure
This number is the greatest amount of air pressure that should ever be p\
ut 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 t\
he tire
when tested under controlled conditions on a specifi 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 c\
ontrolled conditions
on specifi 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 specifi 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. M\
ake
sure you purchase snow tires that are the same size and construction typ\
e 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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8–27
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
Information on Temporary Tires
Please refer to the sample below.
1. Temporary tires
2. Nominal width of tire in millimeters
3. Ratio of height to width (aspect ratio)
4. Diagonal
5. Rim diameter code
6. Load index & speed symbol
T115/70D16 90M is an example of a tire size and load index rating. Here is an explanat\
ion
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.
T
Indicates a tire that may be installed on cars, SUVs, minivans and light\
trucks as designated
by the Tire and Rim Association (T&RA).
1 1 5
“115” 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 gener\
al, the larger the
number, the wider the tire.
7 0
“70” is the aspect ratio. This two-digit number indicates the tire's ratio of height to width.
D
“D” is the tire construction symbol. D indicates “diagonal ply \
construction”.
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8–29
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
Location of the Tire Label (Placard)
You will fi nd the tire label containing tire infl ation pressure by tire size and other important
information on the driver's side B-pillar or on the edge of the driver's\
door frame.
SAMPLE
Recommended Tire Infl ation Pressure
On the tire label you will fi nd the recommended tire infl ation pressure in both kPa and
psi for the tires installed as original equipment on the vehicle. It is \
very important that the
infl ation pressure of the tires on your vehicle is maintained at the recomme\
nded pressure.
You should check the tire pressure regularly to insure that the proper in\
fl ation pressure is
maintained.
Refer to Tires on page 9-10 .
NOTE
Tire pressures listed on the vehicle placard or tire information label indicate the
recommended cold tire infl ation pressure, measured when the tires are cold, after the vehicle
has been parked for at least 3 hours. As you drive, the temperature in the tire warms up,
increasing the tire pressure.
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8–30
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
WARNING
Always check the tire infl ation pressures on a regular basis according to the
recommended tire infl ation pressure on the tire label and in conjunction with the
information in this owner's manual: Driving your vehicle with under-infl ated tires is dangerous.
Under-infl ation is the most common cause of failures in any kind of tire and may result
in severe cracking, tread separation or “blowout”, with unexpected loss of vehicle
control and increased risk of injury. Under-infl ation increases sidewall fl exing and
rolling resistance, resulting in heat buildup and internal damage to the tire. It results in
unnecessary tire stress, irregular wear, loss of control and accidents. A tire can lose up to
half of its air pressure and not appear to be fl at!
It is impossible to determine whether or not tires are properly infl ated just by looking at
them.
Checking Tire Pressure
1. When you check the air pressure, make sure the tires are cold —meanin\
g they are not hot from driving even a mile.
2. Remove the cap from the valve on one tire.
3. Firmly press a tire gauge onto the valve.
4. Add air to achieve recommended air pressure.
5. If you overfi ll the tire, release air by pushing on the metal stem in the center of t\
he valve.
Then recheck the pressure with your tire gauge.
6. Replace the valve cap.
7. Repeat with each tire, including the spare.
NOTE
Some spare tires require higher infl ation pressure.
8. Visually inspect the tires to make sure there are no nails or other objec\
ts embedded that could poke a hole in the tire and cause an air leak.
9. Check the sidewalls to make sure there are no gouges, cuts, bulges, crac\
ks or other irregularities.
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8–32
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
Tire Maintenance
Improper or inadequate vehicle maintenance can cause tires to wear abnor\
mally. Here are
some important maintenance points:
Tire Infl ation Pressure
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. Use the
pressures specifi ed on the vehicle tire information placard or tire label for optimum ser\
vice.
Tire Rotation
To equalize tread wear, rotate the tires every 12,000 km (7,500 miles) at the latest or soon\
er
if irregular wear develops. Mazda recommends to rotate every 8,000 km (\
5,000 miles) to
help increase tire life and distribute wear more evenly.
Do not include (TEMPORARY USE ONLY)
spare tire in rotation.Forward
Inspect the tires 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, infl ate all tire pressures to specifi cation (page 9-10 ) 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 weakened if
rotated from side to side.

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8–33
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
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.
If a tire wears evenly, a wear indicator will appear as a solid band across the tread.
Replace the tire when this happens.
New tread Tread wear indicator
Worn tread
You should replace the tire before the band crosses the entire tread.
NOTE
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. You should replace the
spare tire when you replace the other road tires due to the aging of the spare tire. 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 8-23 .
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