INFINITI QX80 2018 Owner's Manual

8-32Do-it-yourself
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: Date of Manu- facture 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 in-
dicate the materials in the tire,
which include steel, nylon, polye-
ster, 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 max-
imum 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 re-
quires an inner tube (“tube type”)
or not (“tubeless”).
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.

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 all year, 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.
TIRE CHAINS
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 damage
your vehicle. Use chain tensioners when
recommended by the tire chain manufac-
turer to ensure a tight fit. Loose end links of
Do-it-yourself8-33

8-34Do-it-yourself
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 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 mechanisms of the
vehicle due to some overstress.
SDI1662
CHANGING WHEELS AND TIRES
Tire rotation
INFINITI recommends rotating the
tires every 5,000 miles (8,000 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 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.
. 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 re-
garding tires, refer to “Impor-
tant Tire Safety Information”
(US) or “Tire Safety Informa-
tion” (Canada) in the Warranty
Information Booklet.

SDI1663
1.Wear indicator
2.Wear indicator location mark
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.)
WARNING
. The use of tires other than those
recommended or the mixed use of
tires of different brands, construc-
tion (bias, bias-belted or radial), or
tread patterns can adversely affect
the ride, braking, handling, ground
clearance, body-to-tire clearance,
tire chain clearance, speedometer
calibration, headlight aim and bum-
per 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.
Do-it-yourself8-35

8-36Do-it-yourself
.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) 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 visit 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.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 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 4WD 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.
Wheel balance
Unbalanced wheels may affect vehicle hand-
ling 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
balancing the wheels on the vehicle could
lead to mechanical damage.
For additional information regarding tires,
refer to “Important Tire Safety Information”
(US) or “Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in
the INFINITI Warranty Information 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 (TEM-
PORARY USE ONLY or conventional), the
TPMS will not function.
Spare tire (FULL-SIZE TEMPORARY USE
ONLY spare tire) (Applies ONLY to vehicles
equipped with P275/50R22 tires):
Observe the following precautions if the full-
size temporary use only spare tire must be
used, otherwise your vehicle could be da-
maged or involved in an accident.
WARNING
.The full-size temporary use only
spare tire should be used for emer- gency use. It should be replaced with
the standard tire at the first oppor-
tunity to avoid possible tire or differ-
ential damage
. 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 System (TPMS)
— Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) System
. Periodically check spare tire inflation
pressure. Always keep the spare tire
inflated to the pressure specification
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. For Tire and Load-
ing Information label location, see
“Tire and Loading Information label”
in the index of this manual.
. With the 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 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.
CAUTION
Do not use tire chains on the spare tire.
Tire chains will not fit properly and may
cause damage to the vehicle.
Do-it-yourself8-37

8-38Do-it-yourself
MEMO

9 Maintenance and schedules
Maintenance requirement .............................................. 9-2General maintenance ................................................. 9-2
Scheduled maintenance ............................................. 9-2
Where to go for service ............................................ 9-2
General maintenance ....................................................... 9-2 Explanation of maintenance items ......................... 9-2
Explanation of scheduled maintenance items .......... 9-5 Emission control system maintenance .................. 9-5
Chassis and body maintenance ............................... 9-5 Maintenance schedules .................................................. 9-6
Additional maintenance items for severe
operating conditions ................................................ 9-6
Standard maintenance .................................................... 9-7 Emission control system maintenance ................ 9-8
Chassis and body maintenance ........................... 9-10
Maintenance under severe driving conditions ....... 9-13
Maintenance log ............................................................. 9-14

