2012 NISSAN CUBE Owners Manual

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 construction. A
NISSAN dealer 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 vehicle
speed. Never exceed the maximum
speed rating of the tire.
. Replacing tires with those not ori-
ginally specified by NISSAN could
affect the proper operation of the
TPMS.
. For additional information regard-
ing tires, refer to “Important Tire
Safety Information” (US) or “Tire
Safety Information” (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 conditions. All
Season tires are identified by ALL SEASON
and/or M&S (Mud and Snow) on the tire
sidewall. Snow tires have better snow traction
than All Season tires and may be more appro-
priate in some areas.
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 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 cap-
abilities 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 instal-
ling 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 clearance.
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 required
to accommodate the use of a winter traction
device (tire chains or cables) . The minimum
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-35

8-36Maintenance and do-it-yourself
clearances are determined using the factory
equipped tire size. Other types may damage
your vehicle. Use chain tensioners when re-
commended 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
front wheels and not on the rear 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 damage
to the various mechanisms of the vehicle due to
some overstress.
SDI1662
CHANGING WHEELS AND TIRES
Tire rotation
NISSAN recommends rotating the tires
every 7,500 miles (12,000 km) . (See “Flat
tire” (P.6-2) for tire replacing procedures.)
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 tigh-
tened to the specification at all times. It is recommended that wheel nuts be
tightened to the 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 or
any other small size spare tire in
the tire rotation.
. For additional information re-
garding tires, refer to “Important
Tire Safety Information” (US) or
“Tire Safety Information” (Cana-
da) in the Warranty Information
Booklet.

SDI1663
1.Wear indicator
2.Wear indicator location mark
Tire wear and damage
WARNING
.Tires should be periodically in-
spected for wear, cracking, bul-
ging 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
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, because
some tire damage may not be
obvious. Replace the tires as
necessary to prevent tire failure
and possible personal injury.
. Improper service of the spare
tire may result in serious perso-
nal injury. If it is necessary to
repair the spare tire, contact a
NISSAN dealer.
. For additional information re-
garding tires, refer to “Important
Tire Safety Information” (US) or
“Tire Safety Information” (Cana-
da) in the Warranty Information
Booklet.
Replacing wheels and tires
When replacing a tire, use the same size, tread
design, speed rating and load carrying capacity
as originally equipped. (See “Specifications”
(P.9-7) for recommended types and sizes of
tires and wheels.)
WARNING
. The use of tires other than those
recommended or the mixed use of
tires of different brands, construc-
tion (bias, bias-belted or radial) , or
tread patterns can adversely affect
the ride, braking, handling, 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
result in serious personal injury.
. 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,
degrade vehicle handling character-
istics and/or interference with the
brake discs/drums. Such interfer-
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-37

8-38Maintenance and do-it-yourself
ence can lead to decreased braking
efficiency and/or early brake pad/
shoe wear. See “Wheels and tires”
(P.9-7) of this manual for wheel off-
set dimensions.
. When a spare tire is mounted or a
wheel is replaced, the TPMS will not
function and the low tire pressure
warning light will flash for approxi-
mately 1 minute. The light will
remain on after 1 minute. Contact
your NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible for tire replacement and/
or system resetting.
. Replacing tires with those not ori-
ginally specified by NISSAN could
affect the proper operation of the
TPMS.
. 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 tire is not re-
commended.
. For additional information regard-
ing tires, refer to “Important Tire
Safety Information” (US) or “Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in the
Warranty Information Booklet.
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.
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 Information” (US) or
“Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in the War-
ranty Information Booklet.
Care of wheels
See “Cleaning exterior” (P.7-2) for details about
care of the wheels.
Spare tire
When a spare tire is mounted (TEMPORARY
USE ONLY) , the TPMS will not function.
Observe the following precautions if the TEM-
PORARY USE ONLY spare tire must be used,
otherwise your vehicle could be damaged or
involved in an accident.
WARNING
.
The TEMPORARY USE ONLY spare
tire should be used for emergency
use. It should be replaced with the
standard tire at the first opportunity
to avoid possible tire or differential
damage.
. Drive carefully while the TEMPOR-
ARY USE ONLY spare tire is in-
stalled. Avoid sharp turns and
abrupt braking while driving.
. Periodically check spare tire infla-
tion pressure. Always keep the
pressure of the TEMPORARY USE
ONLY spare tire at 60 psi (420 kPa,
4.2 bar) .
. With the TEMPORARY USE ONLY
spare tire installed do not drive your
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 original tire
used on the front wheels (drive
wheels) . Use tire chains only on
the front (original) tires.

