8-30Do-it-yourself
SDI1575
Example
TIRE LABELING
Federal law requires tire manufac-
turers to place standardized informa-
tion on the sidewall of all tires. This
information identifies and describes
the fundamental 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.
SDI1606
Example
Tire size (example: P215/60R16
94H)
1. P: The “P” indicates the tire is
designed for passenger vehicles.
(Not all tires have this informa-
tion.)
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 (60): This num-
ber, known as the aspect ratio,
gives the tire’s ratio of height towidth.
4. R: The “R” stands for radial.
F: The “F” after “R” indicates Self-
Supporting type run-flat tire.
5. Two-digit number (16): This num-
ber 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 because it is not required by
law.
7. H: Tire speed rating. You should
not drive the vehicle faster than
the tire speed rating.
JVM0694X
Example
TIN (Tire Identification Number) for
a new tire (example: DOT XX XX XXX
XXXX)
1. DOT: Abbreviation for the “De-
partment 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.
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 include
steel, nylon, polyester, and others.
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.
Maximum 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.
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.
Do-it-yourself8-31
8-32Do-it-yourself
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 allyear, 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 thesame 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
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 light
8-34Do-it-yourself
TIRE CHAINS
CAUTION
Tire chains/cables should not be in-
stalled on P255/40RF19,
P255/35R20, 255/35R20 and
275/30R20 tires. Doing so will cause
damage to the vehicle. If you plan to use
tire chains/cables, you should install
245/40RF19 run-flat tires or
245/40R19 non run-flat 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 damageyour 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 at the specified interval shown
in the maintenance schedule. (See the
"9. Maintenance and schedules" sec-
tion. For tire replacing procedure, see
“Jacking up the vehicle and replacing
tires” (P.8-38).)
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.
.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 informationdisplay 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
tire/wheel on the front of the
vehicle. Doing so can damagethe 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.
.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.
Do-it-yourself8-35
8-36Do-it-yourself
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.10-8) 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 while the
vehicle is driven. Depending on the radio
wave circumstance, 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-
9) 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..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.
Do-it-yourself8-37
WHEELS AND TIRES
Road wheel
Type Size Offset in (mm)
Conventional19 × 9J 1.57 (40)
20 × 9J 1.57 (40)
20 × 9.5J 1.85 (47)
Tire
Type Size Pressure PSI (kPa) [Cold]
ConventionalP255/40RF19 96V 35 (240)
P255/35R20 97V XL 38 (260)
Front: 255/35R20 97Y XL 41 (280)
Rear: 275/30R20 97Y XL 38 (260)
Depending on the models, the emergency tire puncture repair kit is supplied.
Technical and consumer information10-9