2004 Mazda Tribute Owner's Manual - Page 240

Maintenance and Specifications 4. Replace the valve cap. 5. Repeat this procedure for each tire, including the spare. Note: Some spare tires require higher inflation pressure than the other tires. 6. 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. 7. Check the sidewalls to make sure there are no gouges, cuts, bulges or other irregularities. Tire and wheel alignment A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can cause the front end of your vehicle to become misaligned or damage to your tires. If your vehicle seems to pull to one side, vibrate or shake when you're driving, the wheels may be out of alignment. Have a qualified technician at a Mazda dealer check the wheel alignment periodically. Wheel misalignment in the front or the rear can cause uneven and rapid treadwear of your tires and should be corrected by a qualified technician at a Mazda dealer. Front wheel drive (FWD) vehicles, and those with independent front suspension require alignment of all four wheels. The tire should also be balanced periodically. An unbalanced tire and wheel assembly may result in irregular tire wear. NOTE: When it is time to replace front tires with new ones, this is an ideal time to perform an alignment. New tires should be balanced at the time they are installed. Tire rotation Rotating your tires at the recommended interval (as indicated in the Scheduled maintenance section of the Maintenance and Specifications chapter) will help your tires wear more evenly providing better tire performance and longer tire life. Unless otherwise specified, rotate the tires approximately every 8,000 km (5,000 miles). 240