2011 INFINITI EX maintenance

If you have a flat tire, see “FLAT TIRE” in the “6. In
case of emergency” section.
TIRE PRESSURE
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)
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
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE warning appears on the
dot matrix liquid crystal display, one or more of
your tires is significantly under-inflated.
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 more details, see “Low tire pressure warn-
ing light” in the “2. Instruments and controls”
section, “TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM
(TPMS)” in the “5. Starting and driving” section
and “TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM
(TPMS)” in the “6. In case of emergency” sec-
tion.
Tire inflation pressure
Check the pressure of the tires (includ-
ing the spare) often and always prior tolong distance trips. The recommended
tire pressure specifications are shown
on the Tire and Loading Information
label under the “Cold Tire Pressure”
heading. The Tire and Loading Informa-
tion label is affixed 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 objects
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 mod-
erate speeds.
Incorrect tire pressure, including under
inflation, may adversely affect tire life
and vehicle handling.
WARNING
●Improperly inflated tires can fail sud-
denly and cause an accident.
●The Gross Vehicle Weight rating
(GVWR) is located on the F.M.V.S.S./
C.M.V.S.S. certification label. The ve-
hicle weight capacity is indicated on the
Tire and Loading Information label. Do
not load your vehicle beyond this capac-
ity. Overloading your vehicle may result
in reduced tire life, unsafe operating
conditions due to premature tire failure,
or unfavorable handling characteristics
and could also lead to a serious acci-
dent. Loading beyond the specified ca-
pacity may also result 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.
WHEELS AND TIRES
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●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.
Tire and Loading Information label
1Seating capacity: The maximum num-
ber of occupants that can be seated
in the vehicle.
2Vehicle load limit: See “VEHICLE
LOADING INFORMATION” in the “9.
Technical and consumer informa-
tion” section.
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3Original size: The size of the tires
originally installed on the vehicle at
the factory.
4Cold 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
recommended cold tire inflation is
set by the manufacturer to provide
the best balance of tire wear, vehicle
handling, driveability, tire noise,
etc., up to the vehicle’s GVWR.
5Tire size — see “TIRE LABELING” later
in this section.
6Spare tire size or compact spare tire
size (if so equipped)
Checking the tire pressure
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 side-
ways, or air will escape. If the hissing
sound of air escaping from the tire is
heard while checking the pressure,
reposition the gauge to eliminate this
leakage.
3.Remove the gauge.
4.Read the tire pressure on the gauge
stem and compare it to the specifica-
tion 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 re-
lease air as needed.
6.Install the valve stem cap.
7.Check the pressure of all other tires,
including the spare.
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8-30Maintenance and do-it-yourself

