2012 Seat Alhambra esp

301
Wheels and tyres
WARNING
New tyres do not give maximum grip and will not have reached their max-
imum braking capacity to start with, and therefore need running in.
● To prevent accidents and major damage, extreme caution should be
taken for the first 600 km (370 miles).
WARNING
There should be adequate space between the tyres and the vehicle in ac-
cordance with the vehicle design. If this is not the case, the tyres may
rub against parts of the running gear, chassis or brake lines, leading to
faults in the brake system or to tread detachment, and the risk of burst
tyres.
● The true tyre dimension should not be greater than the dimensions of
tyres manufactured and approved by SEAT and should not rub against
parts of the vehicle.
Note
● Although tyres may be shown as being the same size, the true dimen-
sions of different types of tyre may vary with respect to the nominal size, or
tread patterns may be different.
● If you use tyres that are approved by SEAT, you can be sure that the true
tyre dimensions will be correct for your vehicle. For other tyre models, the
tyre vendor should provide the manufacturer's certificate with the tyre, indi-
cating that this type of tyre is suitable for your vehicle. This certificate
should always be carried with the vehicle. Tyre pressuresFig. 178 Position of tyre pressure specification plate.
The correct tyre pressures for tyres fitted at the factory is shown on a label
and is valid for summer and winter tyres. This label ⇒ fig. 178 is either in
the driver's door strut or inside the fuel cap.
Under-inflation or over-inflation will reduce the life of the tyres considerably
and also impair the car's handling ⇒ 
. It is essential to maintain the cor-
rect tyre pressures, especially if driving at high speeds. Incorrect tyre pres-
sure causes premature wear and could cause tyre blow-out.
The pressure should therefore be checked at least once a month and before
starting a journey.
As a general rule, the pressures given are for cold tyres. When the tyres are
hot, the pressures are greater. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTechnical Specifications

303
Wheels and tyres
Tread depth
Certain driving conditions require a deeper tread, as well as needing the
tread to be approximately the same on the front and rear tyres. This is par-
ticularly important when driving in winter, in cold temperatures and on wet
roads ⇒ 
.
The minimum tread depth required by law in the majority of cases is 1.6 mm
(1/16 of an inch), measured in the tread grooves next to the tread wear indi-
cators. Observe legal requirements in each country.
The performance of winter tyres is much reduced when the tread has worn
to 4 mm (5/32 inch).
The tread depth of new tyres may vary, according to the type and make of
tyre and the tread pattern.
Wear indicators on the tyre
The original tyres on your vehicle have 1.6 mm (1/16 inch) high ⇒ fig. 179
tread wear indicators running across the tread. A number of these indicators
are equally spaced around the tyre tread. Certain marks on the tyre walls
(for example, the letters “TWI” or other symbols) indicate the position of the
wear indicators.
Tread wear indicators indicate if a tyre is worn. Tyres must always be re-
placed before the tyre tread has worn to the level of the indicator.
WARNING
Driving with worn tyres is dangerous, and may lead to loss of control of
the vehicle with serious consequences.
● Tyres must be replaced before the wear indicators are at the same lev-
el as the tread pattern.
WARNING (Continued)
● Worn tyres have significantly reduced grip, especially on wet surfa-
ces, increasing the risk of “aquaplaning”.
● Worn tyres make control of the vehicle more difficult in normal or dif-
ficult driving conditions, increasing the braking distance and the risk of
skidding.

Damaged tyres
Damage to wheels and tyres is often not immediately visible. If you notice
unusual vibration or the car pulling to one side, this may indicate that one
of the tyres is damaged ⇒ 
.
● Slow down immediately if you think you have a damaged wheel.
● Check the wheels and tyres for damage.
● If tyres are worn, stop driving and seek qualified assistance.
● If there is no visible exterior damage, drive slowly and carefully to the
nearest qualified workshop and have the vehicle checked.
Foreign bodies in the tyre
● Do not remove foreign bodies if they have penetrated through the tyre
wall!
● You should obtain professional assistance immediately.
The sealant at the lower part of the tyre tread wraps around the foreign body
and provisionally seals the tyre.
Wear of tyres
The wear of tyres depends on a number of factors, for example:
● Driving style.
● Unbalanced wheels.
● Running gear settings. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTechnical Specifications

304Wheels and tyres
Driving style : driving round bends fast or sudden acceleration or braking
speed up the wear of tyres. When the driving style is normal, if the tyres
wear too quickly, have the running gear settings checked at a Technical
Service.
Wheel run-out: The wheels on new vehicles are balanced. However, certain
circumstances may lead to imbalance (run-out), which is detected as vibra-
tions in the steering wheel. Run-out leads to wear of the steering and sus-
pension. In the event of run out, the wheels should be balanced again.
When a new wheel is fitted, it should be balanced again.
Running gear settings : an incorrectly positioned running gear increases the
wear of tyres and affects your safety while driving. If tyres wear too quickly,
have the wheel alignment checked at a specialised workshop.
WARNING
If you notice unusual vibration or the car pulls to one side while driving,
this may indicate that one of the tyres is damaged.
● Reduce speed immediately and stop, while observing the highway
code.
● Check the wheels and tyres for damage.
● Never carry on driving on worn tyres or wheels. Request qualified as-
sistance immediately.
● If there is no visible exterior damage, drive slowly and carefully to the
nearest qualified workshop and have the vehicle checked.

