2012 Seat Exeo ST service

252Wheels and tyres
Tyre pressure warning lamp on
When you switch on the ignition, the tyre pressure warning lamp  will
light up for about 2 seconds. There is a fault in the system if the indicator
stays on permanently after switching on the ignition. The instrument panel
also display TMPS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System). Please contact the
nearest specialised workshop as soon as possible.
The tyre pressure warning lamp  lights up if the tyre pressure on one or
more wheels is significantly lower than the tyre pressure setting which was
confirmed by the driver ⇒ 
.
WARNING
● If the tyre pressure warning lamp lights up  you must slow down
immediately and avoid any severe braking or steering manoeuvres. Stop
the vehicle as soon as possible and check the tyres and their pressure.
● The driver is responsible for maintaining correct tyre pressures.
Therefore, the tyre pressure must be regularly checked.
● Under certain conditions (e.g. driving at high speeds, on ice and snow
or on poor road surfaces) the tyre pressure warning lamp  may not light
up immediately or not at all.
● Please ask your Technical Service or specialised workshop whether
run-flat tyres can be used on your vehicle. Fitting this type of tyre in an
undue manner could lead to your driving licence being taken away from
you. Furthermore, it may led to damage to the vehicle or, under certain
circumstances, may cause accidents.
● If you change normal tyres for run-flat tyres or vice versa, the control
unit must be reprogrammed by the Technical Service or a specialised
workshop.
Note
If you did not press the button for the tyre pressure monitoring system to
confirm a new tyre pressure setting after making changes to the tyre pres-
sures or changing one or more wheels, the warning lamp  may light up
although the tyre pressures are correct. In this case, stop the vehicle as
soon as possible and, after examining the tyres, press the button for the
tyre pressure monitoring system. 

253
Wheels and tyres
Tyre service life
The service life of tyres is dependent on tyre pressure, driv-
ing style and fitting.
Fig. 190 Tyre tread wear
indicators
Fig. 191 Diagram for
changing wheels Wear indicators
The original tyres on your vehicle have 1.6 mm high “tread wear indicators”
⇒ Fig. 190, running across the tread. Depending on the make, there will be
6 to 8 of them evenly spaced around the tyre. Markings on the tyre sidewall
(for instance the letters “TWI” or other symbols) indicate the positions of
the tread wear indicators. The minimum tread depth required by law is
1.6 mm (measured in the tread grooves next to the tread wear indicators).
Worn tyres must be replaced. Different figures may apply in export countries
⇒ 
.
Tyre pressure
Under-inflation or over-inflation will reduce the life of the tyres considerably
and also impair the vehicle's handling. The inflation pressures are listed on
a sticker on the inside of the fuel tank flap.
Correct inflation pressures are very important, especially at high speeds.
The pressure should therefore be checked at least once a month and before
starting any long journey.
Tyre pressure monitoring (RKA+)*
Monitoring of the tyre pressures is based on the tyre pressures you have
stored. The tyre pressure monitoring system cannot function as intended if
you store tyre pressure settings for a normal load, but then drive with the
vehicle fully laden. The tyre pressure must be adapted to the actual load
and stored accordingly in the tyre pressure monitoring system ⇒ page 251.
Driving style
Fast cornering, heavy acceleration and hard braking all increase tyre wear.
Changing wheels around
If the front tyres are worn considerably more than the rear ones it is advisa-
ble to change them around as shown ⇒ Fig. 191. All the tyres will then last
for about the same time. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

254Wheels and tyres
Wheel balance
The wheels on new vehicles are balanced. However, various factors encoun-
tered in normal driving can cause them to become unbalanced, which re-
sults in steering vibration.
Unbalanced wheels should be rebalanced, as they otherwise cause exces-
sive wear on steering, suspension and tyres. A wheel must also be reba-
lanced when a new tyre is fitted.
Incorrect wheel alignment
Incorrect wheel alignment causes excessive tyre wear, impairing the safety
of the vehicle. If tyres show excessive wear, you should have the wheel
alignment checked by a Technical Service.
WARNING
There is a serious danger of accidents if a tyre bursts during driving!
● The tyres must be replaced at the latest when the tread wear indica-
tors are worn ⇒ page 253. Failure to do so could result in an accident.
Worn tyres do not grip well at high speeds on wet roads. There is also a
greater risk of aquaplaning.
● At continuously high speeds, a tyre with insufficient pressure flexes
more. This causes it to overheat. This can cause tread separation and tyre
blow-out. Risk of accident. Always observe the recommended tyre pres-
sures.
● If tyres show excessive wear, you should have the running gear
checked by a Technical Service.
● Keep chemicals such as oil, fuel and brake fluid away from tyres.
● Damaged wheels and tyres must be replaced immediately!
For the sake of the environment
Under-inflated tyres will increase fuel consumption. Run-flat tyres*
Run-flat tyres allow you to continue driving even with a
punctured tyre, in the majority of cases.
In vehicles that are factory-fitted with run-flat tyres 1)
the loss of tyre
pressure is indicated on the instrument panel.
Driving with run-flat tyres (emergency running)
– Leave the ESC/ASR on (Electronic Stability Control), or switch it
on ⇒  page 71.
– Continue driving carefully and slowly (80 km/h maximum).
– Avoid sudden manoeuvres and sharp turns.
– Avoid driving over obstacles (for example kerbs) or potholes.
– Pay attention if the ESC/ASR activates often, if smoke comes
from the tyres or there is a smell of rubber, if the vehicle vi-
brates or there are clattering noises. If any of these occur, stop
the vehicle.
The run-flat tyres have a tag on the side of the tyre, with the description:
“DSST”, “Eufonia”, “RFT”, “ROF”, “RSC”, “SSR” or “ZP”.
The sides of this type of tyre are reinforced. When the tyres lose air they are
supported on the sides (emergency driving).
The loss of pressure in the tyre is shown on the instrument panel. You can
then drive a maximum of 80 km and if the circumstances are favourable (for
example, low load), even more. 
1)
Depending upon version and country.