SIZE COLD TIREINFLATION
PRESSURE
FRONT
ORIGINAL TIRE P225/
55R18 97V
230 kPa,
33 PSI
P245/
45R19 98V 230 kPa,
33 PSI
REAR
ORIGINAL TIRE P225/
55R18 97V
230 kPa,
33 PSI
P245/
45R19 98V 230 kPa,
33 PSI
SPARE TIRE T165/
80R17 420 kPa,
60 PSI
T165/
80D17 420 kPa,
60 PSI
TIRE LABELING
Federal law requires tire manufacturers
to place standardized information on the
sidewall of all tires. This information
identifies and describes the fundamen-
tal characteristics 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.
1Tire size (example: P215/60R16 94H)
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 num-
ber gives the width in millimeters of
the tire from sidewall edge to side-
wall edge.
3.Two-digit number (60): This number,
known as the aspect ratio, gives the
tire’s ratio of height to width.
4.R: The “R” stands for radial.
Example
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Example
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5.Two-digit number (16): This number is
the wheel or rim diameter in inches.
6.Two- or three-digit number (94): This
number is the tire’s load index. It is a
measurement of how much weight
each tire can support. You may not
find this information on all tires be-
cause it is not required by law.
7.H: Tire speed rating. You should not
drive the vehicle faster than the tire
speed rating.
2TIN (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, below or to the
left or right of the Tire Identification
Number.
2.Two-digit code: Manufacturer’s iden-
tification mark
3.Two-digit code: Tire size
4.Three-digit code: Tire type code (Op-
tional)
5.Three-digit code: Date of Manufacture
6.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 side-
wall of the tire.
3Tire ply composition and material
The number of layers or plies of
rubber-coated fabric in the tire.
Tire manufacturers also must indi-
cate the materials in the tire, which
include steel, nylon, polyester, and
others.
4Maximum permissible inflation pres-
sure This number is the greatest amount
of air pressure that should be put in
the tire. Do not exceed the maximum
permissible inflation pressure.
Example
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5Maximum load rating
This number indicates the maximum
load in kilograms and pounds that
can be carried by the tire. When
replacing the tires on the vehicle,
always use a tire that has the same
load rating as the factory installed
tire.
6Term of “tubeless” or “tube type” Indicates whether the tire requires
an inner tube (“tube type”) or not
(“tubeless”).
7The word “radial” The word “radial” is shown, if the tire
has radial structure.
8Manufacturer or brand nameManufacturer or brand name is
shown.
Other tire-related terminology:
In addition to the many terms that are
defined throughout this section, In-
tended Outboard Sidewall is (1) the side-
wall that contains a whitewall, bears white lettering or bears manufacturer,
brand and/or model name molding that
is higher or deeper than the same mold-
ing on the other sidewall of the tire, or
(2) the outward facing sidewall of an
asymmetrical tire that has a particular
side that must always face outward
when mounted on a vehicle.
TYPES OF TIRES
WARNING
●
When changing or replacing tires, be sure all
four tires are of the same type (Example:
Summer, All Season or Snow) and construc-
tion. An INFINITI retailer may be able to help
you with information 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 ve-
hicle speed. Never exceed the maximum
speed rating of the tire.
● Replacing tires with those not originally
specified by INFINITI could affect the proper
operation of the TPMS. ●
For additional information regarding tires,
refer to “Important Tire Safety Information”
(US) or “Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in
the Warranty Information Booklet.
All season tires
INFINITI specifies all season tires on some
models to provide good performance all year,
including snowy and icy road conditions. All
Season tires are identified by ALL SEASON
and/or M&S (Mud and Snow) on the tire side-
wall. Snow tires have better snow traction than
All Season tires and may be more appropriate in
some areas.
Summer tires
INFINITI specifies summer tires on some models
to provide superior performance on dry roads.
Summer tire performance is substantially re-
duced 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, INFINITI recommends the use of
SNOW tires or ALL SEASON tires on all four
wheels.
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Snow tires
If snow tires are needed, it is necessary to
select tires equivalent in size and load rating to
the original equipment tires. If you do not, it can
adversely affect the safety and handling of your
vehicle.
Generally, snow tires will have lower speed
ratings 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, studded
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 capa-
bilities 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 according
to location. Check the local laws before install-
ing 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 manufacturer’s suggestions.Use only
SAE Class S chains. Class “S” chains are used
on vehicles with restricted tire to vehicle clear-
ance. Vehicles that can use Class “S” chains are
designed to meet the SAE standard minimum
clearances between the tire and the closest
vehicle suspension or body component re-
quired to accommodate the use of a winter
traction device (tire chains or cables). The mini-
mum clearances are determined using the fac-
tory equipped tire size. Other types may dam-
age 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.
Tire chains must be installed only on the rear
wheels and not on the front wheels. Never install tire chains on a TEMPORARY USE
ONLY spare tire.
Do not use tire chains on dry roads. Driving with
tire chains in such conditions can cause dam-
age to the various mechanisms of the vehicle
due to some overstress.
8-34Maintenance and do-it-yourself

CHANGING WHEELS AND TIRES
Tire rotation
INFINITI recommends rotating the tires
every 7,500 miles (12,000 km). (See
“FLAT TIRE” in the “6. In case of emer-
gency” section for tire replacing proce-
dures.)
As soon as possible, tighten the wheel
nuts to the specified torque with a torque
wrench.Wheel nut tightening torque:
80 ft-lb (108 N·m)
The wheel nuts must be kept tightened to
the specification at all times. It is recom-
mended that wheel nuts be tightened to
the specification at each tire rotation in-
terval.
WARNING
●After rotating the tires, check and ad-
just the tire pressure.
●Retighten the wheel nuts when the ve-
hicle has been driven for 600 miles
(1,000 km) (also in cases of a flat tire,
etc.).
●Do not include the T-type spare tire or
any other small size spare tire in the tire
rotation.
●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.
1. Wear indicator
2. Wear indicator location mark
Tire wear and damage
WARNING
●Tires should be periodically inspected
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.
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