9-2Maintenance and schedules
Some day-to-day and regular maintenance
is essential to maintain your vehicle’s good
mechanical condition, as well as its emission
and engine performance.
It is the owner’s responsibility to make sure
that the scheduled maintenance, as well as
general maintenance, is performed.
As the vehicle owner, you are the only one
who can ensure that your vehicle receives
the proper maintenance. You are a vital link
in the maintenance chain.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
General maintenance includes those items
which should be checked during normal day-
to-day operation. They are essential for
proper vehicle operation. It is your respon-
sibility to perform these procedures regularly
as prescribed.
Performing general maintenance checks re-
quires minimal mechanical skill and only a
few general automotive tools.
These checks or inspections can be done by
yourself, a qualified technician or, if you
prefer, an INFINITI retailer.
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE
The maintenance items listed in this section
are required to be serviced at regular inter-
vals. However, under severe driving condi-
tions, additional or more frequent
maintenance will be required.
WHERE TO GO FOR SERVICE
If maintenance service is required or your
vehicle appears to malfunction, have the
systems checked and serviced. It is recom-
mended you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service.
INFINITI technicians are well-trained spe-
cialists and are kept up to date with the
latest service information through technical
bulletins, service tips, and training programs.
They are completely qualified to work on
INFINITI vehiclesbeforework begins.
You can be confident that an INFINITI
retailer’s service department performs the
best job to meet the maintenance require-
ments on your vehicle. During the normal day-to-day operation of
the vehicle, general maintenance should be
performed regularly as prescribed in this
section. If you detect any unusual sounds,
vibrations or smells, be sure to check for the
cause and have it checked promptly. It is
recommended to have an INFINITI retailer
do it promptly. In addition, it is recom-
mended you visit an INFINITI retailer if you
think that repairs are required.
When performing any checks or mainte-
nance work, closely observe “Maintenance
precautions” (P.8-2).
EXPLANATION OF MAINTE-
NANCE ITEMS
Additional information on the following
items with “*” is found in the “8. Do-it
yourself” section of this manual.
Outside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
performed from time to time, unless other-
wise specified.
Doors and engine hood:
Check that all doors
and the engine hood, operate properly. Also
ensure that all latches lock securely. Lubri-
cate hinges, latches, latch pins, rollers and
links if necessary. Make sure that the
secondary latch keeps the hood from open-
ing when the primary latch is released.
MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT GENERAL MAINTENANCE

When driving in areas using road salt or
other corrosive materials, check lubrication
frequently.
Lights*:Clean the headlights on a regular
basis. Make sure that the headlights, stop
lights, tail lights, turn signal lights, and other
lights are all operating properly and installed
securely. Also check headlight aim.
Road wheel nuts (lug nuts)*: When checking
the tires, make sure no wheel nuts are
missing, and check for any loose wheel nuts.
Tighten if necessary.
Tire rotation*: Tires should be rotated every
5,000 miles (8,000 km).
Tires*: Check the pressure with a gauge
often and always prior to long distance trips.
If necessary, adjust the pressure in all tires,
including the spare, to the pressure speci-
fied. Check carefully for damage, cuts or
excessive wear.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
transmitter components: Replace the TPMS
transmitter grommet seal, valve core and
cap when the tires are replaced due to wear
or age.
Wheel alignment and balance: If the vehicle
should pull to either side while driving on a
straight and level road, or if you detect
uneven or abnormal tire wear, there may be
a need for wheel alignment. If the steering wheel or seat vibrates at
normal highway speeds, wheel balancing
may be needed.
For additional information regarding tires,
refer to “Important Tire Safety Information”
(US) or “Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in
the INFINITI Warranty Information Booklet.
Windshield:
Clean the windshield on a
regular basis. Check the windshield at least
every six months for cracks or other damage.
Have a damaged windshield repaired by a
qualified repair facility.
Windshield wiper blades*: Check for cracks
or wear if they do not wipe properly.
Inside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked on a regular basis, such as when
performing periodic maintenance, cleaning
the vehicle, etc.
Accelerator pedal: Check the pedal for
smooth operation and make sure the pedal
does not catch or require uneven effort.
Keep the floor mat away from the pedal.
Automatic transmission P (Park) mechan-
ism: On a fairly steep hill, check that your
vehicle is held securely with the shift lever in
the P (Park) position without applying any
brakes.
Brake pedal: Check the pedal for smooth
operation. If the brake pedal suddenly goes down further than normal, the pedal feels
spongy or the vehicle seems to take longer to
stop, have your vehicle checked immediately.
It is recommended you visit an INFINITI
retailer for this service. Keep the floor mat
away from the pedal.
Brakes:
Check that the brakes do not pull the
vehicle to one side when applied.
Parking brake: Check the parking brake
operation regularly. The vehicle should be
securely held on a fairly steep hill with only
the parking brake applied. If the parking
brake needs adjusted, it is recommended you
visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
Seat belts: Check that all parts of the seat
belt system (for example, buckles, anchors,
adjuster and retractors) operate properly
and smoothly, and are installed securely.
Check the belt webbing for cuts, fraying,
wear or damage.
Seats: Check seat position controls such as
seat adjusters, seatback recliner, etc. to
ensure they operate smoothly and that all
latches lock securely in every position. Check
that the head restraints/headrests move up
and down smoothly and that the locks (if so
equipped) hold securely in all latched posi-
tions.
Steering wheel: Check for changes in the
steering conditions, such as excessive free
play, hard steering or strange noises.
Maintenance and schedules9-3