Winter tyres*
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 also improve the vehicle brak-
ing performance, reducing the braking distance in winter weather. SEAT rec- ommend that winter tyres be fitted to the vehicle at temperatures below
+7 °C (+45 °F).
The performance of winter tyres is much reduced if the
tyre tread is worn be-
low 4 mm (1/16 inch). The age of the tyre is another factor affecting per-
formance, regardless of the depth of the tyre tread.
Please observe the following when using winter tyres:
● Observe legal requirements in each country.
● Winter tyres must be fitted on all four wheels.
● Only use winter tyres in wintery weather conditions.
● Only use winter tyres of the size authorised for the vehicle.
● Only use radial winter tyres of the same type, size (rolling circumference)
and tread pattern.
● Adjust speeds to within the limits indicated (code letter on tyre) ⇒ 
.
Speed limit
A code letter indicating the speed limit is stamped on all winter tyres
⇒ page 307.
In some vehicles, it is possible to set a speed warning in the MFA (multifunc-
tion indicator) menu on the instrument panel ⇒ page 62.
If you use V-rated tyres the speed limits and tyre pressure will be deter-
mined by engine size. Please ask your Technical Service for further informa-
tion on the maximum permitted speed and the required pressures for the
tyres.
All-wheel drive*
Thanks to its all-wheel drive, your car will have plenty of traction in winter
conditions, even with the standard tyres. Nevertheless, SEAT still recom-
mend that winter tyres or all-season tyres should be fitted on all four wheels
when winter road conditions are expected, mainly because this will give a
better braking response. 

306Wheels and tyres
Tyre code
Fig. 180 Universal code on tyres.
Radial
Rim diameter code
Load index & speed rating
DOT tyre identification number
Severe snow conditions
Tyre ply composition and materials used
Max. load rating
Treadwear, traction and temperature grades
Max. permissible inflation pressure
Passenger car tyre
Nominal width of tyre in millimetres
Ratio of height to width (aspect ratio)
1
23456789101112
Tyre code (example)MeaningMake, logotypeManufacturerProduct nameName of tyre assigned by manufacturer.P215 / 55 R 16Size:PPassenger vehicle code.215Nominal width between walls, in mm.55Height/width ratio in %RTyre type (R indicates "radial").16Rim diameter in inches91 VLoad index
⇒ page 307 and speed rating
⇒ page 307.
XLReinforced tyres.M+S or M/SWinter tyres (mud and snow tyres) ⇒ page 304.SSR or DSST, Eufonia,
RFT, ROF, RSC, ZP,
Conti-SealSpecific manufacturer codes for run-flat tyres.
RADIAL TUBELESSRadial tyre without inner tube.E4 ...E-mark certifying tyre complies with internation-
al legislation followed by a number denoting the
country granting the authorisation. The authori-
sation number ( several digits) is shown below.
DOT BT RA TY5 1709Tyre identification number (TINa)
, may be only on
interior wall of wheel) and date of manufacture:
DOTThe tyre complies with the legal require-
ments of the US Department of Trans-
port, responsible for tyre safety regula-
tions.
BTPlace of manufacture code.RAInformation about manufacturer and tyre
size.
TY5Manufacturer's tyre specifications.1709Date of manufacture: Week 17 of 2009. 

307
Wheels and tyres
Tyre code (example)MeaningTWIThis identifies the position of the Tread Wear In-
dicator ⇒ page 302.
MAX LOAD 615 KG
(1356 LBS)US load rating, indicating maximum permitted
load per tyre.
MAX INFLATION 350 KPA
(51 PSI)US limit, indicating maximum permitted tyre
pressure.
SIDEWALL 1 PLY RAYONInformation about tyre wall components:
1 layer of rayon (artificial silk).
TREAD 4 PLIES
1 RAYON + 2 STEEL +
1 NYLONInformation about tread components:
In the example, there are 4 layers below the
tread: 1 layer of rayon (artificial silk), 2 layers of
steel reinforcement and 1 layer of nylon.
Information for the end consumer concerning the comparative values of
the established base tyres (standardised test procedures) :
TREADWEAR 280Relative service life of the tyre, with respect to
specific US standard test.
TRACTION AABraking capacity of tyre on wet surface (AA, A, B
or C).
TEMPERATURE ATyre temperature resistance at higher test
speeds (A, B or C).
If there are different letters, they are specific codes of the tyre manufac-
turer or specific national codes.
a)
The letters TIN refer to the tyre serial number.
Tyres with directional tread pattern
Tyres with directional tread pattern have been designed to operate best
when rotating in only one direction. An arrow on the tyre sidewall indicates
the direction of rotation on tyres with directional tread. Always observe the
direction of rotation indicated when mounting the wheel. This guarantees
optimum grip and helps to avoid aquaplaning, excessive noise and wear. Tyre load rating
The load rating code indicates the maximum load in kilogrammes each
wheel can carry (load capacity).
615 kg (1356 pounds)
650 kg (1433 pounds)
690 kg (1521 pounds)
730 kg (1609 pounds)
775 kg (1709 pounds)
Speed rating
The speed rating indicates the maximum speed permitted for the tyres.
max. 150 km/h (93 mph)
max. 160 km/h (99 mph)
max. 170 km/h (106 mph)
max. 180 km/h (112 mph)
max. 190 km/h (118 mph)
max. 200 km/h (124 mph)
max. 210 km/h (130 mph)
max. 240 km/h (149 mph)
max. 240 km/h (149 mph)
max. 270 km/h (168 mph)
max. 300 km/h (186 mph)
Some manufacturers use the letters “ZR” for tyres with a maximum author-
ised speed above 240 km/h (149 miles). 
91
93
95
97
99
P
Q
R
S
T
U
H
V
Z
W
Y
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTechnical Specifications

