snow chains MAZDA MODEL PROTÉGÉ 2003 Owners Manual (in English)

4-7
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
When driving on ice or in water, snow,
mud, sand, or similar hazard:
•Be cautious and allow extra distance
for braking.
•Avoid sudden braking and quick
steering.
•If your vehicle is not equipped with
ABS, brake with the pedal by using a
light up-down motion. Don’t hold the
pedal down constantly.
If your vehicle is equipped with ABS,
don’t pump the brakes. Continue to
press down on the brake pedal.
•If you get stuck, shift to 1 or 2 and
accelerate slowly. Don’t spin the front
wheels.
•For more traction in starting, use sand,
rock salt, chains, carpeting, or other
nonslip material under the front
wheels.If you must rock the vehicle to free it from
snow, sand, or mud, depress the
accelerator slightly and slowly move the
shift lever from 1 (D) to R.
Hazardous Driving
Downshifting 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. If it is
necessary to downshift on slippery
surfaces, be very careful.
NOTE
Use snow chains only on the front
wheels.
WARNING
Rocking the Vehicle
Spinning the Wheels:
When the vehicle is stuck, spinning
the wheels at high speed is dangerous.
The spinning tire could overheat and
explode. This could cause serious
injuries. Don’t spin the wheels at
more than 56 km/h (35 mph), and
don’t allow anyone to stand behind a
wheel when pushing the vehicle.
Too much rocking may cause engine
overheating, transaxle failure, and tire
damage.
WARNING
CAUTION
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4-8
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
•Carry emergency gear, including tire
chains, window scraper, flares, a small
shovel, jumper cables, and a small bag
of sand or salt.
Ask a Mazda dealer to perform the
following precautions:
•Have the proper ratio of antifreeze in
the radiator.
•Inspect the battery and its cables. Cold
reduces battery capacity.
•Use only cold-weather engine oil
(page 8-9).
•Inspect the ignition system for damage
and loose connections.
•Use washer fluid made with
antifreeze—but don’t use engine
coolant antifreeze for washer fluid
(page 8-18).
•Don’t use the parking brake in freezing
weather as the parking brake may
freeze. Instead, shift to P with an
automatic transaxle and to 1 or R with
a manual transaxle. Block the rear
wheels.

Snow Tires
Use snow tires on all four wheels
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.
Don’t go faster than 120 km/h (75 mph).
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.
Winter Driving
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.
WARNING
CAUTION
J39L_EA.book Page 8 Saturday, June 8, 2002 5:35 PM

4-9
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G

Tire Chains
Check local regulations before using tire
chains.
Install the chains on the front tires.
Don’t use chains on the rear tires.
Use only SAE Class "S" chains, and make
sure they fit.Installing the chains
1. Remove the wheel covers, or 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). •Chains may scratch or chip
aluminum wheels. Install tire chains
on steel wheels only.
•Chains may affect handling.
•Don’t 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.
•Don’t use chains on the temporary
tire; it may result in damage to the
vehicle and to the tire.
•Don’t use chains on roads that are
free of snow or ice. The tires and
chains could be damaged.
NOTE
(MAZDASPEED Protegé)

Use of tire chains on a vehicle
equipped with 215/45ZR17
specification tires and rim could cause
interference with the vehicle body and
scratching. If tire chains are to be used,
replace both front and rear tires with
P195/50R16 tires. Please consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
CAUTION
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11-5
Index
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
P
Paint Damage ................................... 8-42
Parking Brake
..................................... 5-5
Parking in an Emergency
................... 7-2
Power Door Locks
............................. 3-8
Power Steering
................................. 5-18
Fluid
.......................................... 8-16
Power Windows
............................... 3-14
Push-Starting
.................................... 7-17
R
Rear Door Child Safety Locks ........... 3-8
Rear Seat
............................................ 2-5
Rear Window Defroster
................... 5-40
Rear Window Washer
...................... 5-40
Rear Window Wiper
........................ 5-40
Rearview Mirror
............................... 3-24
Recreational Towing
........................ 7-20
Rocking the Vehicle
........................... 4-7
Roof Rack
........................................ 3-21
S
Safety Defects, Reporting ................ 9-14
Seat Belt System
3-point type
............................... 2-14
Extender
.................................... 2-20
Pregnant women
....................... 2-12
Pretensioner and load limiting
.. 2-16
Rear-center lap/shoulder
........... 2-18
Seat belt precautions
................. 2-11
Warning beep
............................ 2-21
Warning light
............................ 2-21
Seats
Front seats
................................... 2-2
Rear seat
...................................... 2-5
Service Publications
......................... 9-14
Spare Tire and Tool Storage
.............. 7-3
S
Specifications ...................................10-4
Speedometer
.....................................5-24
SRS Air Bags
Air bag system description
........2-40
Supplemental restraint systems
precautions
................................2-36
Warning light
............................2-45
Starting the Engine
.............................5-3
Steering Wheel
.................................3-23
Horn
..........................................5-41
Storage Compartments
.....................6-39
Cargo securing loops
.................6-39
Center console
...........................6-39
Glove box
..................................6-39
Sunroof
.............................................3-19
Sunshade
...........................................3-20
Sunvisors
..........................................6-35
T
Tachometer .......................................5-25
Temporary Spare Tire
......................8-27
Tiedown
Hook
..........................................7-19
Tires
Flat tire
........................................7-3
Inflation pressure
.......................8-25
Replacement
..............................8-26
Rotation
.....................................8-26
Snow tires
....................................4-8
Spare tire and tool storage
...........7-3
Specifications
............................10-8
Tire chains
...................................4-9
Uniform tire quality grading
system (UTQGS)
.......................9-12
Tool
....................................................7-3
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