Wheels and tires
If you have a flat tire, see “Flat tire” (P. 6-3).
TIRE PRESSURE Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
WARNING
Radio waves could adversely af- fect electric medical equipment. Those who use a pacemaker should contact the electric medi- cal equipment manufacturer for the possible influences before use.
This vehicle is equipped with the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). It monitors tire pressure of all tires except the spare. When the low tire pressure warning light is lit and the “Tire Pressure Low - Add Air” warning appears in the vehicle information display, one or more of your tires is significantly under-inflated. If
equipped, the system also displays pressure of all tires (except the spare tire) on the display screen by send- ing a signal from a sensor that is installed in each wheel. The TPMS will activate only when the vehicle is driven at speeds above 16 mph (25 km/h). Also, this system may not detect a sudden drop in tire pressure (for example a flat tire while driving). For additional information, see “Low tire pressure warning light” (P. 2-18), “Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)” (P. 5-5) and “Flat tire” (P. 6-3). Tire inflation pressure Check the tire pressures (including the spare) often and always prior to long distance trips. The recom- mended tire pressure specifications are shown on the F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certification label or the Tire and Loading Information label under the
“Cold Tire Pressure” heading. The Tire and Loading Information label is af- fixed to the driver side center pillar. Tire pressures should be checked regularly because: • Most tires naturally lose air over time. • Tires can lose air suddenly when driven over potholes or other ob- jects or if the vehicle strikes a curb while parking.
The tire pressures should be checked when the tires are cold. The tires are considered COLD after the vehicle has been parked for 3 or more hours, or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km) at moderate speeds. The TPMS with Easy-Fill Tire Alert provides visual and audible signals outside the vehicle for inflating tires to the recommended COLD tire pressure. For additional information, see “TPMS with Easy-Fill Tire Alert” (P. 5-8).
Incorrect tire pressure, including under inflation, may adversely af- fect tire life and vehicle handling.
WARNING
• Improperly inflated tires can
fail suddenly and cause an accident.
• The Gross Vehicle Weight Rat- ing (GVWR) is located on the F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certifica- tion label. The vehicle weight capacity is indicated on the Tire and Loading Information label. Do not load your vehicle be- yond this capacity. Overload- ing your vehicle may result in reduced tire life, unsafe operat- ing conditions due to prema- ture tire failure, or unfavorable handling characteristics and could also lead to a serious ac- cident. Loading beyond the specified capacity may also re- sult in failure of other vehicle components.
• Before taking a long trip, or whenever you heavily load your vehicle, use a tire pressure gauge to ensure that the tire pressures are at the specified level.
• For additional information re- garding tires, refer to “Impor- tant Tire Safety Information” (US) or “Tire Safety Informa- tion” (Canada) in the Warranty Information Booklet.
Tire and Loading Information label 1 Seating capacity: The maximum
number of occupants that can be seated in the vehicle.
2 Original tire size: The size of the tires originally installed on the ve- hicle at the factory.
3 Cold tire pressure: Inflate the tires to this pressure when the tires are cold. Tires are considered COLD after the vehicle has been parked for 3 or more hours, or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km) at moderate speeds. The recom- mended cold tire inflation is set by the manufacturer to provide the best balance of tire wear, ve- hicle handling, driveability, tire noise, etc., up to the vehicle's GVWR.
4 Tire size - see “Tire labeling” (P. 8-34).
5 Spare tire size. 6 Vehicle load limit: see “Vehicle
loading information” (P. 10-15)
Checking tire pressure
WARNING
• Driving at high speeds, 100
mph (160 km/h) or higher sus- tained where it is legal to do so, can cause tires to have exces- sive heat build up, which may result in a tire failure causing loss of control, crash, injuries or even death. Some high-speed rated tires require inflation pressure adjustment for high- speed operation. When speed limits and road conditions al- low vehicle driving at high speeds, make sure tires are rated to support high speed operation, tires are in optimal conditions and pressure is ad- justed to correct cold inflation pressure for high speed operation.