309
Wheels and tyres
Wheel bolt caps
Fig. 182 Removing the
wheel bolt caps
● Take the wire hook from the vehicle tool kit ⇒ page 324.
● Insert the wire hook in the cap through the opening ⇒ fig. 182 and pull
outwards in the direction of the arrow.
The caps protect the wheel bolts and should be remounted after changing
the tyre.
The anti-theft wheel locking bolt has a special cap. This cap only fits on an-
ti-theft locking bolts and is not for use with standard wheel bolts. Changing a wheel*
Introduction
The tyres mounted on the vehicle are anti-puncture. The wheels should only
be changed when switching from summer to winter tyres or vice-versa. See
⇒  page 303
You should only change the wheels yourself if the vehicle is parked in a safe
place, you are familiar with the procedure and you have all the necessary
tools! Otherwise, you should seek professional assistance.
Additional information and warnings:
● Vehicle key set ⇒ page 71
● Wheels and tyres ⇒ page 297
● Wheel trims ⇒ page 308
● Vehicle tools ⇒ page 324
WARNING
Changing a wheel can be dangerous, especially on the hard shoulder.
Please observe the following rules to minimise the risk of injury:
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible. Park your vehicle as safe
distance from surrounding traffic to change a wheel.
● When changing a wheel, keep all passengers and particularly chil-
dren a safe distance away from the work area.
● Turn on the hazard warning lights to warn other road users.
● Ensure the ground on which you park is flat and solid. If necessary,
support the jack on a wide solid base.
● If you are changing a wheel yourself, you should be familiar with the
required procedure. Otherwise, you should seek professional assistance. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTechnical Specifications

312Wheels and tyres
Never grease or lubricate wheel bolts or the wheel hub threads. Although
they have been tightened to the prescribed torque, they could come loose
while driving.
WARNING
If the wheel bolts are not fitted correctly they could be released while
driving leading to loss of vehicle control and serious damage.
● Only use wheel bolts which correspond to the wheel rims in question.
● Never use different wheel bolts.
● The bolts and threads should be clean, free of oil and grease and easy
to thread.
WARNING (Continued)
● To loosen and tighten the wheel bolts, always use the wheel brace
supplied with the vehicle.
● Loosen the wheel bolts only about one turn before raising the vehicle
with the jack.
● Never grease or lubricate wheel bolts or the wheel hub threads. Al-
though they have been tightened to the prescribed torque, they could
come loose while driving.
● Never loosen the bolted joints of wheel rims with bolted ring trims.
● If the wheel bolts are not tightened to the correct torque, they may
come loose while driving, and the bolts and rims may come out. If the
tightening torque is too high, the wheel bolts and threads can be dam-
aged.


318If and when
First aid kit, warning triangle, reflective vests and fire
extinguishers*
Fig. 189 On the boot lid:
Warning triangle bracket.
Reflective vests
Some vehicles will have a driver's door compartment to store a reflective
vest ⇒ page 53.
Warning triangle
With the tailgate open, rotate the lock ⇒ fig. 189 90°. Lower the bracket and
remove the warning triangle.
First-aid kit
There is a first aid kit ⇒ page 142 in the rear left-hand side storage com-
partment of the luggage compartment.
The first aid kit must comply with legal requirements. Check the expiry date
of the contents of the first aid kit.
Fire extinguisher
There is a Fire extinguisher underneath the passenger seat. The fire extinguisher must conform to legal requirements, be ready for use
and be checked regularly. Check the certification seal on the extinguisher.
WARNING
Loose objects in the passenger compartment can be violently thrown in
case of a sudden manoeuvre or braking and especially in accidents caus-
ing serious injury.
● Secure fire extinguishers, first aid kit, reflective vests and warning
triangle securely to their respective supports.

Emergency locking and unlocking Introduction
The doors, tailgate and panoramic sliding roof can be locked manually and
partially opened, for example if the key or the central locking is damaged.
Additional information and warnings:
● Vehicle key set ⇒ page 71
● Central locking and locking system ⇒ page 74
● Doors ⇒ page 80
● Tailgate ⇒  page 84
● Panorama sliding sunroof ⇒ page 92
● In case of emergency ⇒ page 316 