2009 Mazda CX-7 Owner's Manual - Page 147

Before Driving Your Mazda Driving Tips Winter Driving Carry emergency gear, including tire chains, window scraper, flares, a small shovel, jumper cables, and a small bag of sand or salt. Ask an Authorized Mazda Dealer to perform the following precautions: l Have the proper ratio of antifreeze in the radiator. Refer to Engine Coolant on page 8-21. l Inspect the battery and its cables. Cold reduces battery capacity. l Inspect the ignition system for damage and loose connections. l Use washer fluid made with antifreeze―but don't use engine coolant antifreeze for washer fluid (page 8-26). l Don't use the parking brake in freezing weather as the parking brake may freeze. Instead, shift to P and block the rear wheels. l CAUTION Check local regulations before using studded tires. NOTE If your vehicle is equipped with the tire pressure monitoring system, the system may not function correctly when using tires with steel wire reinforcement in the sidewalls (page 5-31). qTire Chains Check local regulations before using tire chains. CAUTION Ø Chains may affect handling. Ø Do not go faster than 50 km/h (30 mph) or the chain manufacturer's recommended limit, whichever is lower. Ø Drive carefully and avoid bumps, holes, and sharp turns. Ø Avoid locked-wheel braking. Ø Do not use chains on a temporary spare tire; it may result in damage to the vehicle and to the tire. Ø Do not use chains on roads that are free of snow or ice. The tires and chains could be damaged. Ø Chains may scratch or chip aluminum wheels. NOTE If your vehicle is equipped with the tire pressure monitoring system, the system may not function correctly when using tire chains. qSnow Tires Use snow tires on all four wheels Don't go faster than 120 km/h (75 mph) while driving with snow tires. Inflate snow tires 30 kPa (0.3 kgf/cm2, 4.3 psi) more than recommended on the tire pressure label (driver's door frame), but never more than the maximum cold-tire pressure shown on the tires. WARNING Use only the same size and type tires (snow, radial, or non-radial) on all four wheels: Using tires different in size or type is dangerous. Your vehicle's handling could be greatly affected and result in an accident. Install the chains on the front tires. Do not use chains on the rear tires. Please consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer. 4-9