What Does Maintenance Tire Mean On Nissan: Explanation Along With Causes

Many Nissan owners have been puzzled when a yellow tire icon with an exclamation points in the middle of your vehicle’s dash. This “maintenance tire” warning light can be confusing. if you don’t know what it means or what causes it to illuminate.

In this article, we will explain the maintenance tire warning on Nissan vehicles and what you should do when it comes on. We’ll cover the likely causes related to the tire pressure and TPMS sensors. This article will also include tips for proper tire inflation, pressure checks, and sensor resets. 

Understanding and properly maintaining your tires is essential for safe driving in any Nissan model that is with TPMS.

What Does Maintenance Tire Mean On Nissan?

• The “maintenance tire” warning light on Nissan vehicles indicates that the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) has detected that one or more of your tires is significantly under-inflated. 

• This light comes on when tire pressure drops 25% or more below the recommended cold tire inflation pressure. 

• It’s advising you to add air to the under-inflated tire(s) to bring it back up to the proper pressure. 

Causes For The “Maintenance Tire” Warning In Nissan Vehicles

TPMS sensor issues

• Problems with the tire pressure monitoring sensors can also activate the light. 

• Faulty sensors, low batteries, or sensor damage from a puncture can prevent proper readings. 

Improper sensor reset

• Sensors need to be reset with a special tool, whenever the tires or sensors are changed to relearn pressure. 

• If not done properly after having a service, it is likely to illuminate the maintenance tire warning light.

Temperature fluctuations

• When the temperature around the vehicle changes, the tire pressure also adapts to change its condition. 

• Such as, huge drops in ambient temps can cause air contraction that lowers the pressure. Which is enough to trigger the light.

Natural pressure loss

• Tires naturally lose some inflation over time. 

• If the pressure is at the last fill-up. Natural loss over a few weeks may drop below the threshold.

Tire punctures

• A nail or other road hazards can cause a slow leaking by gradually deflating a tire until a warning light comes on. 

Bent wheels

• Wheels that are out of shape due to potholes or impacts can cause air leakage between the tire and the rim by triggering the warning light.

Solutions To Take When Dealing With A “Maintenance Tire” Warning Light On A Nissan

• The first step is to check the air pressures in all four tires with a quality gauge and inflate any underinflated tires to the recommended specs on the door placard.

• Look closely at the tread and sidewalls for nails, cuts, bulges or gouges that could cause air leakage and low pressure.

• After adjusting the pressure or rotating tires, sensors needs to be reset with an OBD reset tool in order to relearn the reference pressures. 

• If the light comes on repeatedly with properly inflated tires, have the tire pressure monitoring system tested by a dealer or a shop to check for faulty sensors or other issues.

• Sensors with depleted batteries will need a replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions About What Does Maintenance Tire Mean On Nissan

Q: Is it safe to drive with this light on?

A: It’s not recommended. Significantly underinflated tires can affect the handling and braking. 

Q: Do I have to visit a dealer to reset the light?

A: No, you can reset it by yourself with an affordable TPMS reset tool after checking the tires. 

Q: How do I know which tire is low in pressure?

A: You’ll need to check inflation pressures on all four tires with a quality air pressure gauge to see which ones are underinflated.

Q: Do I need to keep resetting the light every time after checking the tire pressure?

A: No, only reset it after adjusting the inflation or rotating the tires. Checking without changes shouldn’t require a reset.