
Airbag system29
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Airbag systemBrief introductionWhy wear a seat belt and assume the correct sitting position?
For the inflating airbags to achieve the best protection, the 
sea t  b el t m u st  a l w ay s  be  w o rn  p ro p e rly  a n d t h e  co rrec t s i tt i ng  
position must be assumed.For your own safety and the safety  of the passengers, please ensure 
the following before driving:
– Always wear the seat belt properly  ⇒page 19.
– Adjust the driver's seat and the steering wheel correctly  ⇒page 10.
– Adjust the front passenger seat correctly  ⇒page 11.
– Adjust the head restraint correctly  ⇒page 13.
– Use the correct child restraint system to protect children in your  vehicle ⇒ page 45.The airbag is deployed at high speed in fractions of a second. If you have an 
incorrect seating position  at the time the airbag is deployed, it could cause 
you critical injuries. Therefore, it is essential that all passengers in the vehicle 
assume a correct sitting position while travelling.
A sharp braking before an accident may cause a passenger not wearing a seat 
belt to be thrown forward into the area of the deploying airbag. In this case,  the inflating airbag may inflict critical or fatal injuries on the occupant. This 
also applies to children.
Always maintain the greatest possible distance between yourself and the 
front airbag. This way, the front airbag
s can completely deploy when trig-
gered, providing their maximum protection.
The most important factors that will trigger an airbag are: the type of acci-
dent, the angle of collision and the s peed of the vehicle.
Whether the airbags are triggered depends primarily on the vehicle deceler-
ation rate resulting from the collision an d detected by the control unit. If the 
vehicle deceleration occurring during the collision and measured by the 
control unit remains below the specifie d reference values, the front, side 
and/or curtain airbag will not be triggered. Take into account that the visible 
damage in a vehicle involved in an ac cident, for whatever reason, is not an 
indication as to why the airbags had been triggered.
WARNING
•
Wearing the seat belt incorrectly or assuming an incorrect sitting posi-
tion can lead to critical or fatal injuries.
•
All occupants, including children, who are not properly belted can 
sustain critical or fatal injuries if the airbag is triggered. You should always 
transport all children up to 12 years of age on the rear seat. Never transport 
children in the vehicle if they are not  restrained or the restraint system is 
not appropriate for their age, size or weight.
•
If you are not wearing a seat belt, if you lean forward or to the side while 
travelling or assume an incorrect sitt ing position, there is a substantially 
increased risk of injury. This increased risk of injury will be further 
increased if you are struck by an inflating airbag.
•
To reduce the risk of injury from an inflating airbag, always wear the 
seat belt properly  ⇒page 19.
AlteaXL_EN.book  Seite 29  M ontag, 2. Februar 2009  12:26 12 

Seats and stowage
128Seats and stowageThe importance of correct seat adjustmentProper seat adjustment optimi ses the level of protection 
offered by seat belts and airbags.Your vehicle has  five passenger places, two individual front seats and three 
places on the rear seat. Each seat is equipped with a three-point seat belt.
The driver seat and the front passenger seat can be adjusted in many ways to 
suit the physical requirements of the vehicle occupants. The correct seat 
position is very important for:•
a fast and easy operation of all controls on the instrument panel,
•
a relaxed posture which does not cause drowsiness,
•
safe driving  ⇒page 7,
•
and to ensure that the seat belts and airbag system provide maximum 
protection  ⇒page 19.
WARNING
•
If the driver and passengers assume improper sitting positions, they 
may sustain critical injuries.
•
More people than available seats must never be transported in your 
vehicle.
•
Every passenger in the vehicle must properly fasten and wear the seat 
belt belonging to his or her seat. Children must be protected with an appro-
priate child restraint system  ⇒page 45, “Child safety”.
•
The front seats and all head restraints must always be adjusted to body 
size and the seat belt must always  be properly adjusted to provide you and 
your passengers with optimum protection.
•
Always keep your feet on the foot well when the vehicle is moving; 
never rest them on the dash panel, ou t of the window or on the seat. This 
is also applied to passengers. An incorrect sitting position exposes you to 
an increased risk of injury in case of a sudden braking or an accident. If the 
airbag is triggered, you could sustain severe injuries due to an incorrect 
sitting position.
•
It is important for the driver and front passenger to keep a distance of 
at least 25 cm from the steering wheel or instrument panel. Failure to 
respect the minimum distance means that  the airbag will not protect you. 
Risk of fatal injury. The distance be tween the driver and the steering wheel 
or between the front passenger and th e dash panel should always be as 
great as possible.
•
Adjust the driver or front passenger seat only when the vehicle is 
stationary. This also applies to the forwards/backwards adjustment of the 
rear seats. Otherwise, your seat co uld move unexpectedly while the vehicle 
is moving. This could increase the risk of an accident and therefore, injury. 
In addition, while adjusting your seat, you will assume an incorrect sitting 
position. Risk of fatal accidents.
•
Special guidelines apply to installing a child seat on the front 
passenger seat. When installing a chil d seat, observe the warning note in 
the  ⇒page 45, “Child safety”.WARNING (continued)
AlteaXL_EN.book  Seite 128  M ontag, 2. Februar 2009  12:26 12 

