Advice
CAUTION
● Never disconnect the battery if the ignition
is switched on or if the engine is running.
This could damage the electrical system or
electronic components.
● Never plug accessories that supply current,
such as solar panels or a battery charger, to
the 12-volt power socket or the cigarette
lighter. This could damage the vehicle's elec-
trical system. For the sake of the environment
Dispose of the battery in an environment-
friendly manner. Batteries contain toxic sub-
stances such as sulphuric acid and lead. For the sake of the environment
Battery acid can contaminate the environ-
ment. Collect any spilt service fluids and dis-
pose of them correctly. Wheels and tyres
Wheels Introduction SEAT recommend that all work on tyres and
wheels is carried out by a specialised work-
shop. These workshops have the necessary
special tools and replacement parts, trained
personnel and facilities for disposing of the
old tyres while respecting the environment.
SEAT recommends taking your car in for tech-
nical service.
WARNING
The vehicle cannot be totally controlled or
braked if the tyres (new or used) are worn or
damaged.
● Incorrect use of wheels and tyres could
make driving more dangerous and result in
serious accidents and damage.
● All four wheels must be fitted with radial
tyres of the same type, size (rolling circumfer-
ence) and the same tread pattern.
● New tyres do not give maximum grip and
will not have reached their maximum 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. ●
Check tyre pressures regularly and ensure
they are maintained at the pressures indica-
ted. If the tyre pressure is too low, they could
overheat, resulting in tread detachment or
even burst tyres.
● Never drive on damaged (punctured, cut,
cracked or dented) or worn tyres. Driving on
damaged or worn tyres could result in burst
tyres, serious accidents or damage. Worn or
damaged tyres must be replaced immediate-
ly.
● Never exceed the maximum permitted
speed or loads specified for the type of tyre
fitted on your vehicle.
● The effectiveness of driver and brake assist
systems also depends on the grip of the
tyres.
● If you notice unusual vibration or if the ve-
hicle pulls to one side when driving, stop the
car immediately and check the tyres and
wheels for damage.
● To minimise the risk of losing control of the
vehicle or causing a serious accident, never
undo the bolted joints of beadlock wheels.
● Never mount used tyres or wheels if you are
not sure of their previous history. They may
be damaged, although the damage is not im-
mediately visible.
● Old tyres, even if they have never been
used, may lose air or burst unexpectedly
while driving, especially at high speeds, re-
sulting in serious accident and injury. If tyres
are over six years old, they should only be
used in an emergency and with extreme cau-
tion. 158
Wheels and tyres
Note
For technical reasons, it is not generally pos-
sible to use the wheels from other vehicles.
In some cases, this may also be true for the
same model of wheel. Please refer to the ve-
hicle documentation or ask at a technical
service. About your tyres and wheels
Fig. 114
Diagram for changing wheels The tyres of a vehicle are the components
which are subjected to most stress and are
the most underestimated. Tyres are very im-
portant, as the support offered by their nar-
row surface is the only point of contact be-
tween the vehicle and the road.
The service life of tyres is dependent on tyre
pressure, driving style, the care they receive
and the correct fitting. 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 our
critical to good road holding and safe han-
dling.
Avoiding damage to tyres and wheels
● If you have to drive over a kerb or similar
obstacle, drive very slowly and as near as
possible at a right angle to the kerb.
● Inspect the tyres regularly for damage
(punctures, cuts, cracks, dents).
● Remove any foreign bodies found on the
outside of the tyre tread and ensure that they
have not passed through the wall of the tyre
››› page 163 .
● In a d
dition, the instructions for tyre control
systems should always be observed.
● Replace damaged or worn tyres as soon as
possible ››› page 163.
● Re
gularly check tyres for non-visible dam-
age ››› page 163
.
● Never exceed the maximum permitted
speed or loads specified for the type of tyre
fitted on your vehicle ››› page 167.
● Do not allow tyres (including the spare
wheel) to come into contact with aggressive
substances, grease, oil, fuel or brake fluid
››› .●
Lost valve caps should be replaced imme-
diately.
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 ››› page 167. Al-
ways observe the direction of rotation indica-
ted when mounting the wheel. This guaran-
tees optimum grip and helps to avoid aqua-
planing, excessive noise and wear.
If the tyre is mounted in the opposite direc-
tion of rotation, drive with extreme caution,
as the tyre is no longer being used correctly.
