2021 INFINITI QX50 winter tires

• Recirculating the cool air in the cabinwhen the A/C is on reduces cooling
load.
4. Drive at Economical Speeds and
Distances
• Observing the speed limit and not ex- ceeding 60 mph (97 km/h) (where le-
gally allowed) can improve fuel effi-
ciency due to reduced aerodynamic
drag.
• Maintaining a safe following distance behind other vehicles reduces unneces-
sary braking.
• Safely monitoring traffic to anticipate changes in speed permits reduced brak-
ing and smooth acceleration changes.
• Select a gear range suitable to road conditions.
5. Use Cruise Control
• Using cruise control during highway driving helps maintain a steady speed.
• Cruise control is particularly effective in providing fuel savings when driving on
flat terrains.
6. Plan for the Shortest Route
• Utilize a map or navigation system to determine the best route to save time. 7.
Avoid Idling
• Shutting off your engine when safe for stops exceeding 30–60 seconds saves
fuel and reduces emissions.
8. Buy an Automated Pass for Toll Roads
• Automated passes permit drivers to use special lanes to maintain cruising speed
through the toll and avoid stopping and
starting.
9. Winter Warm Up
• Limit idling time to minimize impact to fuel economy.
• Vehicles typically need no more than 30 seconds of idling at start-up to effec-
tively circulate the engine oil before
driving.
• Your vehicle will reach its ideal operat- ing temperature more quickly while driv-
ing versus idling.
10. Keeping your Vehicle Cool
• Park your vehicle in a covered parking area or in the shade whenever possible.
• When entering a hot vehicle, opening the windows will help to reduce the in-
side temperature faster, resulting in re-
duced demand on your A/C system. • Keep your engine tuned up.
• Follow the recommended scheduled
maintenance.
• Keep the tires inflated to the correct pres- sure. Low tire pressure increases tire wear
and lowers fuel economy.
• Keep all the wheels in correct alignment. Improper alignment increases tire wear and
lowers fuel economy.
• Use the recommended viscosity engine oil. For additional information, see “Engine oil
and oil filter recommendations” (P. 10-6).
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY
Starting and driving5-145

The VDC system is automatically reset to on
when the ignition switch is placed in the OFF
position then back to the ON position.
The computer has a built-in diagnostic fea-
ture that tests the system each time you start
the engine and move the vehicle forward or in
reverse at a slow speed. When the self-test
occurs, you may hear a clunk noise and/or
feel a pulsation in the brake pedal. This is
normal and is not an indication of a
malfunction.
WARNING
• The VDC system is designed to help the
driver maintain controllability but does
not prevent accidents due to abrupt
steering operation at high speeds or by
careless or dangerous driving tech-
niques. Reduce vehicle speed and be es-
pecially careful when driving and corner-
ing on slippery surfaces and always drive
carefully. •
Do not modify the vehicle's suspension.
If suspension parts such as shock ab-
sorbers, struts, springs, stabilizer bars,
bushings and wheels are not INFINITI
recommended for your vehicle or are ex-
tremely deteriorated, the VDC system
may not operate properly. This could ad-
versely affect vehicle handling perfor-
mance, and the
indicator light may
flash or both theandindicator
lights may illuminate.
• If brake related parts such as brake pads,
rotors and calipers are not INFINITI rec-
ommended or are extremely deterio-
rated, the VDC system may not operate
properly and both the
and theindicator lights may illuminate.
• If engine control related parts are not
INFINITI recommended or are extremely
deteriorated, both the
andindicator lights may illuminate.
• When driving on extremely inclined sur-
faces such as higher banked corners, the
VDC system may not operate properly
and the
indicator light may flash or
both theandindicator lights
may illuminate. Do not drive on these
types of roads. •
When driving on an unstable surface
such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or
ramp, the
indicator light may flash
or both theandindicator
lights may illuminate. This is not a mal-
function. Restart the engine after driv-
ing onto a stable surface.
• If wheels or tires other than the INFINITI
recommended ones are used, the VDC
system may not operate properly and
the
indicator light may flash or both
theandindicator lights may
illuminate.
• The VDC system is not a substitute for
winter tires or tire chains on a snow cov-
ered road.
BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION
During braking while driving through turns,
the system optimizes the distribution of force
to each of the four wheels depending on the
radius of the turn.
Starting and driving5-155