Seats and stowage
138Stowage in the luggage compartment*
There is a variable stowage area* in the luggage compart-
ment floor.
– Lift the luggage compartment floor and fold it back all the way 
⇒fig. 106.
– Fit the separator    ⇒fig. 107, into the side grooves depending 
on the size of the objects to be transported. The onboard tool kit 
and the spare wheel are located underneath the luggage 
compartment.
– Secure luggage in the luggage compartment with suitable straps  on the fastening rings.
Note•
The folding table is designed for a maximum load of 50 kg. For heavier 
loads fold up the table and remove.
•
Do not exceed the maximum authorised weight for the vehicle 
⇒ page 273.
Fig. 106  Variable floor 
boot stowage compart-
mentFig. 107  Variable floor 
boot stowage compart-
ment
AA
AlteaXL_EN.book  Seite 138  M ontag, 2. Februar 2009  12:26 12 

Wheels and tyres235
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
New tyres and wheels
New tyres and wheels have to be run-in.The tyres and wheel rims are an essential part of the vehicle's design. The 
tyres and rims approved by SEAT are specially matched to the characteristics 
of the vehicle and make a major contribution to good road holding and safe 
handling ⇒.
Tyres should be replaced at least in pairs and not individually (i.e. both front 
tyres or both rear tyres together). A knowledge of tyre designations makes it 
easier to choose the correct tyres. Radial tyres have the tyre designations 
marked on the sidewall, for example: 195/65 R15 91T
This contains the following information:
195 Tyre width in mm
65 Height/width ratio in %
R Tyre construction:  Radial
15 Rim diameter in inches
91 Load rating code
T Speed rating
The tyres could also have  the following information:•
A direction of rotation symbol
•
“Reinforced” denotes heavy-duty tyres.
The manufacturing date is also indicated on the tyre sidewall (possibly only 
on the inner side of the wheel).
“DOT... 1103...” means, for example, that the tyre was produced in the 11th 
week of 2003.
We recommend that work on tyres and wheels is carried out by an Authorised 
Service Centre. They are familiar with the procedure and have the necessary  special tools and spare parts as well as the proper facilities for disposing of 
the old tyres.
Any Authorised Service Centre has full information on the technical require-
ments when installing or changing tyres, wheels or wheel trims.
On vehicles with 
four-wheel drive, all four tyres must always be fitted with 
tyres of the same type, make and tread pattern, as otherwise the driveline can 
be damaged by continuous differences in the wheel speeds. For the same 
reason, only use a spare wheel with the  same tyre dimensions as the normal 
road wheels. You may also use the factory-supplied compact temporary spare 
wheel.
WARNING
•
We recommend that you use only wh eels and tyres which have been 
approved by SEAT for your model. Failure to do so could impair vehicle 
handling. Risk of accident.
•
Avoid running the vehicle on tyres th at are more than six years old. If 
you have no alternative, you should drive slowly and with extra care at all 
times.
•
Never use old tyres or those with an unknown “history of use”.
•
If wheel trims are retrofitted, you must ensure that the flow of air to the 
brakes is not restricted. This could cause them to overheat.
•
All four wheels must be fitted with radial tyres of the same type, size 
(rolling circumference) and the same tread pattern.For the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed of accordi ng to the laws in the country concerned.
Note
•
For technical reasons, it is not generally possible to use the wheels from 
other vehicles. This can also apply to wheels of the same model. The use of 
AlteaXL_EN.book  Seite 235  M ontag, 2. Februar 2009  12:26 12 

