Get Before Driving -> Driving Tips Guide for Mazda Mx-5 SUV Fourth Generation (2016-2026)

Before Driving

Driving Tips

Break-In Period

Saving Fuel and Protection

of the Environment

How you operate your Mazda determines

how far it will travel on a tank of fuel. Use

these suggestions to help save fuel and

reduce CO2.

No special break-in is necessary, but a few

precautions in the first 1,000 km (600

miles) may add to the performance,

economy, and life of the vehicle.



Do not race the engine.

Do not maintain one constant speed,

either slow or fast, for a long period of

time.

Do not drive constantly at full-throttle or

high engine rpm for extended periods of

time.

Avoid unnecessary hard stops.



Avoid long warm-ups. Once the engine

runs smoothly, begin driving.

Avoid fast starts.

Drive at lower speeds.

Anticipate when to apply the brakes



(avoid sudden braking).

Follow the maintenance schedule (page



Avoid full-throttle starts.

6-4) and have an Authorized Mazda

Dealer perform inspections and

servicing.



Use the air conditioner only when

necessary.

Slow down on rough roads.

Keep the tires properly inflated.

Do not carry unnecessary weight.



Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal

while driving.

Keep the wheels in correct alignment.

Keep windows closed at high speeds.

Slow down when driving in crosswinds



and headwinds.

WARNING

Never stop the engine when going down a

hill:

Stopping the engine when going down a

hill is dangerous. This causes the loss of

power steering and power brake control,

and may cause damage to the drivetrain.

Any loss of steering or braking control

could cause an accident.

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Before Driving

Driving Tips

Hazardous Driving

Floor Mat

We recommend the use of Genuine

Mazda floor mats.

WARNING

Be extremely careful if it is necessary to

downshift on slippery surfaces:

Downshifting into lower gear while driving

on slippery surfaces is dangerous. The

sudden change in tire speed could cause

the tires to skid. This could lead to loss of

vehicle control and an accident.

Make sure the ꢀoor mats are hooked on the

retention pins to prevent them from

bunching up under the foot pedals:

Using a ꢀoor mat that is not secured is

dangerous as it will interfere with the

accelerator and brake pedal operation,

which could result in an accident.

When driving on ice or in water, snow,

mud, sand, or similar hazards:



Be cautious and allow extra distance for

braking.

Avoid sudden braking and sudden

maneuvering.

Do not install two ꢀoor mats, one on top of

the other, on the driver's side:



Installing two ꢀoor mats, one on top of the

other, on the driver's side is dangerous as

the retention pins can only keep one ꢀoor

mat from sliding forward.



Do not pump the brakes. Continue to

press down on the brake pedal.

Refer to Antilock Brake System (ABS)

on page 4-65.

If you get stuck, select a lower gear and

accelerate slowly. Do not spin the rear

wheels.

Loose ꢀoor mat(s) will interfere with the

foot pedals and could result in an accident.

If using an all-weather mat for winter use

always remove the original ꢀoor mat.



For more traction in starting on slippery

surfaces such as ice or packed snow, use

sand, rock salt, chains, carpeting, or

other nonslip material under the rear

wheels.

NOTE

Use snow chains only on the rear wheels.

When setting a floor mat, position the

floor mat so that its grommets are inserted

over the pointed end of the retention posts.

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Before Driving

Driving Tips

Rocking the Vehicle

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 check

the following:

WARNING

Do not spin the wheels at more than 56

km/h (35 mph), and do not allow anyone

to stand behind a wheel when pushing the

vehicle:



Have the proper ratio of antifreeze in the

When the vehicle is stuck, spinning the

wheels at high speed is dangerous. The

spinning tire could overheat and explode.

This could cause serious injuries.

radiator.

Refer to Engine Coolant on page 6-25.

Inspect the battery and its cables. Cold

reduces battery capacity.

Use an engine oil appropriate for the



lowest ambient temperatures that the

vehicle will be driven in (page 6-23).

Inspect the ignition system for damage

and loose connections.

Use washer fluid made with

CAUTION



Too much rocking may cause engine

overheating, transmission failure, and tire

damage.



antifreeze―but do not use engine

coolant antifreeze for washer fluid (page

6-27).

If you must rock the vehicle to free it from

snow, sand or mud, depress the accelerator

slightly and slowly move the shift lever/

selector lever from 1 (D) to R position.

NOTE



Do not use the parking brake in freezing

weather as it may freeze. Instead, shift

to P with an automatic transmission and

to 1 or R with a manual transmission.

