I've always thought that the small spare was the same circumference as the other four full-sized tires. Did the spare ever get switched or are you running non-standard sized tires. You should have no problem running with the "correct" spare. Keep us updated on this.

Take care!

Jim

 

OEM 18 inch rim.
OEM Tire- Toyo Open Country A25A 235/65r18
OEM large diameter doughnut spare that matches rolling diameter.

I will measure the tread wear on the tires to figure out what the actual diameter difference was that created this.
I found this in another thread....
"What I found out was that the AWD system allows for up to 3/32" of tread difference between tires before the AWD clutch will kick in. So, if I'm understanding it right, you could never put on a new tire after the tread is down past 7/32"."

 

Perhaps the spare was not fully inflated and its diameter was therefore reduced below minimum; the spare contains much less air volume and must be inflated to 60 PSI. I always carry a 12V tire pump in my trunk for both the vehicle and my bike (with Presta adapter) or for any friend in need of it.

 

I know on my old 2009 LE, I had gotten a side puncture on one of my tires and ended up having to purchase a set of four new tires because the of the tread wear.

Take care!

Jim

 

I had then same issue when I changed to the spare on my murano AWD. Keeping the speed at 40 MPH seemed to correct the issue.

 

That is the curse of AWD vehicles. Most folks are just as well served with a FWD vehicle. They are cheaper to buy, cheaper to operate, and cheaper to repair. And, you can run 2 snow tires and go just about anywhere an AWD car with all season radials will go.

Says the man with 2 AWD vehicles...

 

HALWG is right on target. The same concerns apply to all BMWs with X-drive, and in fact, all other AWD systems where you can't disconnect the front and rear. You will get different information from different sources about how much difference in diameter is acceptable.

 

I found a maintenance manual that states when you get this message, the AWD system becomes disabled. So the only reason you need to pull over is to let the rear diff cool down faster and have AWD protection back.

So, it sounds like it's ok to keep driving the car with that warning, the system protected itself.

I changed both the rear diff and front transfer case fluids. Rear looked nice and new, no bad smells. The front was very dark and typically stinky fluid.

We have 45,000 miles on the car. Still love it.

 

From the maintenance manual:

AWD system activates its protection function (shuts down AWD system temporarily) if AWD system detects
high load continuously or the front wheel tire size differs from the rear tire size. (AWD system is automatically
restored if AWD system no longer detects any overload or the tire size difference is eliminated.)

 

Agree with KBrian. Having different traction on each end of the car is a great way to get into a 180-360 degree spin if you have to nail the brakes, even in a car with ABS.

We used to drive RWD cars all the time with snows only on the back, and that worked OK, but the front end loses grip before the rear end. Snows on all four work better, and remember that it's awfully easy to end up with different diameter tires on front and rear in an AWD vehicle if you only run snows on one axle. Transfer cases get expensive.

 

2015 Nissan Murano Platinum AWD

This just happened to me yesterday. Our car has 36,850 miles on it, and the front tire blew out yesterday 1/4 of a mile from my driveway. After changing the tire and putting on the donut (only had 37 PSI out of 60 PSI), I began heading to Les Schwab which is 2.5 miles away from where I changed the tire. Half way there the "AWD HOT, Stop vehicle" warning light came on. I pulled over, shut the vehicle off, turned it back on and then drove slow the rest of the way to Les Schwab. $1,300 dollars and 3 hours later (had to change all 4 tires) I drove home. If this had been on a trip away from home out on an interstate, cant begin to think what we would have done. Just seems to me that 36,850 miles is ridiculous for a tire to give out. The OEM tire tread didn't even look worn. We have always rotated these tires every 7500 miles too. I agree that Nissan should put a switch on the dash to temporarily disable AWD when the spare tire donut is on the vehicle.

