INFINITI QX50 2021 Owner's Manual

O1Tire size (example: P215/65R15
95H)
1. P: The “P” indicates the tire is de- signed for passenger vehicles (not
all tires have this information).
2. Three-digit number (215): This number gives the width in millime-
ters of the tire from sidewall edge
to sidewall edge. 3. Two-digit number (65): This num-
ber, known as the aspect ratio,
gives the tire's ratio of height to
width.
4. R: The “R” stands for radial.
5. Two-digit number (15): This num- ber is the wheel or rim diameter in
inches. 6. Two- or three-digit number (95):
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.
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Example
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O2TIN (Tire Identification Number)
for a new tire (example: DOT XX XX
XXX XXXX)
1. DOT: Abbreviation for the “Depart- ment Of Transportation”. The sym-
bol can be placed above, below or
to the left or right of the Tire Iden-
tification 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 ex-
ample, the numbers 3103 means
the 31st week of 2003. If these
numbers are missing then look on
the other sidewall of the tire.
O3Tire 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.
O4Maximum permissible inflation
pressure
This number is the greatest amount of
air pressure that should be put in the
tire. Do not exceed the maximum per-
missible inflation pressure.
O5Maximum 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.
O6Term of “tubeless” or “tube type”
LDI2786
Example
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Indicates whether the tire requires an
inner tube (“tube type”) or not
(“tubeless”).
O7The word “radial”
The word “radial” is shown if the tire
has radial structure.
O8Manufacturer 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 (i.e.,
Summer, All Season or Snow) and con-
struction. 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 originally
specified by INFINITI could affect the
proper operation of the low tire pressure
warning system. •
Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction and tread pattern on
all four wheels. Failure to do so may re-
sult in a circumference difference be-
tween tires on the front and rear axles
which can cause the Vehicle Dynamic
Control (VDC) system to malfunction re-
sulting in personal injury or death, exces-
sive tire wear and may damage the
transmission, transfer case and differen-
tial gears.
• For additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety In-
formation” (US) or “Tire Safety Informa-
tion” (Canada) in the Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) models
CAUTION
• ONLY use spare tires specified for the
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
that you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service.
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All season tires
INFINITI specifies All Season tires on some
models to provide good performance all year,
including snowy and icy road conditions. All
Season tires are identified by ALL SEASON
and/or M&S 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 sub-
stantially reduced in snow and ice. Summer
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 han-
dling of your vehicle.Generally, snow tires have lower speed rat-
ings 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 pat-
tern 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 ca-
pabilities 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
and is not equipped with a spare tire, or a jack
and tool kit. The jack and tool kit may be
purchased at the dealer. Please consult an
INFINITI retailer for additional information.
You can continue driving to a safe location
even if the run-flat tires are punctured. Al-
ways use run-flat tires of the specified size on
all four wheels. Mixing tire sizes or construc-
tion may reduce vehicle handling stability. If
necessary, it is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.Frequently check the tire pressure and adjust
pressure of each tire properly. The tire pres-
sure can be also checked in the vehicle infor-
mation display.
It can be difficult to tell if a run-flat tire is
under-inflated or flat. Check the tire pres-
sures as described in this section. If the tire
becomes under-inflated while driving, the
low tire pressure warning light will illuminate
and the “Tire Pressure Low – Add Air” warn-
ing appears in the vehicle information display.
If the tire becomes flat while driving, the low
tire pressure warning light and 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 and the “Tire Pressure Low –
Add Air” warning appears in the vehicle infor-
mation display.
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.
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The chime will only sound at the first indica-
tion 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 neces-
sary. It is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service. Even if the
tire is inflated to the specified COLD tire
pressure, the warning light will continue to
illuminate until the system is reset. It is recom-
mended that you visit an INFINITI retailer for
this service.
If the low tire pressure warning light illumi-
nates continuously and the “Flat Tire – Visit
dealer" warning appears in the vehicle infor-
mation display:
• Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h).