Wheels and tyres
236wheels or tyres which have not been approved by SEAT for use with your 
model may invalidate the vehicle's type approval for use on public roads.•
If the spare tyre is not the same as the tyres that are mounted on the 
vehicle - for example with winter tyres - you should only use the spare tyre for 
a short period of time and drive with extra care. Refit the normal road wheel 
as soon as possible.
Wheel bolts
Wheel bolts must be tightened to the correct torque.The design of wheel bolts is matched to the rims. If different wheel rims are 
fitted, the correct wheel bolts with the  right length and correctly shaped bolt 
heads must be used. This ensures that wheels are fitted securely and that the 
brake system functions correctly.
In certain circumstances, you may not  use wheel bolts from a different car - 
even if it is the same model  ⇒page 208.
After the wheels have been changed, the tightening torque of the wheel bolts 
should be checked as soon as possible with a torque wrench  ⇒. The tight-
ening torque for steel and alloy wheels is 120 Nm.
WARNING
If the wheel bolts are not tightened  correctly, the wheel could become 
loose while driving. Risk of accident.•
The wheel bolts must be clean and turn easily. Never apply grease or oil 
to them.
•
Use only wheel bolts which belong to the wheel.
•
If the torque of the wheel bolts is to o low, they could loosen whilst the 
vehicle is in motion. Risk of accident!  If the tightening torque is too high, 
the wheel bolts and threads can be damaged.
Caution
The prescribed torque for wheel bolts for steel and alloy wheels is 120 Nm.Winter tyres
Winter tyres will improve the vehicles handling on snow and 
ice.In winter conditions winter tyres will considerably improve the vehicles 
handling. The design of summer ty res (width, rubber compound, tread 
pattern) gives less grip on ice and snow.
Winter tyres must be inflated to a  pressure 0.2 bar higher than the pressures 
specified for summer tyres (see sticker on tank flap).
Winter tyres must be fitted on all four wheels.
Information on permitted  winter tyre sizes can be found in the vehicle's regis-
tration documents. Use only radial winter tyres. All tyre sizes listed in the 
vehicle documentation also apply to winter tyres.
Winter tyres lose their effectiveness when the tread is worn down to a depth 
of 4 mm.
The speed rating code  ⇒page 235, “New tyres and  wheels” determines the 
following  speed limits  for winter tyres:  ⇒
Q max. 160 km/h
S max. 180 km/h
T max. 190 km/h
H max. 210 km/h
In some countries, vehicles which can exceed the speed rating of the fitted 
tyre must have an appropriate sticker in the driver's field of view. These 
AlteaXL_EN.book  Seite 236  M ontag, 2. Februar 2009  12:26 12 

Wheels and tyres237
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
stickers are available from your Authorised Service Centre. The legal require-
ments of each country must be followed.
Do not have winter tyres fitted for u
nnecessarily long periods. Vehicles with 
summer tyres handle better when the roads are free of snow and ice.
If you have a flat tyre, please refer to the notes on the spare wheel 
⇒ page 235, “New tyres and wheels”.
WARNING
The maximum speed for the winter tyre s must not be exceeded. Otherwise, 
this could lead to tyre damage and thus, an accident risk.
For the sake of the environment
Fit your summer tyres in good time. They  are quieter, do not wear so quickly 
and reduce fuel consumption.Snow chainsSnow chains are only permitted on the front wheels and only for 
tyres195/65R15 and 205/55R16. These tyres may only be fitted with fine-
pitch link chains which do not protrude more than 15 mm  ⇒page 235.
Snow chains must have fine-pitch link s which do not protrude more than 9 
mm, including tension device.
Remove wheel hub covers and trim rings  before fitting snow chains. For safety 
reasons cover caps, available in any Authorised Service Centre, must then be 
fitted over the wheel bolts.
Four-wheel drive : where snow chains are compulsory on certain roads, this 
normally also applies to cars with four-wheel drive. Snow chains may only be 
fitted to the  front wheels (also on vehicles with four-wheel drive).
WARNING
Snow chains should be correctly tightened in accordance with the manu-
facturer's instructions. This will prevent the chains coming into contact 
with the wheel housing.
Caution
You must remove the snow chains to drive on roads which are free of snow. 
Otherwise they will impair handling, damage the tyres and wear out very 
quickly.
Note
•
In some countries, the speed limit for using snow chains is 50 km/h. The 
legal requirements of the country should be followed.
•
We recommend that you ask your Appr oved Service Centre for information 
about appropriate wheel, tyre and snow chain size.
AlteaXL_EN.book  Seite 237  M ontag, 2. Februar 2009  12:26 12 

