Winter Driving - Mazda 2012 CX-9 Owner's Manual

Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips

Winter Driving

Carry emergency gear, including tire
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chains, window scraper, a small shovel,
jumper cables, and a small bag of sand
or salt.
Ask an Authorized Mazda Dealer to
perform the following precautions:
Have the proper ratio of antifreeze in
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the radiator.
Refer to Engine Coolant on page 8-21.
Inspect the battery and its cables. Cold
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reduces battery capacity.
Inspect the ignition system for damage
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and loose connections.
Use washer fluid made with
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antifreeze but do not use engine
coolant antifreeze for washer fluid
(page 8-26).
Do not use the parking brake in
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freezing weather as it may freeze.
Instead, shift to P and block the rear
wheels.
Do not apply excessive force to a
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window scraper when removing ice or
frozen snow on the mirror glass and
windshield.
Never use warm or hot water for
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removing snow or ice from windows
and mirrors as it could result in the
glass cracking.
qSnow Tires
Use snow tires on all four wheels
Do not go faster than 120 km/h (75 mph)
while driving with snow tires. Inflate
snow tires 30 kPa (0.3 kgf/cm
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.
4-10
2
, 4.3 psi)
Except 18-inch tires
Your vehicle is originally equipped with
all season radials designed to be used all
year around. In some extreme climates
you may find it necessary to replace them
with snow tires during the winter months
to further improve traction on snow and
ice covered roads.
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.
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).