This is of particular importance when the
road surface is wet. Change the tyre as soon
as possible or remount it with the correct di-
rection of rotation.
Interchanging tyres
To ensure that the wear is equal on all tyres
the wheels should be changed round from
time to time according to the system
››› Fig. 114 . The useful life of all the tyres will
then be about the s
ame time.
SEAT recommends you take the vehicle to a
specialised workshop to have the tyres
changed. »
159
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Advice
Tyres that are over 6 years old
Tyres are subject to an ageing process as a
result of physical and chemical processes.
This may affect their performance. Tyres
which are stored for long periods of time
without being used, harden and become
more fragile than tyres which are in constant
use.
SEAT recommends that tyres over six years
old are replaced with new tyres. This also ap-
plies to tyres (including the spare wheel)
which appear to be in perfect condition on
the outside and which have a tread depth
within the values stipulated by the Law ››› .
The date of manufacture, part of the tyre
identification number (TIN), indicates the age
of the tyre ( ) ››› page 167 .
St orin
g tyres
Mark tyres when you remove them to indicate
the direction of rotation (left, right, forwards,
backwards). This ensures you will be able to
mount them correctly when you replace
them. When removed, the wheels and/or
tyres should be stored in a cool, dry and pref-
erably dark location. Do not place tyres
mount
ed on the wheel in a vertical position.
Protect tyres not mounted on wheels from
dirt by storing them in suitable bags and
standing them on the ground on their tread. WARNING
Aggressive fluids or substances could result
in visible or invisible damage with the conse-
quent risks.
● Always ensure that tyres do not come into
contact with chemical products, oil, grease,
fuel, brake fluid or other aggressive substan-
ces. WARNING
Old tyres, even if they have never been used,
may lose air or burst unexpectedly while driv-
ing, resulting in serious accident or damage.
● If tyres are over six years old, they should
only be used in an emergency and with ex-
treme caution. For the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed of by qualified
personnel according to the laws in the coun-
try concerned. Wheel rims
The design of wheel bolts is matched to the
rims. If different rims are fitted, the correct
wheel bolts with the right length and correct-
ly shaped bolt heads must be used. This en-
sures that wheels are fitted securely and that
the brake system functions correctly
››› page 174 . F
or t
echnical reasons, it is not generally pos-
sible to use the wheels from other vehicles.
In some cases, this may also be true for the
same model of wheel.
The tyres and rims approved by SEAT are spe-
cially matched to the characteristics of the
vehicle and are critical to good road holding
and safe handling.
Note for Italy:
A SEAT Service Centre should
be consulted whether different sized wheels
or tyres to those originally fitted by SEAT may
be fitted, as well as the combinations al-
lowed between the front axle (axle 1) and
back axle (axle 2).
Wheel bolts
Wheel bolts must be tightened to the correct
torque ››› page 174
.
Beadlock wheel rims
Beadlock wheel rims have various compo-
nents. These are joined together by special
bolts using a special procedure. This ensures
good performance, a better seal, improved
safety and wheel run out. Therefore, worn
rims should always be replaced and must on-
ly be repaired in a specialised workshop.
SEAT recommends visiting a technical service
››› .
160
Wheels and tyres
Wheel rims with bolted trims
Wheel rims may be fitted with interchangea-
ble trim parts which are attached to the rim
using self-locking bolts. Worn trims should
only be replaced at a specialised workshop.
SEAT recommends visiting a technical service
››› .
WARNING
The use of worn or damaged wheel rims could
make driving more dangerous and result in
serious accidents and damage.
● Only wheel rims which have been approved
for use with your vehicle should be used.
● Inspect wheel rims regularly for damage
and replace as required. WARNING
If the bolted joints of wheel rims with bolted
ring trims are not correctly tightened or loos-
ened, this could result in serious accident.
● Never loosen the bolted joints of wheel
rims with bolted ring trims.
● Any work relating to wheel rims with bolted
rims should be carried out at specialised
workshop. SEAT recommends taking your car
in for technical service. Replacement of wheel rims and new
tyres
New tyres
● When tyres are new, drive with extreme
caution for the first 600 km, as all tyres need
to be run-in . Tyres which have not been run-
in do not
have such good grip ››› or brak-
ing capacity ››› .
● All four wheels must be fitted with radial
tyres of the same type, size (rolling circumfer-
ence) and the same tread pattern.
● The tread depth of new tyres may vary, ac-
cording to the type and make of tyre and the
tread pattern.
