8-28Do-it-yourself
SDI2032
Vanity mirror light
If you have a flat tire, see “Flat tire” (P.6-
3).
TIRE PRESSURE
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)
This vehicle is equipped with the Tire
Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). It
monitors tire pressure of all tires except
the spare. When the low tire pressure
warning light is lit and the “Tire Pressure
Low Add Air” warning appears in the
vehicle information display, one or more
of your tires is significantly under-inflated.
The TPMS will activate only when the
vehicle is driven at speeds above 16 MPH
(25 km/h). Also, this system may not
detect a sudden drop in tire pressure
(for example, a flat tire while driving).
For more details, see “Low tire pressure
warning light” (P.2-15), “Tire Pressure Mon-
itoring System (TPMS)” (P.5-5) and “Tire
Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ” (P.6-
3).
Tire inflation pressure
Check the pressure of the tires
(including the spare) often and al-
ways prior to long distance trips.
The recommended tire pressure
specifications are shown on the
Tire and Loading Information label
under the “Cold Tire Pressure”
heading. The Tire and Loading In-
formation label is affixed to the
driver side center pillar. Tire pres-
sures should be checked regularly
because:
.Most tires naturally lose air over
time.
. Tires can lose air suddenly when
driven over potholes or other
objects or if the vehicle strikes
a curb while parking.
The tire pressures should be
checked when the tires are cold.
The tires are considered COLD after
the vehicle has been parked for 3 or
more hours, or driven less than 1
mile (1.6 km) at moderate speeds.
TPMS with Easy Fill Tire Alert pro-
vides visual and audible signals
WHEELS AND TIRES
outside the vehicle for inflating the
tires to the recommended COLD
tire pressure. (See “TPMS with Easy
Fill Tire Alert” (P.5-8).)
Incorrect tire pressure, including
under inflation, may adversely
affect tire life and vehicle hand-
ling.
WARNING
.Improperly inflated tires can
fail suddenly and cause an
accident.
. The Gross Vehicle Weight
rating (GVWR) is located on
the F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. cer-
tification label. The vehicle
weight capacity is indicated
on the Tire and Loading In-
formation label. Do not load
your vehicle beyond this ca-
pacity. Overloading your ve-
hicle may result in reduced
tire life, unsafe operating
conditions due to premature
tire failure, or unfavorable handling characteristics
and could also lead to a
serious accident. Loading
beyond the specified capa-
city may also result in failure
of other vehicle compo-
nents.
. Before taking a long trip, or
whenever you heavily load
your vehicle, use a tire pres-
sure gauge to ensure that
the tire pressures are at the
specified level.
. For additional information
regarding tires, refer to “Im-
portant Tire Safety Informa-
tion” (US) or “Tire Safety
Information” (Canada) in the
Warranty Information Book-
let.
Do-it-yourself8-29
SDI1949
Checking the tire pressure
1. Remove the valve stem cap fromthe tire.
2. Press the pressure gauge squarely onto the valve stem.
Do not press too hard or force
the valve stem sideways, or air
will escape. If the hissing sound
of air escaping from the tire is
heard while checking the pres-
sure, reposition the gauge to
eliminate this leakage. 3. Remove the gauge.
4. Read the tire pressure on the
gauge stem and compare it to
the specification shown on the
Tire and Loading Information
label.
5. Add air to the tire as needed. If too much air is added, press the
core of the valve stem briefly
with the tip of the gauge stem to
release pressure. Recheck the
pressure and add or release air
as needed.
6. Install the valve stem cap.
7. Check the pressure of all other tires, including the spare.
8. Check the pressure when driv- ing the vehicle at speeds of 100
MPH (160 km/h) or higher where
it is legal to do so.
WARNING
. Driving at high speeds, 100 MPH
(160 km/h) or higher sustained
where it is legal to do so, can
cause tires to have excessive heat build up, which may result in a
tire failure causing loss of control,
crash, injuries or even death.
Some high-speed rated tires re-
quire inflation pressure adjust-
ment for high-speed operation.