• If your vehicle is equipped with 255/50R20 tire sizes, tires re- quire adjustment to the infla- tion pressure when driving the vehicle at speeds of 100 mph (160 km/h) or higher where it is legal to do so. See recom- mended tire inflation chart for correct operating pressure.
• After vehicle high speed opera- tion has ended, readjust the tire pressure to the recom- mended cold inflation pres- sure. For additional informa- tion, see "Checking tire pressure" (P. 8-32).
1. Remove the valve stem cap from the tire.
2. Press the pressure gauge squarely onto the valve stem. Do not press too hard or force the valve stem sideways, or air will es- cape. If the hissing sound of air escaping from the tire is heard while checking the pressure, re- position the gauge to eliminate this leakage.
3. Remove the gauge. 4. Read the tire pressure on the
gauge stem and compare to the specification shown on the Tire and Loading Information label.
5. Add air to the tire as needed. If too much air is added, press the core of the valve stem briefly with the tip of the gauge stem to release pressure. Recheck the pressure and add or release air as needed.
6. Install the valve stem cap. 7. Check the pressure of all other
tires, including the spare. 8. Check the pressure when driving
the vehicle at speeds of 100 mph (160 km/h) or higher where it is legal to do so.
Size Cold Tire Infla- tion Pressure
Front and Rear Original Tire: 255/50R20
35 psi, 240 kPa
Front and Rear Original Tire: 255/60R18
33 psi, 230 kPa
Spare Tire: T165/90D18 60 psi, 420 kPa
Recommended tire inflation pres- sures at speeds of 100 mph (160 km/h) or higher where it is legal to do so.
Size Cold Tire Infla-
tion Pressure Front and Rear Original Tire: 255/50R20
36 psi, 250 kPa
TIRE LABELING Federal law requires tire manufac- turers to place standardized infor- mation on the sidewall of all tires. This information identifies and de- scribes the fundamental character- istics of the tire and also provides the Tire Identification Number (TIN) for safety standard certification. The TIN can be used to identify the tire in case of a recall.
O1 Tire size (example: P215/65R15 95H) 1. P: The “P” indicates the tire is de-
signed for passenger vehicles (not all tires have this information).
2. Three-digit number (215): This number gives the width in milli- meters of the tire from sidewall edge to sidewall edge.
3. Two-digit number (65): This num- ber, known as the aspect ratio, gives the tire's ratio of height to width.
4. R: The “R” stands for radial. 5. Two-digit number (15): This num-
ber is the wheel or rim diameter in inches.
Example
Example
6. Two- or three-digit number (95): This number is the tire's load in- dex. It is a measurement of how much weight each tire can support.
7. H: Tire speed rating. You should not drive the vehicle faster than the tire speed rating.
O2 TIN (Tire Identification Number) for a new tire (example: DOT XX XX XXX XXXX) 1. DOT: Abbreviation for the “Depart-
ment Of Transportation”. The symbol can be placed above, be- low or to the left or right of the Tire Identification Number.
2. Two-digit code: Manufacturer's identification mark.
3. Two-digit code: Tire size. 4. Three-digit code: Tire type code
(Optional). 5. Four numbers represent the
week and year the tire was built. For example, the numbers 3103 means the 31st week of 2003. If these numbers are missing then look on the other sidewall of the tire.
Example (Type A) (if so equipped)
O2 TIN (Tire Identification Number) for a new tire (example: DOT XXX XXXXXX XXXX) 1. DOT: Abbreviation for the “Depart-
ment Of Transportation”. The symbol can be placed above, be- low or to the left of the Tire Identi- fication Number.
2. Three-digit code: Manufacturer's identification mark.
3. Six-digit code: Descriptive code used to identify significant char- acteristics of the tire.
4. Four numbers represent the week and year the tire was built. For example, the numbers 3103 means the 31st week of 2003.
