provincial laws before installing studded
tires. Skid and traction capabilities of
studded snow tires, on wet or dry sur-
faces, may be poorer than that of non-
studded snow tires.
TIRE CHAINS
CAUTION
Tire chains/cables should not be
installed on 19-inch size tires. Doing
so will cause damage to the vehicle.
If you plan to use tire chains/cables,
you should install 18-inch size tires
on your vehicle.
Use of tire chains may be prohibited
according 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 suggestions.
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 com-
ponent 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 re-
commended 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 load-
ing your vehicle when using tire chains. In
addition, drive at a reduced speed. Other-
wise, 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 damage to the various me-
chanisms of the vehicle due to some
overstress.
CHANGING WHEELS AND TIRES
Tire rotation
Tires cannot be rotated on this
vehicle because the front tires are
a different size than the 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
.
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
regarding tires, refer to “Im-
portant Tire Safety Informa-
Do-it-yourself8-33
8-34Do-it-yourself
tion” (US) or “Tire Safety In-
formation” (Canada) in the
Warranty Information Book-
let.
SDI1663
Tire wear and damage
Wear indicator
Wear indicator location
marks. The locations are
shown by “
”, “TWI”, etc.
depending on tire types.
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.
. 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 tech-
nician, because some tire
damage may not be ob-
vious. Replace the tires as
necessary to prevent tire
failure and possible perso-
nal injury.
. Improper service of the
spare tire may result in ser-
ious personal injury. If it is
necessary to repair the
spare tire, it is recom-
mended you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
. For additional information
regarding tires, refer to “Im-
portant Tire Safety Informa-
tion” (US) or “Tire Safety In-
formation” (Canada) in the
Warranty Information Book-
let.
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.10-9) for recom-
mended 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, con-
struction (bias, bias-belted or ra-
dial), or tread patterns can
adversely affect the ride, braking,
handling, ground clearance,
body-to-tire clearance, tire chain
clearance, speedometer calibra-
tion, headlight aim and bumper
height. Some of these effects
may lead to accidents and could
result in serious personal injury. .
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 dimension. Wheels of a differ-
ent off-set could cause prema-
ture tire wear, degrade vehicle
handling characteristics and/or
interference with the brake
discs/drums. Such interference
can lead to decreased braking
efficiency and/or early brake
pad/shoe wear. See “Wheels and
tires” (P.10-10) 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 ap-
proximately 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 a NISSAN dealer for these
services.
. Replacing tires with those not
originally specified by NISSAN
could affect the proper operation
of the TPMS.
. The TPMS sensor may be da-
maged if it is not handled cor-
rectly. Be careful when handling
the TPMS sensor.
. When replacing the TPMS sensor,
the ID registration may be re-
quired. It is recommended you
visit a NISSAN dealer for ID regis-
tration.
. 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 deformed wheel
or tire even if it has been repaired.
Such wheels or tires could have
structural damage and could fail
Do-it-yourself8-35
8-36Do-it-yourself
without warning.
. The use of retread tire is not
recommended.
. For additional information re-
garding tires, refer to “Important
Tire Safety Information” (US) or
“Tire Safety Information” (Cana-
da) 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 vehi-
cle could lead to mechanical damage.
For additional information regarding tires,
refer to “Important Tire Safety Informa-
tion” (US) or “Tire Safety Information”
(Canada) in the NISSAN Warranty Infor-
mation 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)
Observe the following precautions if the
T-type spare tire must be used, otherwise
your vehicle could be damaged or in-
volved in an accident.
WARNING
.The T-type 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 da-
mage.
. 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 in-
flation 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 recom-
mended pressure for standard tires, as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information label.
For Tire and Loading Information
label location, see “Tire and Load-
ing Information label” in the index
of this manual.
. 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 origi-
nal 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
TEMPORARY 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.
EMERGENCY TIRE PUNCTURE RE-
PAIR KIT (if so equipped)
The emergency tire puncture repair kit
(Emergency Tire Sealant) is supplied with
the vehicle instead of a spare tire. It can
be used to temporarily repair minor tire
punctures.
If possible, have the vehicle towed to a
facility that can repair or replace the flat
tire. Using the emergency tire puncture
repair kit may cause a malfunction of the
tire pressure sensor and cause the low
tire pressure warning light to illuminate.
See “Flat tire” (P.6-3) for more details.
Do-it-yourself8-37
9-4Maintenance and schedules
properly and smoothly, and are installed
securely. Check the belt webbing for cuts,
fraying, wear or damage.
Steering wheel:Check for changes in the
steering conditions, such as excessive
free play, hard steering or strange noises.
Warning lights and chimes: Make sure
that all warning lights and chimes are
operating properly.
Windshield defroster: Check that the air
comes out of the defroster outlets prop-
erly and in sufficient quantity when oper-
ating the heater or air conditioner.
Windshield wiper and washer*: Check
that the wipers and washer operate
properly and that the wipers do not
streak.
Under the hood and vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should
be checked periodically (for example,
each time you check the engine oil or
refuel).
Battery*: Check the fluid level in each cell.
It should be between the MAX and MIN
lines. Vehicles operated in high tempera-
tures or under severe condition require
frequent checks of the battery fluid level. NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential battery dis-
charge and potential no-start condi-
tions such as:
1.
Installation or extended use of elec-
tronic accessories that consume
battery power when the engine is
not running (Phone chargers, GPS,
DVD players, etc.)