255
Wheels and tyres
The damaged tyre should be changed as soon as possible. The rim should
be checked in a specialised workshop to detect possible damage and re-
place it if necessary. We recommend you contact Technical Service. If more
than one tyre is being used under emergency conditions, this reduces the
distance which can be travelled.
Starting driving in emergency conditions
When loss in tyre pressure is displayed on the instrument panel, this means
that at least one tyre is being driven in emergency conditions ⇒ 
.
End of emergency operation
Do not drive on if:
● smoke is coming from one of the tyres,
● there is a smell of rubber,
● the vehicle vibrates,
● there is a rattling noise.
When is it no longer possible to continue driving even using run-flat tyres?
● If the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) does not function.
● If the tyre pressure monitoring system* does not work.
● If one of the tyres has been severely damaged in an accident, etc. If a
tyre has been badly damaged there is a risk that parts of the tread can be
thrown off and cause damage to the fuel lines, brake pipes or fuel filler.
● It is also advisable to stop driving if severe vibrations occur, or if the
wheel starts overheating and gives off smoke.
WARNING
When driving in emergency conditions, the driving quality of the vehicle
is considerably impaired.
● The maximum permitted speed of 80 km/h is subject to road and
weather conditions. Please observe legal requirements when doing so.
WARNING (Continued)
● Avoid sharp turns and rapid manoeuvres, and brake earlier than usu-
al.
● Avoid driving over obstacles (for example kerbs) or potholes.
● If one or more tyres are being driven in emergency conditions, the
driving quality of the vehicle is impaired and there is a risk of accident.
Note
● The run-flat tyres do not “deflate” on losing pressure because they are
supported on the reinforced sides. Therefore defects in the tyre cannot be
detected with a visual inspection.
● Snow chains must not be used on front tyres used in emergency condi-
tions. 
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 characteris-
tics 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: 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

256Wheels and tyres
Tyre width in mm
Height/width ratio in %
Tyre construction: Radial
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 a Technical
Service. They are familiar with the procedure and have the necessary spe-
cial tools and spare parts as well as the proper facilities for disposing of the
old tyres.
Any Technical Service has full information on the technical requirements
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.
195
65
R
15
91
TWARNING (Continued)
● 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 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 228.


257
Wheels and tyres
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.
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 255, 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 Technical Service. The legal requirements 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 255, 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. 
Q
S
T
H
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

258Wheels and tyres
Snow chains
Snow chains may be fitted only to the front wheels, and only to certain tyre
sizes ⇒ page 303.
205/55 R1615 mm chains225/45 R179 mm chains225/40 R187 mm chains
Remove wheel hub covers and trim rings before fitting snow chains. For
safety reasons cover caps, available in any Technical Service, must then be
fitted over the wheel bolts.
WARNING
Observe the fitting instructions provided by the snow chain manufactur-
er.
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 Technical Service for information
about appropriate wheel, tyre and snow chain size. 

266If and when
The code number should be noted and kept in a safe place, as it is only by
using the code number that a duplicate adaptor can be obtained from the
SEAT Official Services. 
Tyres with directional tread pattern
Tyres with directional tread pattern must be fitted so that
they rotate in the correct direction. A directional tread pattern can be identified by arrows on the sidewall that
point in the direction of rotation. Always note the direction of rotation indi-
cated when fitting the wheel. This is important so that these tyres can give
maximum grip and avoid excessive noise, tread wear and aquaplaning.
If, in an emergency, you have to fit the spare wheel so it rotates in the wrong
direction, you must drive extremely carefully. The tyre will not give optimum
performance. This is particularly important when driving on wet roads.
To benefit from the advantages of tyres with this type of tread pattern, the
defective tyre should be replaced as soon as possible so that all tyres again
rotate in the correct direction. Tyre repair* (Tyre-Mobility-System)
General information and safety notes
Repaired tyres are only suitable for temporary use over a
short period.
Fig. 200 The Tyre Mobi-
lity System is not suita-
ble for repairing this type
of damage to tyres.
Your vehicle is equipped with a tyre repair kit: the Tyre Mobility System.
In the event of a puncture you will find the TMS, which consists of a sealing
compound and a compressor, located under the floor panel in the luggage
compartment.
The Tyre Mobility System will reliably seal tyres damaged by foreign bodies,
provided that the cuts or punctures are no larger than approx. 4 mm.
It is not necessary to remove the foreign body from the tyre. 