O3 Tire ply composition and material The number of layers or plies of rubber-coated fabric in the tire. Tire manufacturers also must indicate the materials in the tire, which in- clude steel, nylon, polyester and others. O4 Maximum permissible inflation pressure This number is the greatest amount of air pressure that should be put in the tire. Do not exceed the maximum permissible inflation pressure. O5 Maximum load rating This number indicates the maxi- mum load in kilograms and pounds that can be carried by the tire. When replacing the tires on the vehicle, al- ways use a tire that has the same load rating as the factory installed tire.
Example (Type B) (if so equipped)
8-36 Do-it-yourself
O6 Term of “tubeless” or “tube type” Indicates whether the tire requires an inner tube (“tube type”) or not (“tubeless”). O7 The word “radial” The word “radial” is shown if the tire has radial structure. O8 Manufacturer or brand name Manufacturer or brand name is shown.
Other Tire-related Terminology
In addition to the many terms that are defined throughout this section, Intended Outboard Sidewall is (1) the sidewall that contains a whitewall, bears white lettering or bears manufacturer, brand, and/or model name molding that is higher or deeper than the same molding on the other sidewall of the tire, or (2) the outward facing sidewall of an asymmetrical tire that has a particu- lar side that must always face out- ward when mounted on a vehicle.
TYPES OF TIRES
WARNING
• When changing or replacing tires, be sure all four tires are of the same type (i.e., Summer, All Season or Snow) and construction. A NISSAN dealer may be able to help you with infor- mation about tire type, size, speed rating and availability.
• Replacement tires may have a lower speed rating than the factory equipped tires, and may not match the potential maximum vehicle speed. Never exceed the maximum speed rating of the tire.
• Replacing tires with those not origi- nally specified by NISSAN could af- fect the proper operation of the low tire pressure warning system.
• Always use tires of the same type, size, brand, construction and tread pattern on all four wheels. Failure to do so may result in a circumference difference between tires on the front and rear axles which can cause the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) sys- tem to malfunction resulting in per- sonal injury or death, excessive tire wear and may damage the transmis- sion and differential gears.
• For additional information regarding tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety Information” (US) or “Tire Safety In- formation” (Canada) in the Warranty Information Booklet.
All season tires NISSAN specifies All Season tires on some models to provide good performance all year, including snowy and icy road condi- tions. All Season tires are identified by ALL SEASON and/or M&S on the tire sidewall. Snow tires have better snow traction than All Season tires and may be more appropri- ate in some areas.
Do-it-yourself 8-37
Summer tires NISSAN specifies summer tires on some models to provide superior performance on dry roads. Summer tire performance is substantially reduced in snow and ice. Summer tires do not have the tire traction rating “M&S” on the tire sidewall. If you plan to operate your vehicle in snowy or icy conditions, NISSAN recommends the use of SNOW tires or ALL SEASON tires on all four wheels.
Snow tires If snow tires are needed, it is necessary to select tires equivalent in size and load rat- ing to the original equipment tires. If you do not, it can adversely affect the safety and handling of your vehicle. Generally, snow tires have lower speed rat- ings than factory equipped tires and may not match the potential maximum vehicle speed. Never exceed the maximum speed rating of the tire. If you install snow tires, they must be the same size, brand, construction and tread pattern on all four wheels.
For additional traction on icy roads, stud- ded tires may be used. However, some U.S. states and Canadian provinces prohibit their use. Check local, state and provincial laws before installing studded tires. Skid and traction capabilities of studded snow tires on wet or dry surfaces may be poorer than that of non-studded snow tires. TIRE CHAINS Use of tire chains may be prohibited ac- cording to location. Check the local laws before installing tire chains. When installing tire chains, make sure they are the proper size for the tires on your vehicle and are installed according to the chain manufac- turer's suggestions. Use only SAE class “S” chains. Class “S” chains are used on ve- hicles with restricted tire to vehicle clear- ance. Vehicles that can use Class “S” chains are designed to meet the minimum clear- ances between the tire and the closest ve- hicle suspension or body component re- quired to accommodate the use of a winter traction device (tire chains or cables). The minimum clearances are de- termined using the factory equipped tire size. Other types may damage your vehicle. Use chain tensioners when recommended by the tire chain manufacturer to ensure a tight fit. Loose end links of the tire chain
must be secured or removed to prevent the possibility of whipping action damage to the fenders or underbody. If possible, avoid fully loading your vehicle when using tire chains. In addition, drive at a reduced speed. Otherwise, your vehicle may be damaged and/or vehicle handling and performance may be adversely affected. Do not use tire chains on dry roads. Driving with chains in such conditions can cause damage to the various mechanisms of the vehicle due to some overstress.
