2003 Mazda Protege Owner's Manual - Page 224

J39L_EA.book Page 27 Saturday, June 8, 2002 5:35 PM Maintenance and Care Owner Maintenance If a tire wears evenly, a wear indicator will appear as a solid band across the tread. Replace the tire when this happens. Tread wear indicator CAUTION • Don't use your temporary spare tire rim with a snow tire or a conventional tire. Neither will properly fit and could damage both tire and rim. • The temporary spare tire has a tread life of up to 5,000 km (3,000 miles), depending on road conditions and driving habits. New tread Worn tread You may need to replace it before the band is across the entire tread. • When the tread wear solid-band indicator appears, replace the tire with the same type of temporary spare (page 8-26). M Temporary Spare Tire Inspect the temporary spare tire at least monthly to make sure it's properly inflated and stored. The temporary spare tire is easier to handle because of its construction. It is lighter and smaller than a conventional tire and should be used only for an emergency and only for a short distance. Use the temporary only until the conventional tire is repaired, which should be as soon as possible. Maintain its pressure at 420 kPa (4.2 kgf/cm2 or bar, 60 psi). M Replacing a Wheel When replacing a wheel, make sure the new one is the same as the original factory wheel in diameter, rim width, and offset. Proper tire balancing provides the best riding comfort and helps reduce tread wear. Out-of-balance tires can cause vibration and uneven wear, such as cupping and flat spots. WARNING Using a Wrong-Sized Wheel: Using a wrong-sized wheel is dangerous. Braking and handling could be affected, leading to loss of control and an accident. Always use wheels of the correct size on your vehicle. 8-27 Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G