2003 Mazda Protege Owner's Manual - Page 223

J39L_EA.book Page 26 Saturday, June 8, 2002 5:35 PM Maintenance and Care Owner Maintenance M Tire Rotation To equalize tread wear, rotate the tires every 12,000 km (7,500 miles) or sooner if irregular wear develops. During rotation, inspect them for correct balance. CAUTION Limited-Slip Differential system; 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. Front Do not include (TEMPORARY USE ONLY) spare tire in rotation. Also, inspect them 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 (page 10-8) and inspect the lug nuts for tightness. M Replacing a Tire WARNING Worn Tires: Driving with worn tires is dangerous. Reduced braking, steering, and traction could result in an accident. Always use tires that are in good condition. 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. 8-26 Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G