CHANGING WHEELS AND TIRES Tire rotation NISSAN recommends rotating the tires every 10,000 miles (16,000 km). For additional information on tire re- placing procedures, see “Flat tire” (P. 6-3).
As soon as possible, tighten the wheel nuts to the specified torque with a torque wrench.
Wheel nut tightening torque: 83 ft-lb (113 N·m)
The wheel nuts must be kept tight- ened to specifications at all times. It is recommended that wheel nuts be tightened to specification at each tire rotation interval.
WARNING
• After rotating the tires, check and adjust the tire pressure.
• Retighten the wheel nuts when the vehicle has been driven for 600 miles (1,000 km) (also in cases of a flat tire, etc.).
• Do not include the spare tire in the tire rotation.
• For additional information re- garding tires, refer to “Impor- tant Tire Safety Information” (US) or “Tire Safety Informa- tion” (Canada) in the Warranty Information Booklet.
Tire wear and damage 1. Wear indicator 2. Location mark
WARNING
• Tires should be periodically in-
spected for wear, cracking, bulging or objects caught in the tread. If excessive wear, cracks, bulging or deep cuts are found, the tire(s) should be replaced.
• The original tires have built-in tread wear indicators. When the wear indicators are visible, the tire(s) should be replaced.
• Tires degrade with age and use. Have tires, including the spare, over 6 years old checked by a qualified technician be- cause some tire damage may not be obvious. Replace the tires as necessary to prevent tire failure and possible per- sonal injury.
• Improper service of the spare tire may result in serious per- sonal injury. If it is necessary to repair the spare tire, it is rec- ommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
• For additional information re- garding tires, refer to “Impor- tant Tire Safety Information” (US) or “Tire Safety Informa- tion” (Canada) in the Warranty Information Booklet.
Replacing wheels and tires When replacing a tire, use the same size, tread design, speed rating and load carry- ing capacity as originally equipped. For ad- ditional information, see “Wheels and tires” (P. 10-9).
WARNING
• The use of tires other than those rec-
ommended or the mixed use of tires of different brands, construction (bias, bias-belted or radial), or tread patterns can adversely affect the ride, braking, handling, Vehicle Dy- namic Control (VDC) system, ground clearance, body-to-tire clearance, tire chain clearance, speedometer calibration, headlight aim and bum- per height. Some of these effects may lead to accidents and could re- sult in serious personal injury.
• For 2WD models, if your vehicle was originally equipped with four tires that were the same size and you are only replacing two of the four tires, install the new tires on the rear axle. Placing new tires on the front axle may cause loss of vehicle control in some driving conditions and cause an accident and personal injury.
8-40 Do-it-yourself
• If the wheels are changed for any reason, always replace with wheels which have the same off-set dimen- sion. Wheels of a different off-set could cause premature tire wear, de- grade vehicle handling characteris- tics, affect the VDC system and/or in- terference with the brake discs. Such interference can lead to decreased braking efficiency and/or early brake pad wear. For additional information on wheel off-set dimensions, see “Wheels and tires” (P. 10-9).
• When using a wheel without the TPMS such as the spare tire, the TPMS will not function and the low tire pressure warning light will flash for approximately 1 minute. The light will remain on after 1 minute. Have your tires replaced and/or TPMS system reset as soon as possible. It is recom- mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
• Replacing tires with those not origi- nally specified by NISSAN could af- fect the proper operation of the TPMS.