Block the rear wheels.



Remove snow before driving. Snow left

on the windshield is dangerous as it

could obstruct vision.

Do not open or close the soft top when



the temperature is 5 °C (41 °F) or less.

The material of the soft top could be

damaged by freezing.



Do not apply excessive force to a

window scraper when removing ice or

frozen snow on the mirror glass and

windshield.

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Before Driving

Driving Tips



Never use warm or hot water for

CAUTION

removing snow or ice from windows and

mirrors as it could result in the glass

cracking.

Check local regulations before using

studded tires.



Drive slowly. Braking performance can

be adversely affected if snow or ice

adheres to the brake components. If this

situation occurs, drive the vehicle

slowly, releasing the accelerator pedal

and lightly applying the brakes several

times until the brake performance

returns to normal.

NOTE

The tire pressure monitoring system may

not function correctly when using tires

with steel wire reinforcement in the

sidewalls (page 4-118).

Tire Chains

▼

Check local regulations before using tire

chains.

Snow Tires

▼

Use snow tires on all 4 wheels

CAUTION

Do not go faster than 120 km/h (75 mph)

while driving with snow tires. Inflate snow

tires 30 kPa (0.3 kgf/cm , 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.

Chains may aꢁect handling.

Do not go faster than 50 km/h (30 mph)

or the chain manufacturer's

2

recommended limit, whichever is lower.

Drive carefully and avoid bumps, holes,

and sharp turns.

Avoid locked-wheel braking.

Do not use chains on roads that are free

of snow or ice. The tires and chains could

be damaged.

The vehicle is originally equipped with

summer tires designed for optimum

traction on wet and dry roads. If your

vehicle is to be used on snow and ice

covered roads, Mazda recommends that

you replace the tires originally equipped

on your vehicle with snow tires during the

winter months.

Chains may scratch or chip aluminum

wheels.

NOTE



The tire pressure monitoring system may

WARNING

not function correctly when using tire

chains.

Use only the same size and type tires (snow,

radial, or non-radial) on all 4 wheels:

Using tires diꢁerent in size or type is

dangerous. Your vehicle's handling could

be greatly aꢁected and result in an

accident.

Install the chains on the rear tires only.

Do not use chains on the front tires.

Please consult an Authorized Mazda

Dealer.

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Before Driving

Driving Tips

Installing the chains

Driving In Flooded Area

1. Secure the chains on the rear tires as

tightly as possible.

WARNING

Always follow the chain

manufacturer's instructions.

2. Retighten the chains after driving

1/2―1 km (1/4―1/2 mile).

Dry oꢁ brakes that have become wet by

driving slowly, releasing the accelerator

pedal and lightly applying the brakes

several times until the brake performance

returns to normal:

Driving with wet brakes is dangerous.

Increased stopping distance or the vehicle

pulling to one side when braking could

result in a serious accident. Light braking

will indicate whether the brakes have been

aꢁected.

CAUTION

Do not drive the vehicle on ꢀooded roads

as it could cause short circuiting of

electrical/electronic parts, or engine

damage or stalling from water absorption.

If the vehicle has been immersed in water,

consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.

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Before Driving

Driving Tips

Overloading

WARNING

Be careful not to overload your vehicle:

The gross axle weight rating (GAWR) and

the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of

the vehicle are on the Motor Vehicle Safety

Standard Label on the driver's door frame.

Exceeding these ratings can cause an

accident or vehicle damage. You can

estimate the weight of the load by

weighing the items (or people) before

putting them in the vehicle.

3-56

Before Driving

Driving Tips

Driving on Uneven Road

Your vehicle's suspension and underbody can be damaged if driven on rough/uneven roads

or over speed bumps at excessive speeds. Use care and reduce speed when traveling on

rough/uneven roads or over speed bumps.

Use care not to damage the vehicle's underbody, bumpers or muffler(s) when driving under

the following conditions:



Ascending or descending a slope with a sharp transition angle

Ascending or descending a driveway or trailer ramp with a sharp transition angle



This vehicle is equipped with low profile tires allowing class-leading performance and

handling. As a result, the sidewall of the tires are very thin and the tires and wheels can be

damaged if driven through potholes or on rough/uneven roads at excessive speeds. Use care

and reduce speed when traveling on rough/uneven roads or through potholes.

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Before Driving -> Driving Tips for Your Mazda Mx-5 SUV Fourth Generation (2016-2026)

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