2018 INFINITI Q50 Owner's Manual

8-38Do-it-yourself
Term of “tubeless” or “tube type”
Indicates whether the tire requires an
inner tube (“tube type”) or not (“tube-
less”).
The word “radial”
The word “radial” is shown, if the tire
has radial structure.
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, In-
tended Outboard Sidewall is (1) the
sidewall that contains a whitewall,
bears white lettering or bears manu-
facturer, brand and/or model name
molding that is higher or deeper than
the same molding on the other side-
wall 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 construction. 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 vehicle speed.
Never exceed the maximum speed
rating of the tire.
. Replacing tires with those not origin-
ally 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 War-
ranty Information Booklet.
All season tires
INFINITI 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 (Mud and Snow) on
the tire sidewall. 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 reduced in snow and ice. Sum-
mer 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.
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 capabilities of studded snow tires,
on wet or dry surfaces, may be poorer than
that of non-studded snow tires.
Run-flat tires (if so equipped)
Your vehicle is equipped with run-flat tires.
You can continue driving to a safe location
even if they are punctured. Always use run-
flat tires of the specified size on all four
wheels. Mixing tire sizes or construction may
reduce vehicle handling stability. If neces-
sary, contact an INFINITI retailer for assis-
tance.
Frequently check the tire pressure and adjust
pressure of each tire properly. The tire
pressure can be also checked in the vehicle
information display.
It can be difficult to tell if a run-flat tire is
under-inflated or flat. Check the tire pres-
sures as described earlier in this section. If
the tire becomes under-inflated while driv-
ing, the low tire pressure warning light will
illuminate. If the tire becomes flat while
driving, the low tire pressure warning lightand the “Flat Tire - Visit dealer” warning will
appear.
Low tire pressure:
If the vehicle is being driven with low tire
pressure, the low tire pressure warning light
will illuminate.
Flat tire:
If the vehicle is being driven with one or more
flat tires, the low tire pressure warning light
will illuminate continuously and a chime will
sound for 10 seconds. A “Flat Tire - Visit
dealer” warning also appears in the vehicle
information display.
The chime will only sound at the first
indication of a flat tire and the warning light
will illuminate continuously. When the flat
tire warning is activated, have the system
reset and the tire checked, and replaced if
necessary. It is recommended you visit an
INFINITI retailer for these services. Even if
the tire is inflated to the specified COLD tire
pressure, the warning light will continue to
illuminate until the system is reset.
If the low tire pressure warning light illumi-
nates continuously and the “Flat Tire - Visit
dealer” warning appears in the vehicle
information display:
.
Do not exceed 50 MPH (80 km/h).
. Increase your following distance to allow
for increased stopping distances. .
Avoid sudden maneuvers, hard cornering
and hard braking.
WARNING
. Although you can continue driving
with a punctured run-flat tire, re-
member that vehicle handling stabi-
lity is reduced, which could lead to an
accident and personal injury. Also,
driving a long distance at high speeds
may damage the tire.
. Do not drive at speeds above 50
MPH (80 km/h) and do not drive
more than approximately 93 miles
(150 km) with a punctured run-flat
tire. The actual distance the vehicle
can be driven on a flat tire depends on
outside temperature, vehicle load,
road conditions and other factors.
. Drive safely at reduced speeds. Avoid
hard cornering or braking, which may
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle.
. If you detect any unusual sounds or
vibrations while driving with a punc-
tured run-flat tire, pull off the road
to a safe location and stop the vehicle
as soon as possible. The tire may be
seriously damaged and need to be
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8-40Do-it-yourself
replaced.
CAUTION
.Never install tire chains on a punctu-
red run-flat tire, as this could damage
your vehicle.
. Avoid driving over any projection or
pothole, as the clearance between
the vehicle and the ground is smaller
than normal.
. Do not enter an automated car wash
with a punctured run-flat tire.
. It is recommended you have the
punctured tire inspected by an
INFINITI retailer or other authorized
repair shop. Replace the tire as soon
as possible if the tire is seriously
damaged.
TIRE CHAINS
CAUTION
Tire chains/cables should not be in-
stalled on 265/35R19 and
265/35RF19 tires. Doing so will cause
damage to the vehicle. If you plan to use
tire chains/cables, you should install
245/45RF19 tires on your vehicle.
Use of tire chains may be prohibited accord-
ing 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 manufacturer’s sug-
gestions. Use only SAE Class S chains. Class
“S” chains are used on vehicles with re-
stricted 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
clearances are determined using the factory
equipped tire size. Other types may damage
your vehicle. Use chain tensioners when
recommended by the tire chain manufac-
turer 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 (if so equipped). Never
install tire chains on a punctured run-flat tire
(if so equipped), as this could damage your
vehicle.
