More than likely already answered, but I can't find it. When you look at the readout of the tire pressures, is it front left, front right, back right, and back left?

I'm sure it's in the manual, but I forgot where I put that.

And on that note, what do you keep your base pressure at? Mine are 35psi cold but quickly go up to 39-40 when highway driving in summer. Seems a bit high to me.

 

The manual actually says that it does not correspond to any tire. That is so funny and I am surprised Nissan didn't go the extra step to have it calibrated. As for the tire pressures, 35 psi are what my tires are currently at (came like that from the dealer and the door says 35 psi) and they do tend to run up 5 psi when they get warm, so no worries there. That is why you should never adjust your tire pressures when your tires are warm/hot as the pressures will not be correct.

 

I have a theory that Nissan choose to save a few dollars or choose to have fewer points of failure in the TPMSystem.
Here are my theories:

1. I assume that there is one signal receiver unit for the TPMS sensors, so since Nissan expects owners to rotate their tires, the order displayed on the dash will be in the order that the sensors were registered to the car. Thus, the read out on the dash has no particular order.
2. Nissan choose to avoid lawsuits and enforce safety by forcing users to inspect each tire while looking for the problem tire. By not having each readout position tied to a tire position, all tires have a chance of being inspected and any potential problems in the other tires detected sooner.
3. Having more TPMS receivers at each wheel increases system complexity, wiring, and also a small increase in electrical usage. Thus, to avoid all that complexity, just one TPMS receiver is used.

I dunno, perhaps I am thinking too hard. I learned to deal with it and adjust/inspect my tires monthly. The TPMS feature is nice to have though I keep my dashboard readout on the MPG bar thingy. Makes me conscious of my lead foot.

 

Jeez that is kinda stupid to have that much technology and leave out that info. Oh well.

 

Your thinking is on point, but you missed one crucial point to expand on. Cost. I believe it is cost cutting from Nissan to not have the sensors tied down to a certain wheel. If you have access to an air compressor, you can try deflating one of your tires and see if it corresponds [correctly] with the gauge in the car. The new line of Nissan vehicles with their digital information tachs have individual tire displays, so it could have been a design cutback... ala cost.

 

Yeah it is kinda sad my 19k Cruze had this data and my 40k Maxima doesn't. So if I have one tire that is low, I have to fill or deflate each one until I find the one that is low? Ugh.

 

Do you have a Discount Tire around your area? They will adjust your tire pressures for free and to any pressure you desire as long as it is within the safe limits of the tire. Their air compressors, or at least the ones around here, have a computer that will automatically adjust to your desired pressures. Quick 3 minute job that's free and beats the gas station ones that may have condensation in their compressors. And I second your disgruntle, the Maxima also doesn't have an oil level gauge.

 

I don't fully understand the cost and complexity issue if each tire is being read by the sensor anyway. It isn't the end of the world for me to drag out my compressor and hand gauge, but I thought I could avoid having to do that. Oh well. One of them reads at 2 pounds higher than the others, so it just annoys me looking at the dash.
It's like a tease.
The other element is the auto warning "Tire needs service!!!" when it simply triggers off the mileage at any random number you put into it.

We were on a roadtrip far from home when warning began to flash and my wife freaked out, when all that simply happened was the counter hit 5000 miles or thereabouts. Tires were all fine. I wonder if anything would happen in a case like nail puncture at speed, or something like that.

 

Actually, you should go pick up a tire pressure gauge (these are pretty cheap) and if your readout shows you have a low pressure, use it to determine which tire needs air.


This will take less time and give you a way to ensure you don't overfill.

 

Well you tire does need service at that interval (rotation). And either you or the dealership turned on that warning. You will get a warning with low tire pressure don't worry.

 

drop air from one of the tires and drive it around the corner. See which one it is. Repeat two more times.
You have to do it only once and then if you rotate the tires remember where you put them.