• The TPMS sensor may be damaged if it is not handled correctly. Be careful when handling the TPMS sensor.
• When replacing the TPMS sensor, the ID registration may be required. It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for ID registration.
• Do not use a valve stem cap that is not specified by NISSAN. The valve stem cap may become stuck.
• Be sure that the valve stem caps are correctly fitted. Otherwise the valve may be clogged up with dirt and cause a malfunction or loss of pressure.
• Do not install a damaged or de- formed wheel or tire even if it has been repaired. Such wheels or tires could have structural damage and could fail without warning.
• The use of retread tires is not recommended.
• For additional information regarding tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety Information” (US) or “Tire Safety In- formation” (Canada) in the Warranty Information Booklet.
Four-wheel drive models
CAUTION
• Always use tires of the same type,
size, brand, construction (bias, bias- belted or radial), and tread pattern on all four wheels. Failure to do so may result in a circumference difference between tires on the front and rear axles which will cause excessive tire wear and may damage the transmis- sion and the drivetrain parts.
• Only use the spare tire specified for your vehicle.
If excessive tire wear is found, it is recom- mended that all four tires be replaced with tires of the same size, brand, construction and tread pattern. The tire pressure and wheel alignment should also be checked and corrected as necessary. It is recom- mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
Wheel balance Unbalanced wheels may affect vehicle handling and tire life. Even with regular use, wheels can get out of balance. Therefore, they should be balanced as required.
Do-it-yourself 8-41
Wheel balance service should be per- formed with the wheels off the vehicle. Spin balancing the wheels on the vehicle could lead to mechanical damage.
• For additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety In- formation” (US) or “Tire Safety Informa- tion” (Canada) in the Warranty Informa- tion Booklet.
Care of wheels • Wash the wheels when washing the ve-
hicle to maintain their appearance. • Clean the inner side of the wheels when
the wheel is changed or the underside of the vehicle is washed.
• Do not use abrasive cleaners when washing the wheels.
• Inspect wheel rims regularly for dents or corrosion. Such damage may cause loss of pressure or poor seal at the tire bead.
• NISSAN recommends waxing the road wheels to protect against road salt in ar- eas where it is used during winter.
Spare tire (TEMPORARY USE ONLY spare tire) When using a wheel without the TPMS such as the spare tire, the TPMS will not function. Observe the following precautions if the TEMPORARY USE ONLY spare tire must be used. Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged or involved in an accident:
WARNING
• The spare tire should be used for
emergency use only. It should be re- placed with the standard tire at the first opportunity to avoid possible tire or differential damage.
• Drive carefully while the TEMPORARY USE ONLY spare tire is installed. Avoid sharp turns and abrupt braking while driving.
• Periodically check spare tire inflation pressure. Always keep the pressure of the TEMPORARY USE ONLY spare tire at 420 kPa, 4.2 bar (60 psi).
• With the TEMPORARY USE ONLY spare tire installed do not drive the vehicle at speeds faster than 50 mph (80 km/h).
• When driving on roads covered with snow or ice, the TEMPORARY USE ONLY spare tire should be used on the rear wheels and the original tire used on the front wheels (drive wheels).
• Tire tread of the TEMPORARY USE ONLY spare tire will wear at a faster rate than the standard tire. Replace the spare tire as soon as the tread wear indicators appear.
• Do not use the spare tire on other vehicles.
• Do not use more than one spare tire at the same time.
• Do not tow a trailer when the TEMPO- RARY USE ONLY spare tire is installed.
8-42 Do-it-yourself
CAUTION
• Do not use tire chains on a TEMPO-
RARY USE ONLY spare tire. Tire chains will not fit properly and may cause damage to the vehicle.
• Because the TEMPORARY USE ONLY spare tire is smaller than the original tire, ground clearance is reduced. To avoid damage to the vehicle, do not drive over obstacles. Also, do not drive the vehicle through an auto- matic car wash since it may get caught.
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