• Increase your following distance to allowfor increased stopping distances.
• Avoid sudden maneuvers, hard cornering and hard braking.
WARNING
• Although you can continue driving with a
punctured run-flat tire, remember that
vehicle handling stability is reduced,
which could lead to an accident and per-
sonal 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 ap-
proximately 93 miles (150 km) with a
punctured run-flat tire. The actual dis-
tance the vehicle can be driven on a flat
tire depends on outside temperature, ve-
hicle load, read 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 vi-
brations while driving with a punctured
run-flat tire, pull off the road to a safe
location and stop the vehicle as soon as
possible. The tire may be seriously dam-
aged and need to be replaced.
CAUTION
• Never install tire chains on a punctured
run-flat tire, as this could damage your
vehicle.
• Avoid driving over any projection or pot-
hole, as the clearance between the ve-
hicle and the ground is smaller than
normal.
• Do not enter an automated car wash
with a punctured run-flat tire. •
Have the punctured tire inspected by an
INFINITI retailer or other authorized re-
pair shop. Replace the tire as soon as
possible if the tire is seriously damaged.
• 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 difference between tires
on the front and rear axles which will
cause excessive tire wear and may dam-
age the transmission, transfer case and
differential gears (AWD models).
• ONLY use spare tires specified for the
AWD model.
• If excessive tire wear is found, it is rec-
ommended that all four tires be replaced
with tires of the same size, brand, con-
struction and tread pattern. The tire
pressure and wheel alignment should
also be checked and corrected as neces-
sary. It is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
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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)
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The wheel nuts must be kept tightened to
specifications at all times. It is recommended
that wheel nuts be tightened to specification
at each tire rotation interval.
WARNING
• After rotating the tires, check and adjust
the tire pressure.
• Do not include the spare tire in the tire
rotation.
• For additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety In-
formation” (US) or “Tire Safety Informa-
tion” (Canada) in the Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet.
Tire wear and damage
1. Wear indicator
2. Location mark
WARNING
• Tires should be periodically in-
spected for wear, cracking, bulg-
ing 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 the
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 personal in-
jury. If it is necessary to repair the
spare tire, it is recommended that
you visit an INFINITI retailer for
this service.
• For additional information re-
garding tires, refer to “Important
Tire Safety Information” (US) or
“Tire Safety Information”
(Canada) in the Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet.
WDI0259
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Replacing wheels and tires
When replacing a tire, use the same size,
tread design, speed rating and load carrying
capacity as originally equipped. For addi-
tional information, see “Wheels and tires”
(P. 10-9).
WARNING
• The use of tires other than those recom-
mended or the mixed use of tires of dif-
ferent brands, construction (bias, bias-
belted or radial), or tread patterns can
adversely affect the ride, braking, han-
dling, VDC system, ground clearance,
body-to-tire clearance, tire chain clear-
ance, speedometer calibration, headlight
aim and bumper height. Some of these
effects may lead to accidents and could
result in serious personal injury.
• For 2WD models, if your vehicle was
originally equipped with four tires that
were the same size and you are only re-
placing two of the four 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
different off-set could cause premature
tire wear, degrade vehicle handling char-
acteristics, affect the VDC system
and/or interference with the brake
discs. Such interference can lead to de-
creased braking efficiency and/or early
brake pad wear. For additional informa-
tion on wheel off-set dimensions, see
“Wheels and tires” (P. 10-9).
• When replacing a wheel without the
TPMS, such as the spare tire, the TPMS
will not function and the low tire pres-
sure warning light will flash for approxi-
mately 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 that you
visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
• Replacing tires with those not originally
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 recom-
mended that you visit an INFINITI re-
tailer 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 cor-
rectly fitted. Otherwise the valve may be
clogged up with dirt and cause a mal-
function 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 struc-
tural damage and could fail without
warning.
• The use of retread tires is not
recommended.
• For additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety In-
formation” (US) or “Tire Safety Informa-
tion” (Canada) in the Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet.
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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.
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MEMO
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