 

We had a flat tire today on our oem 18 inch rim with factory tire. We mounted the spare tire which is a large doughnut factory spare. After a short bit of driving going over 40mph (1min of driving) we got "high temperature AWD stop vehicle" on the dash. We stopped the car, waiting for the message to disapear and ended up limping the car to costco to get the full size tire repaired. And all was good after that.

In researching, the small difference in diamater causes the AWD to activate and over heat the differential when driving at or above 40mph.

I really wish nissan would allow you to turn AWD off so if you are using the spare, or there is a failure in the system, you could shut it off. This made a simple flat tire situation much more difficult.

I have read that people have used the factory doughnut spare without an issue, but if the treadwear is different, expect to see this same warning message and limp your car home.

I have purchased a factory fullsize spare and a used tire with some wear to hopefully be a middle ground to not let this happen again.

I will also now change the differential fluid as a precaution since I do not know the overheat damage to the fluid.

I have a 2017 Rogue, took in for oil change and rotate tires on Friday drove all day Saturday and Sunday my car had a flat 20+ miles away from home- put the factory donut tire on and 2 miles from home I got the same message. We stopped once before getting home. On Monday Road side asst picked it up and the same situation. They told me the tire needed to be replaced and I've been told it will probably be ok. I haven't heard back yet, but wanted to check reviews to see if this is legit. Must be since you didn't take yours to service.

 

We had a flat tire today on our oem 18 inch rim with factory tire. We mounted the spare tire which is a large doughnut factory spare. After a short bit of driving going over 40mph (1min of driving) we got "high temperature AWD stop vehicle" on the dash. We stopped the car, waiting for the message to disapear and ended up limping the car to costco to get the full size tire repaired. And all was good after that.

In researching, the small difference in diamater causes the AWD to activate and over heat the differential when driving at or above 40mph.

I really wish nissan would allow you to turn AWD off so if you are using the spare, or there is a failure in the system, you could shut it off. This made a simple flat tire situation much more difficult.

I have read that people have used the factory doughnut spare without an issue, but if the treadwear is different, expect to see this same warning message and limp your car home.

I have purchased a factory fullsize spare and a used tire with some wear to hopefully be a middle ground to not let this happen again.

I will also now change the differential fluid as a precaution since I do not know the overheat damage to the fluid.

While not a Murano owner (Altima), I had the exact same problem today. I had a blow out, put the donut on, and went to the dealer. The new tire was ordered and drove home on the donut. I could not go above 30 without that AWD Overheat warning appearing. To be safe, I kept the car at 25 all the way home. This is my 4th AWD car and I've never had an Overheat Warning come on before when on a donut.

 

Was the donut on the front or rear?

 

I just got back from the dealer getting my tire replaced. I had to drive the car at 25MPH to keep the AWD Overheat Warning from appearing. Nissan does not sell a full-size donut for cars with larger wheels.

The service rep said that the only thing I can do is order a full size wheel and put a tire on it. The service rep also said when driving with a donut to keep the speed low and pull over when the overheat warning shows. That was it. Considering the layout of the car's trunk I don't think a full size spare will fit where the donut is stored.

I miss the good ole days when cars had full sized spare tires.

 

Have things changed with the system since 2003? I didn't bother to research it before buying the 2021 since I didn't really care; I get AWD only because it takes a lot of weight off the front tires which, in turn, makes the steering wheel feel less heavy and prevents the frontend from feeling as though it's plowing into a corner. I can't stand just FWD...feels dangerous on many cars, and I remember on the 2003 MO it felt like the car was going to roll over when doing sudden, sharp maneuvers. With the AWD, the extra drivetrain components seem to make the car sit more centered and the weight more evenly distributed, making handling far better.

Anyway, I seem to recall reading online that you should only use the donut on the rear wheels, never on the fronts, since AWD isn't locked to the rear unless called for. So, if a front becomes flat, you'd take a tire from the rear to replace it, then place the donut on the missing rear. I still wouldn't drive fast with it or go any further than I had to. Maybe I'll have to read the manual to see if Nissan stipulates using the donut only on the rear.

