winter tires NISSAN MAXIMA 1997 A32 / 4.G Owners Manual

The anti-lock brake system is a sophis-
ticated device, but it cannot prevent ac-
cidents resulting from careless or dan-
gerous driving techniques. It can help
maintain vehicle control during braking
on slippery surfaces, but remember that
the stopping distance on slippery sur-
faces will be longer than on normal
surfaces, even with the anti-lock sys-
tem. Stopping distances may also be
longer on rough, gravel or snow covered
roads, or if you are using tire chains.
Always maintain a safe distance from
the vehicle in front of you. Ultimately,
the responsibility for safety of self and
others rests in the hands of the driver.
Tire type and condition may also affect
braking effectiveness.
IWhen replacing tires, install the
specified size of tires on all 4 wheels.
IWhen installing a spare tire, make
sure it is the proper size and type as
specified on the tire placard. For tire
placard location information, refer toªTire placardº in the Owner's Manual
index.
Freeing a frozen door lock
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
de-icer or glycerin to it through the key hole. If
the lock becomes frozen, heat the key before
inserting it into the key hole.
Anti-freeze
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32ÉF (0ÉC), check
anti-freeze (ethylene glycol base) to assure
proper winter protection. For details, see ªEn-
gine Cooling Systemº in the ªDo-it-yourself
operationsº section.
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 details, see
ªBatteryº in the ªDo-it-yourself operationsº sec-
tion.
Draining of coolant water
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
anti-freeze, drain the cooling system by open-
ing the drain valves located under the radiator
and on the engine block. Refill before operat-
ing the vehicle. See ªChanging Engine Cool-
antº in the ªDo-it-yourself operationsº section.
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
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Tire equipment
1. SUMMER tires are of a tread design to
provide superior performance on dry pave-
ment. 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, Nissan rec-
ommends the use on all four wheels of
MUD & SNOW or ALL SEASON tires.
Please consult your Nissan dealer for the
tire type, size, speed rating and availability
information.
2. For additional traction on icy roads, studded
tires may be used. However, some prov-
inces and states prohibit their use. Check
local, state and provincial laws before in-
stalling 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 if desired. Make
sure they are of proper size for the tires on
your vehicle and are installed according to
the chain manufacturer's suggestions. Use
of tire chains may be prohibited according
to location. Check the local laws before
installing tire chains. When installing tire
chains, make sure they are of proper size
for the tires on your vehicle and are in-stalled according to the chain manufactur-
er's suggestions.Use only SAE Class ªSº
chains.Other types may damage your
vehicle. Use chain tensioners when recom-
mended by the tire chain manufacturer to
ensure a tight fit. Loose end links of the tire
chain must be secured or removed to pre-
vent the possibility of whipping action dam-
age to the fenders or underbody. If pos-
sible, 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 af-
fected.
Never install tire chains on a T-type spare
tire. Do not use tire chains on dry roads.
Special winter equipment
It is recommended that the following items be
carried in the vehicle during winter:
1. A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to remove
ice and snow from the windows and wiper
blades.
2. A sturdy, flat board to be placed under the
jack to give it firm support.
3. A shovel to dig the vehicle out of snow-
drifts.4. Extra window washer fluid to refill the res-
ervoir tank.
Driving on snow or ice
IWet ice (32ÉF, 0ÉC and freezing rain),
very cold snow or ice can be slick and
very hard to drive on. The vehicle will
have a lot less traction or ªgripº un-
der these conditions. Try to avoid
driving on wet ice until the road is
salted or sanded.
IWhatever the condition, drive with
caution. Accelerate and slow down
with care gently. If accelerating or
downshifting too fast, the drive
wheels will lose even more traction.
IAllow more stopping distance under
these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry pavement.
IAllow greater following distances on
slippery roads.
IWatch for slippery spots (glare ice).
These may appear on an otherwise
clear road in shaded areas. If a patch
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may result in serious personal injury. If
it is necessary to repair the T-type spare
tire, contact your NISSAN dealer.
Changing tires and wheels
When replacing a tire, use the same size,
speed rating and load carrying capacity as
originally equipped. Recommended types and
sizes are shown in ªWheels and tiresº in the
ªTechnical informationº section.
IThe use of tires other than those
recommended or the mixed use of
tires of different brands, construction
(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 bumper height.
Some of these effects may lead to
accidents and could result in serious
personal injury.
IIf the wheels are changed for any
reason, always replace with wheelswhich have the same offset dimen-
sion. Wheels of a different offset
could cause early tire wear, possibly
degraded vehicle handling character-
istics and/or interference with the
brake discs. Such interference can
lead to decreased braking efficiency
and/or early brake pad wear.
IDo not install a deformed wheel or
tire even if it has been repaired. Such
wheels or tires could have structural
damage and could fail without
warning.
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 balancing
the front wheels on the vehicle could lead to
transmission damage.
Care of wheels
IWash the wheels when washing the vehicle
to maintain their appearance.IClean the inner side of the wheels when the
wheel is changed or the underside of the
vehicle is washed.
IDo not use abrasive cleaners when wash-
ing the wheels.
IInspect wheel rims regularly for dents or
corrosion. Such damage may cause loss of
pressure or poor seal at the tire bead.
INISSAN recommends that the road wheels
be waxed to protect against road salt in
areas where it is used during winter.
Spare tire (T-type spare tire)
Observe the following precautions if the T-type
spare tire must be used, otherwise your ve-
hicle could be damaged or involved in an
accident.
IThe T-type spare tire should be used
only for emergency. It should be re-
placed by the standard tire at the first
opportunity.
IDrive carefully while the T-type spare
tire is installed.
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