Replacing tyres
● Where possible, always replace both
wheels on an axle (both wheels on the front
axle or both wheels on the rear axle) ››› .
● Only replace used tyres with those author-
ised by SEAT for the corresponding type vehi-
cle. Pay special attention to size, diameter,
and maximum load and speed capacity.
● Never use tyres which are larger than SEAT
approved tyres. If the tyres are too big, they
may knock or rub against the chassis or other
components, resulting in damage. WARNING
New tyres do not give maximum grip and will
not have reached their maximum braking ca-
pacity to start with, and therefore need run-
ning in.
● To prevent accidents and major damage,
extreme caution should be taken for the first
600 km. WARNING
There should be adequate space between the
tyres and the vehicle in accordance 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 manu-
factured 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 dimensions of different
types of tyre may vary with respect to the
nominal size, or tread patterns may be differ-
ent. Note
If you use tyres that are approved by SEAT,
you can be sure that the true tyre dimensions » 161Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Advice
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 pressures
Fig. 115
Position of tyre pressure specifica-
tion plate The correct tyre pressures for tyres fitted at
the factory is shown on a label and is valid
for summer and winter tyres. The label ›››
Fig. 115 is located on the driver's door pil-
l ar
.
Under-inflation or over-inflation will reduce
the life of the tyres considerably and also im-
pair the car's handling ››› . It is essential to
maintain the correct tyre pressures, especial-
ly if driving at high speeds. Incorrect tyre
pressure 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 pres-
s ur
es are greater.
Never deflate a hot tyre in order to obtain the
required pressure. This could result in very
low tyre pressures which may lead to sudden
blow-outs.
Checking tyre pressures
Check tyre pressures only when the vehicle
has not been driven for more than a few kilo-
metres at low speeds in the past three hours.
● The tyre pressures should be checked regu-
larly, and only when the tyres are cold. Al-
ways check all tyres, including the spare
wheel. Tyre pressures should be checked
more often in colder regions, and only when
the vehicle has not been driven recently. Al-
ways use a correctly-operating tyre gauge. ●
Adjust tyre pressures to the loads carried in
the vehicle.
● After adjusting the tyre pressure, check that
the caps are properly screwed on.
The
spare wheel or temporary spare wheel
must be at the maximum pressure specified. WARNING
If tyre pressures are too high or too low, the
tyre may deflate or burst suddenly while driv-
ing. This could result in a serious accident.
● If the tyre pressure is too low, they could
overheat, resulting in tread detachment or
even burst tyres.
● When driving at high speeds and/or fully
loaded, the tyre could suddenly overheat,
burst or be subject to tread detachment, with
the resultant loss of control of the vehicle.
● Tyre pressures which are too high or too
low reduce the service life of the tyre, affect-
ing the vehicle's performance.
● Tyre pressures should be checked regularly,
at least once a month and before long jour-
neys.
● Adjust the pressures of all the tyres to the
vehicle load.
● Never deflate excess pressure from hot
tyres. 162
Wheels and tyresTyre code (example)Meaning
TREADWEAR 220Relative service life of the tyre, with respect to specific US standard test.
TRACTION ABraking capacity of tyre on wet surface (AA, A, B or C).
TEMPERATURE ATyre temperature resistance at higher test speeds (A, B or C).
If the tyre has other markings, these are specific tyre manufacturer codes or specific national codes, e.g. for Brazil or China.
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 opti-
mum grip and helps to avoid aquaplaning,
grip, noise and wear.
If the tyre is mounted in the opposite direc-
tion of rotation, drive with extreme caution,
as the tyre is no longer being used correctly.
This is of particular importance when the
road surface is wet. Change the tyre as soon
as possible or remount it with the correct di-
rection of rotation.
Tyre load rating
The load rating code indicates the maximum
load in kilogrammes each wheel can carry
(load capacity). 425 kg
462 kg
487 kg
515 kg
545 kg
615 kg
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)
78
81
83
85
87
91
P
Q
R
S
T
U
H
V
Z max. 270 km/h (168 mph)
max. 300 km/h (186 mph)
Some manufacturers use the letters “ZR” for
tyres with a maximum authorised speed
above 240 km/h.
Snow chains When using snow chains, applicable local
legislation and maximum permitted speed
limits must be observed.
In winter weather, snow chains not only help
to improve grip but also improve the braking
capacity.