WARNING
• The VDC system is designed to help the
driver maintain controllability but does
not prevent accidents due to abrupt
steering operation at high speeds or by
careless or dangerous driving tech-
niques. Reduce vehicle speed and be es-
pecially careful when driving and corner-
ing on slippery surfaces and always drive
carefully.
• Do not modify the vehicle’s suspension.
If suspension parts such as shock ab-
sorbers, struts, springs, stabilizer bars,
bushings and wheels are not INFINITI
recommended for your vehicle or are ex-
tremely deteriorated, the VDC system
may not operate properly. This could ad-
versely affect vehicle handling perfor-
mance, and the
indicator light may
flash or both theandindicator
lights may illuminate.
• If brake related parts such as brake pads,
rotors and calipers are not INFINITI rec-
ommended or are extremely deterio-
rated, the VDC system may not operate
properly and both the
and theindicator lights may illuminate. •
If engine control related parts are not
INFINITI recommended or are extremely
deteriorated, both the
andindicator lights may illuminate.
• When driving on extremely inclined sur-
faces such as higher banked corners, the
VDC system may not operate properly
and the
indicator light may flash or
both theandindicator lights
may illuminate. Do not drive on these
types of roads.
• When driving on an unstable surface
such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or
ramp, the
indicator light may flash
or both theandindicator
lights may illuminate. This is not a mal-
function. Restart the engine after driv-
ing onto a stable surface.
• If wheels or tires other than the INFINITI
recommended ones are used, the VDC
system may not operate properly and
the
indicator light may flash or both
theandindicator lights may
illuminate.
• The VDC system is not a substitute for
winter tires or tire chains on a snow cov-
ered road. The chassis control is an electric control mod-
ule that includes the following functions:
• Active Trace Control
• Active Engine Brake
• Active Ride Control
ACTIVE TRACE CONTROL
This system senses driving based on the driv-
er’s steering and acceleration/braking pat-
terns, and controls brake pressure at indi-
vidual wheels to help smooth vehicle
response.
When the lower display is used to turn off the
Vehicle Dynamic Control system, the Active
Trace Control system is also turned off.
The Active Trace Control can be set to on
(enabled) or off (disabled) through the lower
display “Drive Mode Selector” menu option.
CHASSIS CONTROL
5-156Starting and driving

Do not attach stickers (including transparent
material), install accessories or apply addi-
tional paint near the sonar sensors.
Do not strike or damage the area around the
sonar sensors. It is recommended that you
visit an INFINITI retailer if the area around
the sonar sensors is damaged due to a
collision.FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
de-icer through the key hole. If the lock be-
comes frozen, heat the key before inserting it
into the key hole, or use the INFINITI Intelli-
gent Key.
ANTIFREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32°F (0°C),
check the antifreeze to assure proper winter
protection. For additional information, see
“Engine cooling system” (P. 8-4).
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during ex-
tremely cold weather conditions, the battery
fluid may freeze and damage the battery. To
maintain maximum efficiency, the battery
should be checked regularly. For additional
information, see “Battery” (P. 8-12).
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
antifreeze, drain the cooling system, including
the engine block. Refill before operating the
vehicle. For additional information, see
“Changing engine coolant” (P. 8-5).
TIRE EQUIPMENT
1. SUMMER tires have a tread designed toprovide superior performance on dry
pavement. However, the performance of
these tires will be substantially reduced in
snowy and icy conditions. If you operate
your vehicle on snowy or icy roads,
INFINITI recommends the use of MUD &
SNOW or ALL SEASON TIRES on all four
wheels. It is recommended that you visit
an INFINITI retailer for the tire type, size,
speed rating and availability information.
2. For additional traction on icy roads, stud- ded tires may be used. However, some
U.S. states and Canadian provinces pro-
hibit their use. Check local, state and pro-
vincial 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.
3. Tire chains may be used. For additional information, see “Tire chains”(P. 8-36).
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
Starting and driving5-165