.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.
CAUTION
.Do not use tire chains on a TEM-
PORARY 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 automatic car wash
since it may get caught.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-39

8-40Maintenance and do-it-yourself
MEMO

9 Technical and consumer information
Capacities and recommended fuel/lubricants ................... 9-2Fuel recommendation ......................................................... 9-3
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation ....................... 9-5
Air conditioning system refrigerant and
lubricant recommendations ............................................... 9-6
Specifications ........................................................................\
..... 9-7
Engine ........................................................................\
............ 9-7
Wheels and tires ................................................................. 9-7
Dimensions and weights ................................................... 9-8
When traveling or registering your vehicle in
another country ........................................................................\
.. 9-8
Vehicle identification ................................................................. 9-8 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plate ..................... 9-8
Vehicle identification number (chassis number) .......... 9-9
Engine serial number .......................................................... 9-9
F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certification label ....................... 9-9
Emission control information label ............................... 9-10
Tire and loading information label ................................ 9-10
Air conditioner specification label (if
so equipped) ..................................................................... 9-10 Installing front license plate ................................................ 9-11
Vehicle loading information ................................................. 9-12 Terms ........................................................................\
......... 9-12
Vehicle load capacity .................................................... 9-13
Securing the load .......................................................... 9-14
Loading tips ..................................................................... 9-14
Measurement of weights .............................................. 9-15
Towing a trailer ....................................................................... 9-15
Flat towing ........................................................................\
....... 9-16 Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) ............. 9-16
Manual Transmission ..................................................... 9-16
Uniform tire quality grading ................................................. 9-16 Treadwear ........................................................................\
9-16
Traction AA, A, B and C .............................................. 9-16
Temperature A, B and C .............................................. 9-17
Emission control system warranty ..................................... 9-17
Reporting safety defects ..................................................... 9-18
Readiness for Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) test ......... 9-19
Event Data Recorders (EDR) ............................................. 9-19
Owner’s Manual/Service Manual order information ..... 9-20

9-2Technical and consumer information
The following are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be a little different. When refilling, follow the procedure
instructed in the “8. Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section to determine the proper refill capacity.
Capacity (Approximate)Recommended specifications
US measure Imp measure Liter
Fuel 13-1/4 gal 11 gal50 See “Fuel recommendation” (P.9-3).
Engine oil*1
Drain and refill With oil filter change 4-3/8 qt 3-5/8 qt4.1
.Engine oil with API Certification Mark*2
. Viscosity SAE 5W-30
Without oil filter change 4 qt3-3/8 qt 3.8
Cooling system
With reservoir CVT model
7-1/2 qt 6-1/4 qt 7.1
Pre-diluted Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (Blue) or equivalent
MT model 7-1/4 qt6 qt6.8
Reservoir 3/4 qt5/8 qt 0.7
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) fluid —— — Genuine NISSAN CVT Fluid NS-2*3
Manual Transmission (MT) gear oil —— — API GL-4, Viscosity SAE 75W-80
Brake and clutch fluid Refill to the proper oil level according to the instructions in
the “8. Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section.Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid*4 or equivalent DOT 3
Multi-purpose grease —— — NLGI No. 2 (Lithium soap base)
Air conditioning system refrigerant —— — HFC-134a (R-134a)*5
Air conditioning system lubricants —— — NISSAN A/C System Oil Type R or exact equivalent
Window washer fluid 1-1/4 gal1 gal 4.5Genuine NISSAN Windshield Washer Concentrate Cleaner & Antifreeze or equivalent
*1: For additional information, see “Engine oil” (P.8-9) for changing engine oil.
*2: For additional information, see “Engine oil and oil filter recommendation” (P.9-5).
*3: Use only Genuine NISSAN CVT Fluid NS-2. Using transmission fluid other than Genuine NISSAN CVT Fluid NS-2 will damage the CVT, which is not covered by the NISSAN new vehicle
limited warranty.
*4: Available in mainland U.S.A. through a NISSAN dealer.
*5: For additional information, see “Vehicle identification” (P.9-8) for air conditioner specification label.
CAPACITIES AND RECOMMENDED
FUEL/LUBRICANTS