2014 Nissan Pathfinder Warranty Information Booklet - Page 49

46 IMPORTANT TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION1 balancing a drive tire/wheel assembly using the engine of the vehicle to spin the wheel. Tires which meet the Rubber Manufacturer's Association (RMA) definition of mud and snow tires are marked M/S, M+S, M&S. On such tires, this designation is molded into the sidewall. Tires without this notation are not recommended for mud and/or snow driving. If snow tires are needed, it is necessary to select tires equivalent in size and load rating to the original equipment tires. Always fit performance snow tires in sets of four (4) for optimum mud & snow traction and maintenance of vehicle handling characteristics. If you do not, it may adversely affect the safety and handling of your vehicle. It is also important to check the vehicle Owner's Manual before mixing or matching tires on 4-wheel drive vehicles as this may require special precautions. Please refer to your Owner's Manual for more information on tire replacement precautions. WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND BALANCING Wheel alignment and balancing are important for safety and maximum mileage from your tires. Check how your tires are wearing at least once a month. If your tires are wearing unevenly, such as the inside shoulder of the tire wearing faster than the rest of the tread, or if you detect excessive vibration, your vehicle may be out of alignment or balance. These conditions not only shorten the life of your tires, but adversely affect the handling characteristics of your vehicle which could be dangerous. If you detect irregular wear or vibration, have your alignment and balance checked immediately. Tires which have been run underinflated will show more wear on the shoulders than in the center of the tread. TIRE TREAD Tires must be replaced when the depth of the tread reaches 2/32 inch (1.6 mm). Tires are manufactured with tread wear indicators molded into the tire grooves which indicate tread wearout. As tires approximate 2/32 inch (1.6 mm) wearout, the tread gauge becomes thinner and more vulnerable to the effects of road hazards. Also, worn tires are more subject to hydroplaning, which can cause loss of control. Therefore, visual tire inspection becomes more crucial as the tires wear out. WORN TIRES Never drive on worn tires. Tires should be replaced by trained personnel when 2/32nds of an inch tread depth remains, as indicated by the tread wear indicators molded into the tread grooves. In most states, it is illegal to drive with less than 2/32nds of an inch of tread remaining. HARD BRAKING You must inspect your tires after any hard braking circumstances or after tires have slid on the pavement. This can cause a flat spot in a section of the tire tread. TIRE ROTATION Tires on your Nissan vehicle should be rotated every 7,500 miles or as irregular wear develops. If irregular wear becomes apparent or if the wear rate on the tires is perceptibly uneven, the tires should be rotated in such a way to alleviate the problem. Check your vehicle for any mechanical problems and correct if necessary. Any rotation pattern or procedure may be followed including those indicated in the Owner's Manual. Some tires have arrows on the sidewall showing the direction in which the tire should turn. When rotating this type of tire, care must be taken to maintain the proper turning direction as indicated by the arrows. Some vehicles have different tire sizes specified for front and rear axles. Tires on these vehicles should not be rotated side to side (unless they are nondirectional). Where a temporary type spare tire is available, it should not be included in the tire rotation schedule. Such tires are intended for temporary use only. (Continued on next page) TIRE SPINNING Never spin your tires above a speedometer reading of 35 mph (55 km/h) if your vehicle becomes stuck. The centrifugal force generated by the free spinning tire/wheel assembly may cause a sudden tire explosion, resulting in vehicle damage and/or serious personal injury or death. Never allow anyone to stand near or behind a tire spinning at high speed while attempting to push a vehicle that is stuck. When in mud, sand, snow, ice or other slippery conditions, do not indulge in excessive wheel spin. In such conditions, with automatic transmission vehicles, by accelerating the engine excessively, it is possible to spin one of the drive tires beyond its speed capability. This is also true when TIRE MIXING For best performance select tires similar in size and load rating to the original equipment tires. It is recommended that the same size and type of tire be used on all four wheel positions. In certain tires, casing ply material and ply construction may vary as indicated on the sidewall of the tire. When changing or replacing tires, it is preferred that all four tires are the same construction type (i.e., High Performance, All Season, Mud & Snow) and construction (Radial or Bias Ply). Before mixing tires of different types on a vehicle in any configuration, be sure to check the vehicle Owner's Manual for its recommendations.