The fitting of chains is permitted
only on
front wheels and with the following combi-
nation
s of wheel trims and tyres :
»
W
Y
169
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Advice
Changing the windscreen wiper
blades Changing windscreen wiper blades Fig. 141
Changing the front wiper blades Fig. 142
Changing the rear wiper blade The windscreen wiper blades are supplied as
standard with a layer of graphite. This layer is
responsible for ensuring that the wipe is si-
lent. If the graphite layer is damaged, the noise of the water as it is wiped across the
windscreen will be louder.
Check the condition of the wiper blades regu-
larly.
If the wipers scrape across the glass
they shou
ld be changed if they are damaged,
or cleaned if they are dirty ››› .
Damaged wiper blades should be replaced
immediately. These are available from quali-
fied workshops.
Lifting and unfolding the wiper arms
The wiper arm may only be lifted at the point
wher e it
is fastened to the blade.
For windscreen wipers, please note: the wip-
er should be in service position before un-
folding it ››› page 60.
Cl
eaning windscreen wiper blades
● Lifting and unfolding the wiper arms.
● Use a soft cloth to remove dust and dirt
from the windscreen wiper blades.
● If the blades are very dirty, a sponge or
damp cloth may be used ››› .
Changing the windscreen wiper blades
● Lifting and unfolding the wiper arms.
● Hold down the release button
››› Fig. 141 1 while gently pulling the blade
in the direction of the arrow. ●
Fit a new wiper blade of the same length
and design on to the wiper arm and hook it
int o p
lace.
● Rest the wiper arms back onto the wind-
screen.
Changing the rear wiper blade
● Lift the windscreen wiper arm and fold it at
an angle of approximately 60° ››› Fig. 142.
● Pre
ss and hold the release button 1 .
● Fold the wiper blade towards the wind-
screen wiper arm ››› Fig. 142 (arrow A ) while
simultaneously pulling in the direction of ar-
row B . This may require some strength.
● Insert a new blade of the same length and
type in the windscreen wiper arm in the op-
po s
ite direction to the arrow B and hook in-
to place. This feature is operational when the
knob is in position (arrow A ).
● Return the windscreen wiper arm to the
windscreen. Do not let it simply drop down! WARNING
Worn or dirty wiper blades reduce visibility
and increase the risk of accident and serious
injury.
● Always replace damaged or worn blades or
blades which do not clean the windscreen
correctly. 188
Fuses and bulbs
CAUTION
● Damaged or dirty windscreen wipers could
scratch the glass.
● If products containing solvents, rough
sponges or sharp objects are used to clean
the blades, the graphite layer will be dam-
aged.
● Never use fuel, nail varnish remover, paint
thinner or similar products to clean the win-
dows. Note
If wax deposits, other cleaning products from
the automatic car wash, or other care prod-
ucts, are left on the windscreen and the rear
window, the blades can scratch the glass. Re-
move wax deposits with a special product or
cleaning cloths. Fuses and bulbs
Fuses Introduction Due to the constant updating of vehicles,
fuse assignments based on equipment and
the use of the same fuse for various electrical
components, it is not possible to provide an
up-to-date summary of the fuse positions for
the electrical components at the time of
printing this manual. For detailed information
about the fuse positions, please consult a
technical service.
In general, a fuse can be assigned to various
electrical components. Likewise, an electrical
component can be protected by several
fuses.
Only replace fuses when the cause of the
problem has been solved. If a newly inserted
fuse blows after a short time, you must have
the electrical system checked by a special-
ised workshop as soon as possible.
WARNING
The high voltages in the electrical system can
give serious electrical shocks, causing burns
and even death!
● Never touch the electrical wiring of the igni-
tion system. ●
Take care not to cause short circuits in the
electrical system. WARNING
Using unsuitable fuses, repairing fuses or
bridging a current circuit without fuses can
cause a fire and serious injury.
● Never use a fuse with a higher value. Only
replace fuses with a fuse of the same amper-
age (same colour and markings) and size.
● Never repair a fuse.
● Never replace a fuse by a metal strip, staple
or similar. CAUTION
● To prevent damage to the vehicle's electric
system, before replacing a fuse always turn
off the ignition, the lights and all electrical
elements and remove the key from the igni-
tion.
● If you replace a fuse with higher-rating
fuse, you could cause damage to another part
of the electrical system.
● Protect the fuse boxes when open to pre-
vent the entry of dust or humidity as they can
damage the electrical system. Note
One component may have more than one
fuse. » 189Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety