
Wheels and tyres249
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Wheels and tyresWheelsGeneral notesAvoiding damage
– If you have to drive over a kerb or similar obstacle, drive very 
slowly and at a right angle.
– Keep grease, oil and fuel off the tyres.
– Inspect the tyres regularly for da mage (cuts, cracks or blisters, 
etc.). Remove any foreign objects embedded in the treads.
Storing tyres
– When you remove the tyres, mark them in order to maintain the  same direction of rotation when they are installed again.
– When removed, the wheels and/or tyres should be stored in a  cool, dry and preferably dark location.
– Store tyres in a vertical position  if they are not fitted on wheel 
rims.New tyres
New tyres must be run in ⇒ page 205.
The tread depth of new tyres may vary, according to the type and make of tyre 
and the tread pattern. Concealed damage
Damage to tyres and rims is often not readily visible. If you notice unusual 
vibrations or the vehicle pulling to one side, this may indicate that one of the 
tyres is damaged. The tyres should be checked immediately by an Authorised 
Service Centre.
Tyres with directional tread pattern
An arrow on the tyre sidewall indicates the direction of rotation on tyres with 
directional tread. Always observe the direction of rotation indicated when 
fitting the wheel. This guarantees optimum grip and helps to avoid aqua-
planing, excessive noise and wear.
WARNING
•New tyres do not have maximum grip during the first 500 km. Drive 
particularly carefully to avoid possible accidents.•Never drive with damaged tyres. This may cause an accident.•If you notice unusual vibrations or if the vehicle pulls to one side when 
driving, stop the vehicle immediately and check the tyres for damage.
Checking tyre pressure
The correct tyre pressure can be seen on the sticker on the 
inside of the tank flap.1. Read the required tyre inflatio n pressure from the sticker. The 
values refer to Summer tyres. For  Winter tyres, you must add 0.2 
bar to the values given on the sticker.
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Wheels and tyres
254New 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 %
RTyre construction: Radial
15 Rim diameter in inches
91 Load rating code
TSpeed 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 be 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.
WARNING
•We recommend that you use only wheels 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 that are more than 6 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 according 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 
wheels 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 (e.g. 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.
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Wheels and tyres255
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
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 should not use wheel bolts from a different 
vehicle, even if it is the same model  ⇒page 224.
After the wheels have been changed, the tightening torque of the wheel bolts 
s ho uld  b e  ch ecke d  as  so on  as  possi ble  wi th a  to rq ue  wre nch ⇒ . 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 too 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 tightening 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 vehicle’s 
handling. The design of summer tyre s (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 254, “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 
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 unnecessarily 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 254, “New tyres and wheels”.
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Wheels and tyres
256
WARNING
The maximum speed for the winter tyres must not be exceeded. Otherwise, 
this could lead to tyre damage and risk of accident.
For the sake of the environment
Fit your summer tyres again as soon as possible. They are quieter, do not wear 
so quickly and reduce fuel consumption.Snow chainsSnow chains are only permitted on front wheels and only for tyres 195/65R15 
and 205/55R16. These tyres may only be fitted with fine-pitch link chains 
which do not protrude more than 15 mm  ⇒page 290.
Other tyres may use fine-pitch links 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.
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
Remove the snow chains to drive on roads without 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 Authorised Service Centre for informa-
tion about appropriate wheel, tyre and snow chain size.
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If and when
258Compact temporary spare wheel* (emergency 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 temporary spare wheel
Should you ever have a punctured tyre, the 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 temporary spare wheel. 
This spare wheel has been specially designed for your vehicle, thus, it cannot 
be changed with the 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 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 dimensions 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. Higher 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 container with sealing compound to repair the 
puncture and a compressor  to generate the required tyre pressure. The kit will 
Fig. 174  Luggage 
compartment. Access to 
the spare wheel
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Technical Specifications
304Dimensions and capacities
Dimensions
Length, width 4282 mm/ 1768 mm
Height at kerb weight 1546 mm
Front and rear projection 916 mm/ 788 mm
Wheelbase 2578 mm
Turning circle 10.7 m
Track width
a)
a)This data will change depending on the type of wheel rim.
Front Rear
1525 mm 1509 mm
1539 mm 1523 mm
Capacities
Fuel tank 55 l. Reserve 7 l.
Windscreen washer fluid container with headlight washer 3 l/ 5.5 l
Ty re  p re ss u re
Summer-grade tyres:
The correct tyre pressure can be seen on the sticker on the inside of the tank flap.
Winter tyres:
The pressure of these tyres is the same as the summer tyre pressure plus 0.2 bar.
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Index
308Specifications  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  235
Topping up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  237
Engine oil dipstick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  236
Engine oil pressure Warning lamp  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66, 87
Environment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  207 Environmental friendliness  . . . . . . . . . . . .  209
Environmental tip Avoiding pollution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  227
Environmentally friendly driving  . . . . . . . . . . .  207
ESP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88, 199 See also Electronic Stability Programme . .  172
Example of menu use Program a speed limit warning  . . . . . . . . . .  69
To activate and deactivate the speed limit warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  69
Example of the use of the menus Open the Configuration menu with the MFI lever68
Open the Configuration menu with the steering  wheel controls  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  69
Examples of menu use Open the main menu  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  68
Open the winter tyres menu . . . . . . . . . . . . .  69
To close the winter tyres menu . . . . . . . . . . .  69
Exhaust gas purification system  . . . . . . . . . . .  206
Exterior mirrors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  218FFabric trim cleaning  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  222 Fastening rings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
Fire extinguisher  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  155
First-aid kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  155
Flexible service interval display . . . . . . . . . . . . .  62
Floor mats  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
Fog lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  118
Fog lights with cornering function . . . . . . . . . .  123
Folding the seat backrests down . . . . . . . . . . .  143
Folding tray*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  145
Front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
Description  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
Front drinks holders  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  148
Front passenger airbag deactivation . . . . . . . . .  44
Front reading lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  128
Front seat adjustment Lumbar support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  140
Fuel Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  231
Petrol  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  230
Fuel level Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  58
Fuel reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  82 Warning message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  67
Fuel Tank Opening the fuel tank flap  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  226
Fuel tank See Fuel reserve  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  82
Fuel: save . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  207 Fuses  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  267
GG 12  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  239
Gear shift pattern  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  181
General overview of the engine compartment   291
Glove compartment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  144
Glow plug system  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  175
Warning lamp  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  83
GRA  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  192HHandbrake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  187 Warning lamp  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86, 187
Hazard warning lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  123
HBA  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  197
Head restraints Adjusting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138, 139
Adjustment of the head restraint angle . . .  139
Removing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  139
Headlight flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  125
Headlight range control  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  122
Headlights Driving abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  210
Fog lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  118
Headlight washer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  134
Heated front seats  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  141
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Index313
Wheel bolts  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  261, 290
Tightening torque  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Wheel change  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Wheel trims  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Wheels  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  249, 290
Why assume the correct sitting position?  . . . . . 30
Why should head restraints be correctly adjusted? 13
Why wear seat belts? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19, 21, 30
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Windscreen washer fluid Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Windscreen wiper blades Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Windscreen wipers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 Changing blades  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Changing the rear wiper blade . . . . . . . . . . 244
Winter driving Diesel engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Winter tyres  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Wooden trim cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Working in the engine compartment  . . . . . . . . 232
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