If and when239
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Compact temporary spare wheel*
The compact spare wheel (emergency wheel for vehicles 
without the anti-puncture kit) should only be used when 
strictly necessary.The temporary spare wheel is stored under the floor panel in the luggage 
compartment and is attached by a thumbnut.
How to use the compact temporary spare wheel
Should you ever have a punctured tyre, the compact temporary spare wheel 
is only intended for temporary use until you can reach a workshop. The 
standard-size road wheel should be replaced as soon as possible.
Please note the following  restrictions when using the compact temporary 
spare wheel. This spare wheel has been specially designed for your vehicle, 
thus, it cannot be changed with th e spare wheel from another vehicle.
No other type of tyre (normal summer  or winter tyre) may be fitted on the 
compact temporary spare wheel rim. Snow chains
For technical reasons, snow chains must not
 be used on the compact tempo-
rary spare wheel.
If you should have a puncture on one of the  front wheels when using snow 
chains, fit the compact temporary spare in place of one of the rear wheels. 
You can then attach the snow chains to the wheel taken from the rear and use 
this wheel to replace the punctured front wheel.
WARNING
•
The tyre pressures must be checked and corrected as soon as possible. 
The emergency tyre pressure for dimensions 125/70R16 125/70R18 
135/90R16 is 4.2 bar; for all other tyre di mensions please refer to the label 
on the fuel cap. Failure to do so could result in an accident.
•
Do not drive faster than 80 km/h. Hi gher speeds can cause an accident.
•
Avoid heavy acceleration, hard braking and fast cornering. Risk of acci-
dent.
•
Never use two or more compact spare tyres at the same time, risk of 
accident.
•
No other type of tyre (normal summer or winter tyre) may be fitted on 
the compact temporary spare wheel rim.
Tyre repair kit
The tyre repair kit (for vehicles not including a spare wheel) is 
stored under the floor panel in the luggage compartment.Your vehicle is equipped with the Tyre Mobility System “Tyre repair kit”.
The tyre repair kit consists of a contai ner with sealing compound to repair the 
puncture and a  compressor to generate the required tyre pressure. The kit will 
Fig. 170  Luggage 
compartment. Access to 
the spare wheel
AlteaXL_EN.book  Seite 239  M ontag, 2. Februar 2009  12:26 12 

If and when
240reliably seal punctures up to a size of about 4 mm caused by the penetration 
of a foreign body into the tyre.
Note
•
Seek professional assistance if the repair of a tyre puncture is not 
possible with the sealing compound.
Wheel changePreparation work
What you must do before changing a wheel.– If you have a flat tyre or puncture, park the vehicle as far away  from the flow of traffic as possible. Choose a location that is as 
level as possible.
– All passengers should leave the ve hicle. They should wait in a 
safe area (for instance behind the roadside crash barrier).
– Switch off the engine. Switch on the hazard warning lights.
–Apply the  handbrake firmly.
– Engage the  first gear, or put the selector lever to position  P for 
those vehicles with an automatic gearbox.
– If you are towing a trailer, unhitch it from your vehicle.
– Take the  vehicle tools  and the spare wheel  out of the luggage 
compartment.
WARNING
Put the hazard warning lights on and place the warning triangle in position. 
This is for your own safety and also warns other road users.
Caution
If you have to change the tyre on a gradient, block the wheel opposite the 
wheel being changed by placing a stone or similar object under it to prevent 
the vehicle from rolling away.
Note
Please observe legal requirements when doing so.Changing a wheelChange the wheel as described below
–Pull off the hub cap. Also see  ⇒page 241.
– Slacken the wheel bolts.
– Raise  the car with the jack in the corresponding zone.
– Remove the wheel and then mount  the spare wheel
– Lower  the vehicle.
– Tighten the wheel bolts  firmly with the box spanner.
–Replace the hub cap.
AlteaXL_EN.book  Seite 240  M ontag, 2. Februar 2009  12:26 12