2002 Mazda Protege Owner's Manual - Page 220

J39L(02MY).book Page 28 Thursday, November 1, 2001 10:49 AM Maintenance and Care Owner Maintenance M Tire Rotation To equalize tread wear, rotate the tires every 6,000 km (3,750 miles)/*12,000 km (7,500 miles), or sooner if irregular wear develops. During rotation, inspect them for correct balance. *Canada 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. If a tire wears evenly, a wear indicator will appear as a solid band across the tread. Replace the tire when this happens. Front Do not include (TEMPORARY USE ONLY spare tire) in rotation. Tread wear indicator 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, bring all tire pressures to specification (page 10-7) and inspect the lug nuts for tightness. You may need to replace it before the band is across the entire tread. New tread Worn tread 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. 8-28 Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F