 

The previous AWD car I had was a Volvo S80. Due to tire issues I've had the donut on front and back and never had a problem. I look at the wrong sized donut as a fail for Nissan. I'll have to see if I missed anything in the manual regarding where a donut can go.

 

Here's some useful info from the Altima forum about spares and size, etc.

19" rim owners w/ AWD, dont use your spare tire !!

Hi all, we replaced our 2005 Altima with an AWD '19 SR , 19" rims. I was wary about buying a 1st year redesign, especially with the AWD, but the wife really REALLY wanted it. At about 1000 miles, she ran over a nail, and I threw on the donut so she can do some local driving and get it to the...

www.nissanclub.com

 

Thank you for the link. It sounds like Nissan is guilty of being lazy regarding their cars with 19" wheels. I had an AWD Volvo and had to put the donut on a couple of times. There were never any issues.

 

I did some math tonight regarding regular tires and spare donuts. According to the internet, my car has a tire diameter of 26.2 to 26.4 inches, dependng on the trim level of the car. Rim size plus tire size comes to those diameters. The donut is a 135/70R16 which is a wheel and tire diameter of 23.4 inches. The different in tire sizes is what is causing the overheat in the differential.

They do sell a 135/90R16 which will give you a rim + tire diameter of 25.4 inches which is closer to the 26+ inches the car is use to.

The only question is, will the larger donut and rim fit in the well at the bottom of the trunk? This I haven't looked into.

 

So I guess the trick would be to put on the donut, then deflate the other three tires until the correct diameter is achieved.

 

Exactly!
"You don't raise the bridge. You lower the moat!"

Just kidding all. Deflating tires will not fix the problem.

 

Last wk two warnings came across my dash: First-Warning AWD Error see owners manual and the other was Warning Malfunction. I was told that I can drive with those warnings. A few days later a light came on stating that my two front tires were low. I didn't have time to get air. Just yesterday the lights went out so I figured it corrected itself. This morning a Warning AWD high temp stop vehicle light came on. I immediately turn the car off. Don't understand because the car was cold from sitting overnight how can it be overheating? I need to take the car to the dealer can I drive with it overheating? Please help

 

There is a tire pressure display that will show the tire pressure for each tire. It takes a mile or two of initial driving before the tire pressures display. Next time you get the tire pressure warning, check the tire pressure display and add air ASAP. To prevent AWD damage, stop driving if any tire is very low.

It would be interesting to know which tire(s) were low, and what the tire pressures are... Do you have a tire pressure gauge to check them manually with?

 

If you don't have "time to add air" when the tires are low PARK THE CAR!

This is not a "when it's convenient" problem. It can cause permanent damage to the transfer case.

Do not drive the car!

You should have the car flat-bedded to a dealer, have the warning cleared, and have them inspect the transfer case. I'd have them drain the gear oil and replace it so they can make sure there are no metal parts loose in the transfer case. Hopefully you didn't damage it...and the odds are that you caught it in time IF - and I repeat, IF - you do not drive it.

I may be over-reacting a bit, but I don't know how low those tires are, nor how far you've driven it that way. At the very least, inflate the tires correctly before moving the car, then drive directly to the dealer. (Borrow a tire tank or get a 12V air pump to inflate the tires.)

 

AWD High Temp Stop Vehicle Warning Message due to tire issues I've had the donut on front and back and never had a problem. I look at the wrong sized donut as a fail for Nissan. I'll have to see if I missed anything in the manual regarding where a donut can go.

 

Mine does this exact same thing 2019 nissan rogue sport all wheel drive overheats with spare on.

 

It's pretty common among all foreign and domestic brands and models, and there's no way to disconnect the left and right sides of a differential. If you want a long distance spare on anything except a pickup, in most cases you have to carry a full size tire and wheel.