When speed limits and road con-
ditions allow vehicle driving at
high speeds, make sure tires are
rated to support high speed op-
eration, tires are in optimal con-
ditions and pressure is adjusted
to correct cold inflation pressure
for high speed operation.
. Tires require adjustment to the
inflation pressure when driving
the vehicle at speeds of 100 MPH
(160 km/h) or higher where it is
legal to do so. See recommended
tire inflation chart for correct
operating pressure.
. After vehicle high speed opera-
tion has ended, readjust the tire
pressure to the recommended
cold inflation pressure. (See
“Checking the tire pressure” (P.8-
31).)
Do-it-yourself8-31
8-34Do-it-yourself
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 fab-
ric in the tire.
Tire manufacturers also
must indicate the materials
in the tire, which include
steel, nylon, polyester, and
others.
Maximum permissible infla-
tion pressure
This number is the greatest
amount of air pressure
that should be put in the
tire. Do not exceed the maximum permissible in-
flation pressure.
Maximum load rating
This number indicates the
maximum load in kilo-
grams 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 in-
stalled 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 struc-
ture.
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 sec-
tion, Intended Outboard Sidewall is
(1) the sidewall that contains a
whitewall, bears white lettering or
bears manufacturer, brand and/or
model name molding that is higher
or deeper than the same molding
on the other sidewall 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 construc-
tion. A NISSAN dealer may be able
to help you with information
about tire type, size, speed rating
and availability.
8-36Do-it-yourself
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 the full-size
temporary use only spare tire (if so
equipped).
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.
SDI1662
CHANGING WHEELS AND TIRES
Tire rotation
NISSAN recommends rotating the
tires every 7,500 miles (12,000 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:98 ft-lb (133 N·m)
The wheel nuts must be kept
tightened 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 full-size
temporary use only spare
tire (if so equipped) in the
tire rotation.
. For additional information
regarding tires, refer to “Im-
portant Tire Safety Informa-
tion” (US) or “Tire Safety
Information” (Canada) in the
Warranty Information Book-
let.
SDI1663
1. Wear indicator
2. Wear indicator locationmark
Tire wear and damage
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 Information” (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.10-8) 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.
. For Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) mod-
els, if your vehicle was originally
equipped with 4 tires that were
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8-38Do-it-yourself
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.10-9) 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 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
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.
Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) 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 circum-
ference difference between tires
on the front and rear axles which
will cause excessive tire wear and
may damage the transmission,
transfer case and differential
gears.
. ONLY use spare tires specified for
the 4WD model.
If excessive tire wear is found, it is
recommended that all four tires be re-
placed with tires of the same size, brand,
construction and tread pattern. The tire
pressure and wheel alignment should
also be checked and corrected as neces-
sary. It is recommended you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
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
Since the spare tire is not equipped with
the TPMS, when a spare tire is mounted
(TEMPORARY USE ONLY or conventional),
the TPMS will not function.
Spare tire (FULL-SIZE TEMPORARY USE
ONLY spare tire) (Applies ONLY to vehi-
cles equipped with P275/50R22 or
P275/60R20 tires):
Observe the following precautions if the
full-size temporary use only spare tire
must be used, otherwise your vehicle
could be damaged or involved in an
accident.
WARNING
.The full-size temporary use only
spare tire should be used for
emergency use. It should be re-
placed with the standard tire at
the first opportunity to avoid
possible tire or differential da-
mage.
. Drive carefully while the spare tire
is installed. Avoid sharp turns and
abrupt braking while driving. The
vehicle driving performance may
be affected when driving on wet
or snow covered roads. .
When the spare tire is installed,
the following systems may not
work correctly.
— Tire Pressure Monitoring Sys-
tem (TPMS)
— Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) System
. Periodically check spare tire in-
flation pressure. Always keep the
spare tire inflated to the pressure
specification shown 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 spare tire installed do
not drive your vehicle at speeds
faster than 70 MPH (112 km/h).
. When driving on roads covered
with snow or ice, the 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.
. Do not use the spare tire on other
vehicles.
. Do not use more than one spare
tire at the same time.
Do-it-yourself8-39