Nissan PULSAR N13 Series / ASTRA LD Series. Manual - part 5

WHEELS AND TYRES

 

SPECIFICATIONS

 

TYRES PRESSURES

 

Front:

 

Normal load ............................................ 200 kPa

 

Heavy load or high speed ......................230 kPa

 

Rear:

 

Normal load ............................................ 180 kPa

 

Heavy load or high speed ...................... 210 kPa

 

NOTE: The above pressures are measured 
cold and are meant as a guide only. Always 
refer to the tire placard positioned on the 
inside of the glove compartment lid and the 
tire manufacturers recommendations first.

 

TORQUE WRENCH SETTINGS

 

Wheel nut torque .............................................98 Nm

 

1.    HOW TO CHANGE A ROAD WHEEL

 

(1)  Ensure that the vehicle is on level  firm 

ground and clear of any passing traffic. 

(2)  If    necessary,     switch     on     the     hazard 

flashers. 

(3)  Switch off the engine and place the transaxle 

in  the   (P)   Park   position   on   automatic   transaxle 
models or in reverse gear on manual transaxle models. 

 

 

(4)  Apply the handbrake firmly and chock the 

front and rear of the wheel diagonally opposite the 
wheel being changed. 

(5)  Remove the spare wheel, tool kit and jack 

located in the luggage compartment. 

(6)  On vehicles equipped with full wheel covers, 

remove the trim from the wheel. 

(7)  Using the wheel spanner, loosen the wheel 

nuts progressively in a diagonal sequence half a turn. 

(8)  Position the jack under the jacking point 

closest to the wheel being removed and raise the jack 
until the head of the jack contacts the jacking point. 

(9)  Raise the vehicle slightly and check that the 

jack is stable and vertical. 

 

Underbody view showing the jacking and supporting 
points. O indicates the jacking points and X indicates 

the supporting points. 

 

 

Chock the front and  rear of the wheel  diagonally 

opposite the wheel being changed. 

View of the jack correctly installed to the rear jacking 

point. 

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Wheels and Tires

 

 

 

View of the jack correctly installed to the front jacking 

point

. 

(10)  Continue to raise the jack until the tire 

clears the ground sufficiently to allow the spare wheel 
to be installed. 

(11)  Remove the wheel nuts and lift the wheel 

off the hub. 

NOTE: Under no circumstances get under 
the vehicle while the jack is the only means 
of support.

 

(12) Install the spare wheel and install the wheel 

nuts with the chamfered ends contacting the wheels. 
Tighten the wheel nuts as much as possible by hand.

 

(13)  Lower the jack and securely tighten the 

wheel nuts progressively in a diagonal sequence using 
the wheel spanner. 

(14)  Where removed, install the wheel cover. 
(15)  Return the spare wheel, jack and tool kit to 

their relevant storage positions. 

 

ABNORMAL WEAR ON CENTRE OF TREAD 

(1)   Over inflation of tires: Check and reduce to 

the recommended pressure.

 

 

ABNORMAL WEAR ON INSIDE OF TREAD

 

(1)  Excessive negative camber angle: Check the 

wheel alignment. 

(2)  Sagging coil springs: Check and renew the 

coil springs as a pair. 

(3)  Loose or worn hub bearing assembly: Check 

and renew the hub bearing assembly. 

(4)  Bent, loose or worn suspension components: 

Check and renew any faulty components. 

ABNORMAL WEAR ON OUTSIDE OF TREAD

 

(1)  Excessive positive camber: Check the front 

wheel alignment. 

(2)  Excessive speed when cornering: Revise driv- 

ing habits. 

(3)  Bent, loose or worn suspension components: 

Check and renew any faulty components. 

 

 

2.   TYRE WEAR TROUBLE SHOOTING

 

ABNORMAL WEAR ON BOTH SIDES OF 
TREAD

 

(1)  Under inflation of tires: Check and inflate to 

the recommended pressure. 

(2)  Overloading: Reduce the maximum loading. 

FLAT SPOTS ON TREAD OR IRREGULAR 
WEAR

 

(1)  Static or dynamic unbalance of the wheel 

and tire assembly: Check the balance of the wheel and 
tire assembly. 

(2)  Lateral run out of the wheel: Check and (rue 

up or renew the wheel. 

Tighten the wheel nuts in a diagonal sequence using 

the wheel spanner. 

Wheels and Tires

 

23

 

(3)  Excessive play in the front suspension ball 

joints: Check and renew the ball joints. 

(4)  Excessive play in the hub bearing assembly: 

Check and renew the hub bearing assembly. 

