242Wheels and tyres
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating code
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 be carried out by an Author-
ised Service Centre. They are familiar with the procedure and have the nec-
essary special tools and spare parts as well as the proper facilities for dis-
posing 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.
15
91
TFor the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed of according to the laws in the country con-
cerned.
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 peri-
od 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 should not use wheel bolts from a different
vehicle, even if it is the same model ⇒ page 215.
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 tightening torque for steel and alloy wheels is 120 Nm.
243
Wheels and tyres
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 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 han-
dling. The design of summer tyres (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 pres-
sures 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 reg-
istration 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 241, New tyres and wheels determines the
following speed limits for winter tyres: ⇒
max. 160 km/h
max. 180 km/h
max. 190 km/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 241, New tyres and wheels.
WARNING
The maximum speed for the winter tyres must not be exceeded. Other-
wise, 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 chains
Snow chains may be fitted only to the front wheels, and only to certain tyre
sizes ⇒ page 289.
Q
S
T
H
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications
The environmentHeated rear window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Leaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Warming up the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Tightening torque of wheel bolts . . . . . . . . . . 289
tiptronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
tiptronic mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Tow-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196, 283 Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Notes on towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196, 197
Removable towing bracket . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Technical requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Towing a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Towing bracket, fitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Towing eye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Towing eyes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Tow starting General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Traction control system Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Trailer weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Trip recorder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Turn signal lamps Hazard warning lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Trailer turn signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Turn signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Turn signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Tyre mobility system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Tyre Mobility System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252 Tyre pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66, 90, 235
Loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Tyre pressure monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Tyre pressure monitoring system . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Tyre pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Tyre repair kit Tyre Mobility System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Tyres and wheels Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Tyres service life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Tyres tread depth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Tyres with directional tread pattern . . . . . . . . 235
U Underbody protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
V Vehicle data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Vehicle identification data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Vehicle identification number . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Vehicle keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Vehicle modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Vehicle paintwork Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Products for vehicle maintenance . . . . . . . 206
Vehicle washing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Ventilation slits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 W
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Alternator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Warning lamps Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Anti-lock brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Electronic differential lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Electronic Stability Programme . . . . . . . . . . 68
Engine management (EPC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Exhaust emission control system . . . . . . . . 66
Handbrake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Red symbols in central display . . . . . . . . . . 77
Seat belt warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Yellow symbols on central display . . . . . . . 79
Warning lamps - overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Washer fluid level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Washing by hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Washing the vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Washing with high pressure cleaners . . . . . . . 208
Wear indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Wearing suitable shoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Wheel bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289 Tightening torque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235, 289 Changing a wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Why assume the correct sitting position? . . . . . 28
Why should head restraints be correctly adjus- ted? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Why wear seat belts? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18, 19, 28
Windows Defrosting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
308 Index