Wheels
WARNING
● Alw a
ys adapt the tyre pressure accordingly
when the vehicle load changes.
● A tyre with low air pressure has to flex a lot
more when the v
ehicle is heavily loaded or at
high speeds, therefore causing overheating
to occur. Under these conditions, the tyre
bead may be released or the tyre may burst.
Risk of accident! For the sake of the environment
Under-inflated tyres will increase fuel con-
sumption. Wear indicators
Fig. 238
Tyre tread: tread wear indicators Tread wear indicators indicate if a tyre is
w
orn. The origin
al
tyres on your vehicle have
1.6 mm high “trea
d wear indicators” running
across the tread. Depending on the manufac-
turer, there will be 6 to 8 of them spaced at
equal distances around the tyre. Markings on
the tyre sidewall (for instance the letters
“TWI” or a triangle) 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). (Different fig-
ures may apply in other countries.) WARNING
The tyres must be replaced at the latest when
the tre a
d is worn down to the tread wear indi-
cators. Failure to follow this instruction could
result in an accident.
● Especially in difficult driving conditions
such a
s wet or icy roads. It is important that
the tyre tread be as deep as possible and be
approximately the same on the tyres of both
the front and the rear axles.
● The scant driving safety due to insufficient
trea
d depth is particularly evident in vehicle
handling, when there is a risk of “aquaplan-
ing” in deep puddles of water and when driv-
ing through corners, and braking is also ad-
versely affected.
● The speed has to be adapted accordingly,
otherwi
se there is a risk of losing control over
the vehicle. Changing wheels
Fig. 239
Interchanging tyres. To ensure that the wear is equal on all tyres
the wheel
s
shou
ld be changed round from
time to time according to the system
››› Fig. 239. The useful life of all the tyres will
then be about the same time.
New tyres or new wheels –
All four wheels must be fitted with tyres of
the s ame type, s
iz
e (rolling circumference)
and preferably the same tread pattern.
– Tyres should be replaced at least in pairs
and not individual
ly (i.e. both front tyres or
both rear tyres together).
– Do not use tyres whose effective size ex-
ceeds
the dimensions of the factory-ap-
proved makes of tyre. »
257
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Wheels
manufacturer. Inadequate tyre clearance can
re
s
ult in damage to the tyres or the vehicle,
causing a serious safety risk. Risk of acci-
dent! It may also invalidate the vehicle's reg-
istration for use on public roads.
● Avoid running the vehicle on tyres that are
more than 6
years old. If you have no alterna-
tive, you should drive slowly and with extra
care at all times.
● If wheel trims are fitted after the car is pur-
cha
sed, ensure that there is an adequate flow
of air for cooling the brake system. For the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed of according to
the la w
s in the country concerned. Note
● Never mou nt
used tyres if you are not sure
of their “previous history”.
● For technical reasons, it is not generally
poss
ible to use the wheels from other vehi-
cles. In some cases, this may also be true for
the same model of wheel. Wheel bolts
The wheel
bolts
ar
e m
atched to the rims.
When installing different wheels (for instance
alloy wheels or wheels with winter tyres) it is
important to use the correct wheel bolts with
the right length and correctly shaped bolt heads. This ensures that wheels are fitted se-
curely
and that the brake system functions
correctly.
The wheel bolts must be clean and turn easi-
ly.
A special adapter is required to turn the anti-
theft wheel bolts* ›››
page 59.
Tyre monitoring systems Introduction WARNING
Unsuitable handling of the wheels and tyres
ma y
lead to sudden tyre pressure losses, to
tread separation or even to a blow-out.
● Check tyre pressures regularly and ensure
they are m
aintained at the pressures indica-
ted. Tyre pressure that is too low could cause
overheating, resulting in tread detachment or
even burst tyres.
● Tyre pressure should be that indicated on
the label when the ty
res are cold at all times
››› page 267.
● Regularly check the cold inflation pressure
of the tyr
es. If necessary, change the tyre
pressure of the vehicle tyres while they are
cold.
● Regularly check your tyres for damage and
wear
. ●
Never e x
ceed the maximum permitted
speed or loads specified for the type of tyre
fitted on your vehicle. For the sake of the environment
Under-inflated tyres lead to increased fuel
c on s
umption and tyre wear. Note
● Drivin g f
or the first time with new tyres at a
high speed can cause them to slightly ex-
pand, which could then produce an air pres-
sure warning.
● Only replace used tyres with those author-
ised by
SEAT for the corresponding type vehi-
cle.
● Do not only rely on the tyre monitoring sys-
tem. Re
gularly check your tyres to ensure
that the tyre pressure is correct and that the
tyres are not damaged due to puncture, cuts,
tears and impacts/dents. Remove objects
from the tyres only when they have not
pierced the tyres. 259
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