2. Vehicle is not driven regularly and/
or only driven short distances.
In these cases, the battery may need to
be charged to maintain battery health.
Brake and clutch fluid levels*: Make sure
that the brake and clutch fluid levels are
between the MAX and MIN lines on the
reservoir.
Engine coolant level*: Check the coolant
level when the engine is cold.
Engine drive belts*: Make sure that no
belt is frayed, worn, cracked or oily.
Engine oil level*: Check the level after
parking the vehicle on a level spot and
turning off the engine. Wait more than 15
minutes for the oil to drain back into the
oil pan.
Exhaust system: Make sure there are no
loose supports, cracks or holes. If the
sound of the exhaust seems unusual or
there is a smell of exhaust fumes, im- mediately have the exhaust system in-
spected. It is recommended you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service. (See “Pre-
cautions when starting and driving” (P.5-
2) for exhaust gas (carbon monoxide).)
Fluid leaks:
Check under the vehicle for
fuel, oil, water or other fluid leaks after the
vehicle has been parked for a while. Water
dripping from the air conditioner after use
is normal. If you should notice any leaks
or if gasoline fumes are evident, check for
the cause and have it corrected immedi-
ately.
Power steering fluid level* and lines:
Check the level when the fluid is cold, with
the engine off. Check the lines for proper
attachment, leaks, cracks, etc.
Radiator and hoses: Check the front of
the radiator and clean off any dirt, insects,
leaves, etc., that may have accumulated.
Make sure the hoses have no cracks,
deformation, rot or loose connections.
Underbody: The underbody is frequently
exposed to corrosive substances such as
those used on icy roads or to control
dust. It is very important to remove these
substances, otherwise rust will form on
the floor pan, frame, fuel lines and around
the exhaust system. At the end of winter,
the underbody should be thoroughly
flushed with plain water, being careful to
clean those areas where mud and dirt
WARNING
.It is extremely dangerous to
ride in a cargo area inside
the vehicle. In a collision,
people riding in these areas
are more likely to be ser-
iously injured or killed.
.Do not allow people to ride
in any area of vehicle that is
not equipped with seats and
seat belts.
.Be sure everyone in your
vehicle is in a seat and using
a seat belt properly.
TERMS
It is important to familiarize your-
self with the following terms before
loading your vehicle:
. Curb Weight (actual weight of
your vehicle) - vehicle weight
including: standard equipment,
fluids, emergency tools, and
spare tire assembly. This weight
does not include passengers and cargo.
. GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) -
curb weight plus the combined
weight of optional equipment,
passengers and cargo.
. GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rat-
ing) - maximum total combined
weight of the unloaded vehicle,
passengers, luggage, hitch, trai-
ler tongue load and any other
optional equipment. This infor-
mation is located on the F.M.V.S.
S./C.M.V.S.S. label.
. GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
- maximum weight (load) limit
specified for the front or rear
axle. This information is located
on the F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. label.
. GCWR (Gross Combined Weight
Rating) - The maximum total
weight rating of the vehicle,
passengers, cargo, and trailer.
. Vehicle Capacity Weight, Load
limit, Total load capacity - max-
imum total weight limit specified
of the load (passengers and
cargo) for the vehicle. This is the maximum combined weight
of occupants and cargo that can
be loaded into the vehicle. If the
vehicle is used to tow a trailer,
the trailer tongue weight must
be included as part of the cargo
load. This information is located
on the Tire and Loading Infor-
mation label.
. Cargo capacity - permissible
weight of cargo, the weight of
total occupants weight sub-
tracted from the load limit.
Technical and consumer information10-19
VEHICLE LOADING INFORMATION
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR) or the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) for your vehicle. (See
“Measurement of weights” (P.10-21).)
Also check tires for proper inflation
pressures. See the Tire and Loading
Information label.
LOADING TIPS
.The GVW must not exceed GVWR
or GAWR as specified on the F.M.
V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certification la-
bel.
. Do not load the front and rear
axle to the GAWR. Doing so will
exceed the GVWR.
WARNING
.Properly secure all cargo to
help prevent it from sliding
or shifting. Do not place
cargo higher than the seat-
backs. In a sudden stop or
collision, unsecured cargo
could cause personal injury. .
Do not load your vehicle any
heavier than the GVWR or
the maximum front and rear
GAWRs. If you do, parts of
your vehicle can break, tire
damage could occur, or it
can change the way your
vehicle handles. This could
result in loss of control and
cause personal injury.
. Overloading could not only
shorten the life of your ve-
hicle and the tires, but also
could lead to hazardous ve-
hicle handling and long
braking distance. This may
cause a premature tire mal-
function, which could result
in a serious accident and
personal injury. Failures
caused by overloading are
not covered by the vehicle’s
warranty. MEASUREMENT OF WEIGHTS
Secure loose items to prevent
weight shifts that could affect the
balance of your vehicle. When the
vehicle is loaded, drive to a scale
and weigh the front and the rear
wheels separately to determine
axle loads. Individual axle loads
should not exceed either of the
gross axle weight ratings (GAWR).
The total of the axle loads should
not exceed the gross vehicle
weight rating (GVWR). These ratings
are given on the vehicle certifica-
tion label. If weight ratings are
exceeded, move or remove items
to bring all weights below the
ratings.
Technical and consumer information10-21