1997 Nissan Maxima Owner's Manual - Page 176

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 "Wheels and tires" in the "Technical information" section. which have the same offset dimension. Wheels of a different offset could cause early tire wear, possibly degraded vehicle handling characteristics and/or interference with the brake discs. Such interference can lead to decreased braking efficiency and/or early brake pad wear. ¼ Do 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. ¼ Clean the inner side of the wheels when the wheel is changed or the underside of the vehicle is washed. ¼ Do not use abrasive cleaners when washing the wheels. ¼ Inspect wheel rims regularly for dents or corrosion. Such damage may cause loss of pressure or poor seal at the tire bead. ¼ NISSAN 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 vehicle could be damaged or involved in an accident. ¼ The 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. ¼ If the wheels are changed for any reason, always replace with wheels 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 performed with the wheels off the vehicle. Spin balancing the front wheels on the vehicle could lead to transmission damage. ¼ The T-type spare tire should be used only for emergency. It should be replaced by the standard tire at the first opportunity. ¼ Drive carefully while the T-type spare tire is installed. Care of wheels ¼ Wash the wheels when washing the vehicle to maintain their appearance. 7-33