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 (models equipped with
same size tires on all wheels)
INFINITI recommends rotating the
tires every 5,000 miles (8,000 km).
(See “Flat tire” (P.6-3) for tire repla-
cing 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 T-type spare
tire or any other small size
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.
After the ignition switch is placed in
the ON position, it may take a period of time for the tire pressure to be
displayed in the vehicle information
display while the vehicle is driven.
Depending on the radio wave circum-
stance, tire pressure may not cor-
rectly be displayed.
Tire rotation (models equipped with
different size tires on front and rear)
Tires cannot be rotated on this vehi-
cle, as front tires are a different size
from rear tires.
A pin is on the front brake rotor to
prevent the rear wheels from being
installed in place of the front wheels.
The spare tire can be installed in place
of the front and rear wheels. When
installing the spare tire in the front
wheel, the hole in the spare tire wheel
must be aligned with the pin on the
brake rotor.
WARNING
.
If your vehicle is equipped with
different size front and rear
tires, never install the rear
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8-42Do-it-yourself
tire/wheel on the front of the
vehicle. Doing so can damage
the vehicle or tire. Damage to
the tire may result in a sudden
loss of air pressure which may
cause loss of vehicle control in
some driving conditions and
cause a collision and personal
injury.
. Retighten the wheel nuts when
the vehicle has been driven for
600 miles (1,000 km) (also in
cases of a flat tire, etc.).
. 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.
After the ignition switch is placed in
the ON position, it may take a period
of time for the tire pressure to be
displayed in the vehicle information
display while the vehicle is driven.
Depending on the radio wave circum-
stance, tire pressure may not cor- rectly be displayed.
SDI1663
: Wear indicator
: Wear indicator location mark. The
locations are shown by “”, “TWI”,
etc. depending on tire types.
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, it is re-
commended you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this ser-
vice.
. 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 carrying
capacity as originally equipped. (See “Speci-
fications” (P.10-11) for recommended types
and sizes of tires and wheels.)
After the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, it may take a period of time for the
tire pressure to be displayed in the vehicle
information display while the vehicle is
driven. Depending on the radio wave circum-
stance, tire pressure may not correctly be
displayed.
WARNING
. The use of tires other than those
recommended or the mixed use of
tires of different brands, construc-
tion (bias, bias-belted, radial or run-
flat), or tread patterns can adversely
affect the ride, braking, handling,
ground clearance, body-to-tire clear-
ance, tire chain clearance, speed-
ometer calibration, headlight aim
and bumper height. Some of these
effects may lead to accidents and
could result in serious personal injury.
. For Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) models,
if your vehicle was originally equipped with 4 tires that were the
same size and you are only replacing
2 of the 4 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 condi-
tions and cause an accident and
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 interference
can lead to decreased braking effi-
ciency and/or early brake pad/shoe
wear. See “Wheels and tires” (P.10-
12) of this manual for wheel off-set
dimensions.
. Since the spare tire is not equipped
with the TPMS, 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 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 recommended you visit an INFINITI
retailer for these services.
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8-44Do-it-yourself
.Replacing tires with those not origin-
ally specified by INFINITI could affect
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 you contact an
INFINITI retailer for ID registration.
. Do not use a valve stem cap that is
not specified by INFINITI. 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 pres-
sure.
. Do not install a damaged or deformed
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 recom-
mended.
. For additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety
Information” (US) or “Tire Safety
Information” (Canada) in the War- ranty Information Booklet.
Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
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 differ-
ence between tires on the front and
rear axles which will cause excessive
tire wear and may damage the trans-
mission, transfer case and differential
gears.
. ONLY use spare tires specified for
the Intelligent AWD model.
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 recommended
you visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
Wheel balance
Unbalanced wheels may affect vehicle hand-
ling 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 performed
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 INFINITI Warranty Information Booklet.
Care of wheels
See “Cleaning exterior” (P.7-2) for details
about care of the wheels.
Spare tire (TEMPORARY USE
ONLY (T-type) spare tire) (if so
equipped)
Since the spare tire is not equipped with the
TPMS, when a spare tire is mounted (TEM-
PORARY USE ONLY), the Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS) will not function.
Observe the following precautions if the
TEMPORARY USE ONLY spare tire must be
used, otherwise your vehicle could be da-
maged 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 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 60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2
bar). Always keep the pressure of the
full size spare tire (if so equipped) at
the recommended pressure for stan-
dard tires, as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information label. For
Tire and Loading Information label
location, see “Tire and loading infor-
mation label” (P.10-16).
. 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 front wheels and original tire
used on the rear wheels (drive
wheels). Use tire chains only on the
two rear 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 re-
duced. 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.
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