• Wax your vehicle only after a thoroughwashing. Follow the instructions supplied
with the wax.
• Do not use a wax containing any abrasives, cutting compounds or cleaners that may
damage the vehicle finish.
Machine compounding or aggressive polish-
ing on a base coat/clear coat paint finish may
dull the finish or leave swirl marks.
REMOVING SPOTS
Remove tar and oil spots, industrial dust, in-
sects, and tree sap as quickly as possible from
the surface of the paint to avoid lasting dam-
age or staining. Special cleaning products are
available at an INFINITI retailer or any auto-
motive accessory store. It is recommended
that you visit an INFINITI retailer for these
products.
UNDERBODY
In areas where road salt is used in winter, it is
necessary to clean the underbody regularly in
order to prevent dirt and salt from building up
and causing the acceleration of corrosion on
the underbody and suspension. Before the
winter period and again in the spring, the
underseal must be checked and, if necessary,
re-treated.
GLASS
Use glass cleaner to remove smoke and dust
film from the glass surfaces. It is normal for
glass to become coated with a film after the
vehicle is parked in the hot sun. Glass cleaner
and a soft cloth will easily remove this film.
CAUTION
When cleaning the inside of the windows,
do not use sharp-edged tools, abrasive
cleaners or chlorine-based disinfectant
cleaners. They could damage the electrical
conductors, radio antenna elements or rear
window defroster elements.
ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEELS
Wash the wheels regularly with a sponge
dampened in a mild soap solution, especially
during winter months in areas where road
salt is used. If not removed, road salt can
discolor the wheels.
CAUTION
Follow the directions below to avoid stain-
ing or discoloring the wheels:
• Do not use a cleaner that uses strong acid
or alkali contents to clean the wheels. •
Do not apply wheel cleaners to the
wheels when they are hot. The wheel
temperature should be the same as am-
bient temperature.
• Rinse the wheel to completely remove
the cleaner within 15 minutes after the
cleaner is applied.
CHROME PARTS
Clean all chrome parts regularly with a non-
abrasive chrome polish to maintain the finish.
TIRE DRESSINGS
INFINITI does not recommend the use of tire
dressings. Tire manufacturers apply a coating
to the tires to help reduce discoloration of the
rubber. If a tire dressing is applied to the tires,
it may react with the coating and form a
compound. This compound may come off the
tire while driving and stain the vehicle paint.
If you choose to use a tire dressing, take the
following precautions:
• Use a water-based tire dressing. The coat- ing on the tire dissolves more easily than
with an oil-based tire dressing.
• Apply a light coat of tire dressing to help prevent it from entering the tire tread/
grooves (where it would be difficult to
remove).
Appearance and care7-3

TIRE CHAINS
CAUTION
Tire chains/cables should not be installed
on P255/45RF20 size tires. Installation of
the tire chains/cables on P255/45RF20
size tires will cause damage to the vehicle.
If you plan to use tire chains/cables, you
should install P235/55RF19 size 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 restricted
tire to vehicle clearance. Vehicles that can use
Class “S” chains are designed to meet the
minimum clearances between the tire and the
closest vehicle suspension or body compo-
nent required to accommodate the use of a
winter traction device (tire chains or cables).
The minimum clearances are determined us-
ing the factory equipped tire size. Other types
may damage your vehicle. Use chain tension-
ers 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 whip-
ping action damage to the fenders or under-
body. If possible, avoid fully loading your ve-
hicle 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.
Do not use tire chains on dry roads. Driving
with chains in such conditions can cause
damage to the various mechanisms of the
vehicle due to some overstress.
CHANGING WHEELS AND TIRES
Tire rotation
INFINITI recommends rotating the tires ev-
ery 7,500 miles (12,000 km).
For additional information on tire replacing
procedures, see “Flat tire” (P. 6-3).
As soon as possible, tighten the wheel nuts
to the specified torque with a torque wrench.
Wheel nut tightening torque:
83 ft-lb (113 N·m)
WDI0258
8-36Do-it-yourself

Wheel balance
Unbalanced wheels may affect vehicle han-
dling 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 balanc-
ing the wheels on the vehicle 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 Warranty Information
Booklet.
Care of wheels
• Wash the wheels when washing the vehicle to maintain their appearance.
• Clean the inner side of the wheels when the wheel is changed or the underside of the
vehicle is washed.
• Do not use abrasive cleaners when wash- ing the wheels.
• Inspect wheel rims regularly for dents or corrosion. Such damage may cause loss of
pressure or poor seal at the tire bead. • INFINITI recommends waxing the road
wheels to protect against road salt in areas
where it is used during winter.
Do-it-yourself8-39