MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA RF 2021 Owners Manual

Location of the Tire Label (Placard)
You will find the tire label containing tire inflation 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 Inflation Pressure
On the tire label you will find the recommended tire inflation
pressure in both kPa and psi
for the tires installed as orig inal equipment on the vehicle. I t is very important that the
inflation pressure of the tires on your vehicle is maintained a t the recommended pressure.
You should check the tire pressure regularly to insure that the proper inflation pressure is
maintained.
Refer to Tires on page 9-9.
NOTE
Tire pressures listed on the vehicle placar d or tire information label indicate the
recommended cold tire inflation 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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WARNING
Always check the tire inflation pressures on a regular basis according to the recommended
tire inflation pressure on the tire label and in conjunction with the information in this owner's
manual:
Driving your vehicle with under-inflated tires is dangerous.
Under-inflation 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-inflation inc reases sidewall flexing 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 ti re can lose up to half of its air pressure and
not appear to be flat!
It is impossible to determine whether or not tires are properly inflated just by looking at them.
▼Checking Tire Pressure
1. When you check the air pressure
, make sure the tires are cold ―meaning 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 overfill the tire, rel ease air by pushing on the metal stem in the center of the
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 inflation pressure.
8. Visually inspect the tires to make sure there are no nails or other objects 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, b ulges, cracks or other
irregularities.
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▼Glossary of Terms
Tire Placard:
A label indicating the OE tire sizes, recommended inflation pr essure, and the
maximum weight the vehicle can carry.
Tire Identification Number (TIN): A number on the sidewall of each tire providing
information about the tire brand and manufacturing plant, tire size, and date of manufacture.
Inflation Pressure: A measure of the amo unt of air in a tire.
kPa: Kilopascal, the metric unit for air pressure.
psi: Pounds per square inch, the English unit for air pressure.
B-pillar: The structural member at the side of the vehicle behind the fr ont door.
Original Equipment (OE): Describes components originally equipped on the vehicle.
Vehicle Load Limit: The maximum value of the combination weight of occupants and
cargo.
Bead Area of the Tire: Area of the tire next to the rim.
Sidewall Area of the Tire: Area between the bead area and the tread.
Tread Area of the Tire: Area on the perimeter of the tire that contacts the road when it's
mounted on the vehicle.

Seating capacity means the total allowable number of vehicle occupants. Seating capacity
is described on the tire label.

Production options weight is the combination weight of installed regular production
options weighing over 2.3 kilogram s in excess of the standard items which they replace, and
not previously considered in the curb weight or accessory weigh t, including heavy duty
brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy duty battery, and speci al trim.

Rim is the metal support (wheel) fo r a tire or a tire and tube assembly upon which the tire
beads are seated.
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Tire Maintenance
Improper or inadequate vehicle maintenance can cause tires to w ear abnormally. Here are
some important maintenance points:
▼ Tire Inflation Pressure
Inspect all tire pressu
re monthly (including the spare) when th e tires are cold. Maintain
recommended pressures for the best ride, top handling, and mini mum tire wear. Use the
pressures specified on the vehicle tire information placard or tire label for optimum service.
▼Tire Rotation
To equalize tread wear, rotate the tires every 12,000 km (7,500
miles) at the latest or sooner
if irregular wear develops. Mazda recommends to rotate every 8, 000 km (5,000 miles) to
help increase tire life and d istribute 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:
Incorrect tire pressure
Improper wheel alignment
Out-of-balance wheel
Severe braking
After rotation, inflate all tire pressures to specification (pa ge 9-9) 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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(With limited-slip differential)
Don't use the following:
Tires not of the designated size
 Tires of different sizes or types at the same time
 Tires not sufficiently inflated
If these instructions aren't followed, the rotation of the left and right wheels will be different
and will thus apply a constant load on the limited-slip differential.
This will cause a malfunction.
▼ Replacing a Tire
WA R N I N G
Always use tires that are in good condition:
Driving with worn tires is dangerous. Reduce
d braking, steering, and traction could result in
an accident.
If a tire wears evenly, a wear i ndicator 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. 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 8-25.
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▼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 against 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 ne arest vehicle or tire dealer to have the vehicle
inspected.
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Ve h i c l e L o a d i n g
WA R N I N G
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 vehic le, to keep your loaded
vehicle weight within its desi gn rating capability. Properly lo ading 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 La bel and Tire and Load Information Label:
WA R N I N G
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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