WORN SPOTS ON CENTRE OF TREAD

 

(1)  Static unbalance of the wheel and tire asem- 

bly: Check the balance of the wheel and tire assembly 

(2)  Radial run out (eccentricity) of the wheel: 

Check and renew the wheel. 

FEATHERED EDGES ON TREAD PATTERN

 

(1)  Excessive speed when cornering: Revise driv- 

ing habits. 

(2)  Excessive toe-in or toe-out: Check and adjust 

the wheel alignment. 

 

(3)    Bent, loose or worn suspension components: 

Check and renew any faulty components.

 

NOTE: To preserve tire life it is good policy 
to periodically have the front wheel balanced 
and the steering geometry checked on a 
reliable wheel alignment machine.

 

Under no circumstances mix radial ply 

and conventional ply tires. Install only tires 
of the same construction to all four wheels.

 

3.    CARE AND MAINTENANCE

 

STEEL WHEELS

 

Steel wheels should be regularly cleaned of all 

foreign matter, such as dirt and mud. If foreign matter 
is allowed to build up it will affect the balance of the 
wheel and may cause vibrations and uneven tire wear. 
If the paint has been chipped or scratched it should be 
touched up as soon as possible to prevent rust.

 

Any minor damage to the wheel rim can usually 

be repaired using a suitable hammer after the wheel 
has been removed from the vehicle. However, any 
major rim damage or buckling of the wheel will 
necessitate the renewal of the wheel. It is good policy 
to occasionally remove the wheels from the vehicle 
and inspect them for damage, cracks or corrosion.

 

ALLOY WHEELS

 

Alloy wheels should be regularly cleaned of all 

foreign matter such as dirt and mud. If foreign matter

 

Wheels should be cleaned regularly of dirt and mud.

 

is allowed to build up it will affect the balance of the 
wheel and may cause vibrations and uneven tire wear.

 

The alloy wheels are coated with a clear protective 

finish. Do not use abrasive cleaner, polishing com- 
pounds, steel wool etc. when cleaning the wheels. Only 
mild soap and warm water are recommended. Alloy 
wheels are particularly susceptible to corrosion dam- 
age particularly if exposed to salt water.

 

Alloy wheels being relatively soft in comparison to 

steel are easily scuffed, however, this will not affect the 
serviceability of the wheel. Where heavy damage has 
been sustained to the wheel it should be renewed. 
Buckling or cracking of an alloy wheel cannot be 
repaired.

 

TYRES

 

The depth of the tire tread grooves should never 

be allowed to be less than 1.5 mm before the tires are 
renewed. The tires should also be renewed when any 
damage, whether it be internal or external, is evident. 
Minor punctures or leaks should be properly repaired. 
Refer the tire to a tire specialist if there is any doubt 
about the serviceability of the tire.

 

The tread, tread grooves and sidewalls should be 

regularly inspected for foreign matter i.e. nails, stones 
etc. Where foreign matter is detected it should be 
removed from the tire and if necessary, the puncture 
repaired.

 

The tire valves should always have the caps 

installed, be regularly cleaned of dirt or dust and be 
inspected for leakage and damage every time the tire 
pressures are checked.

 

Regularly inspect the tread of the tires for signs of 

uneven wear. If uneven wear is apparent, refer to the 
heading Tire Wear Trouble Shooting in this section 
for possible causes and cures. If the uneven tire wear 
is noticed early enough, the cause correctly identified 
and the necessary cure carried out, the life of the tire 
should be extended.

 

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Wheels and Tires

 

 

 

When the tire tread groove depth is less than 1.5 
mm, or when the tire is worn to the point where the 

tire wear indicators are level with the tread surface, 

the tire should be renewed. 

To preserve tire life it is good policy to periodi- 

cally have the front wheels balanced and the front end 
alignment checked on a reliable wheel alignment 
machine.

 

The wheel and tire assemblies may be rotated at 

20 000 km if desired. Rotation of the wheels and tires 
will increase the period between tire renewal. Radial 
tires should not be cross changed, they should be 
changed from front to rear on the same side.

 

 

Tire rotation diagram. If desired, the wheel and tire 

assemblies may be rotated every 20 000 km in the 

manner shown. Vector SSS tire rotation not to include 

spare wheel. 

The air pressure in the tire is probably the single 

most important aspect of tire care. Too little or too 
much pressure in the tire can cause rapid wear or 
complete failure through overheating. Where possible 
the tire pressures should be checked and adjusted 
when the tires are cold.

 

As a rule, different tire types, tread patterns or 

sizes should never be used on the vehicle at one time. 
All the tires on the vehicles, including the spare 
should be a matched set to prevent the vehicle 
behaving erratically under certain conditions. Under 
no circumstances mix radial ply and conventional ply 
tires.