2015 Seat Leon SC Owner's manual

Wheels
CAUTION
● Some v ehic
les, for example those with the
Start-Stop system* are fitted with a special
battery (AGM-type or EFB-type battery). If any
other type of battery is fitted, the Start-Stop
function may be considerably reduced and
the vehicle may not stop on repeated occa-
sions.
● Make sure that the vent hose is always at-
tached t
o the original opening on the side of
the battery. Gases or battery acid can other-
wise escape and possibly cause damage.
● The battery holder and clamps must always
be correctly
secured.
● Before starting any work on the battery, al-
way
s observe the warnings listed under
››› page 253, Important safety warnings for
handling a vehicle battery .
● Do not forget to replace the battery cover-
ings, wher
e applicable. It is a protection for
high temperatures. This in turn extends the
vehicle service life. For the sake of the environment
 Batteries contain toxic substances includ-
in g s

ulphuric acid and lead. They must be
disposed of appropriately and must not be
disposed of with ordinary household waste.
Make sure disconnected batteries cannot tip
over. Sulphuric acid could be spilt! Wheels
Wheel s
and ty

res
General notes –
When driving with new tyr e
s, be especially
careful during the first 500 km (300 miles).
– If you have to drive over a kerb or similar
obs

tacle, drive very slowly and as near as
possible at a right angle to the obstacle.
– Check from time to time if the tyres are
dam ag

ed (punctures, cuts, cracks or
dents). Remove any foreign objects embed-
ded in the treads.
– Damaged wheels and tyres must be re-
plac

ed immediately.
– Keep grease, oil and fuel off the tyres.
– Replace any missing valve caps as soon as
poss

ible.
– Mark the wheels before taking them off so
that they

rotate in the same direction when
put back.
– When removed, the wheels or tyres should
be stor

ed in a cool, dry and preferably dark
place.
New tyres
New tyres do not give maximum grip straight
away and should therefore be “run in” by driving carefully and at moderate speeds for
about the firs

t 500 km (300 miles). This will
also increase the useful life of the tyres.
The tread depth of new tyres may vary, ac-
cording to the type and make of tyre and the
tread pattern.
Concealed damage
Damage to tyres and rims is often not readily
visible. If you notice unusual vibration or the
car pulling to one side, this may indicate that
one of the tyres is damaged. Reduce speed
immediately if there is any reason to suspect
that damage may have occurred. Inspect the
tyres for damage. If no external damage is
visible, drive slowly and carefully to the near-
est specialised workshop and have the car
inspected.
Tyres with directional tread pattern
An arrow on the tyre sidewall indicates the di-
rection of rotation on single drive tyres. Al-
ways note the direction of rotation indicated
when mounting the wheel. This guarantees
optimum grip and helps to avoid aquaplan-
ing, excessive noise and wear.
Retrofitting accessories
If you wish to change or fit wheels, rims or
wheel trims, we recommend that you consult
with a SEAT Official Service centre for advice
regarding current techniques.
255
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
Tyre useful life Fig. 237
Location of the tyre pressure sticker. Correct inflation pressures and sensible driv-
in
g h
ab
its will increase the useful life of your
tyres.
– Check tyre pressure at least once a month,
and also prior to an

y long trip.
– The tyre pressure should only be checked
when the tyre

s are cold. Do not reduce the
pressure of warm tyres.
– Adjust tyre pressure to the load being car-
ried by the

vehicle. –
In vehic
les with a tyre pressure indicator,
save the pressure of modified tyres
››› page 259, ››› page 256.
– Avoid fast cornering and hard acceleration.
– Inspect the tyres for irregular wear from
time to time.
The usef

ul life of your tyres depends on the
following factors:
Tyre pressure
Tyre pressure values are indicated on the
sticker on the inside of the fuel tank flap
››› Fig. 237.
Insufficient or excessive pressure greatly re-
duces the useful life of the tyres and adverse-
ly affects vehicle performance and ride. Cor-
rect inflation pressures are very important,
especially at high speeds.
Depending on the vehicle, tyre pressure can
be adjusted to medium load to improve driv-
ing comfort (“comfort” tyre pressure). When
driving with comfort tyre pressure fuel con-
sumption may increase slightly.
The tyre pressure must be adjusted according
to the load the vehicle is carrying. If the vehi-
cle is going to carry the maximum load, the
tyre pressure should be increased to maxi-
mum value indicated on the sticker on the in-
side of the fuel tank flap. Do not forget the spare wheel when checking
the tyre pr

essures: Keep this spare wheel in-
flated to the highest pressure required for the
road wheels.
In the case of a minimised temporary spare
wheel (125/70 R16 or 125/70 R18) inflate to
a pressure of 4.2 bar as indicated on the tyre
pressure label on the fuel tank flap.
Driving style
Fast cornering, heavy acceleration and hard
braking (squealing tyres) all increase tyre
wear.
Wheel balance
The wheels on new vehicles are balanced.
However, certain circumstances may lead to
imbalance (run-out), which is detected as vi-
brations in the steering wheel.
Unbalanced wheels should be rebalanced, as
they otherwise cause excessive wear on
steering, suspension and tyres. A wheel must
also be rebalanced when a new tyre is fitted
or if a tyre is repaired.
Incorrect wheel alignment
Incorrect wheel alignment causes excessive
tyre wear, impairing the safety of the vehicle.
If you notice excessive tyre wear, you should
check wheel alignment at a SEAT Official
Service.
256

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

Advice
– If
y
ou wish to fit the vehicle with rims or
tyres different to those installed in manu-
facture, it is advisable to consult a SEAT Of- ficial Service before purchasing them.
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 make
a major contribution to good roadholding
and safe handling ››› .
The s iz
e

s of the rims and tyres approved for
your vehicle are listed in the vehicle docu-
mentation (e.g. EC Certificate of Conformity or
COC document 1)
). The vehicle documentation
varies depending on the country of resi-
dence.
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).
A knowledge of tyre designations makes it
easier to choose the correct tyres. The follow-
ing wording can be read on the sides of the
tyre:
205/55 R16 91V
This contains the following information:
205Tyre width in mm
55Height/width ratio in %
RTyre construction: Radial
16Rim diameter in inches
91Load rating code
VSpeed index The manufacturing date is also indicated on
the ty
r

e sidewall (possibly only on the inner
part):
DOT ... 2212 ...
it means, for example, that the tyre was man-
ufactured in the 22nd week of 2012.
But note that with some types of tyre, the ac-
tual tyre size can differ from the nominal size
marked on the tyre (for instance 205/55 R 16
91 W), and there may be significant differen-
ces in the contours of the tyres, even though
the tyres are marked with the same nominal
size designation. When replacing the tyres,
it is therefore important to make sure that
the actual size of the new tyres does not ex-
ceed the dimensions of the factory-approved
makes of tyre.
Failure to observe this requirement can af-
fect the clearance needed for the tyres. If the
tyres rub against the bodywork, in certain circumstances the tyres , suspension or
bodywork
and pipe

s may be damaged, and
vehicle safety could be severely impaired
››› .
If
y

ou use tyres that are approved by SEAT
you can be sure that the actual tyre dimen-
sions will be correct for your vehicle. If you
decide to fit a different type of tyre, you must
obtain the appropriate manufacturer's certif-
icate from the tyre retailer to confirm that
the tyres are suitable for your vehicle. Keep
this certificate in a safe place.
Your SEAT Official Service will be able to ad-
vise you on which tyres may be fitted to your
vehicle.
It is best to have all servicing of wheels and
tyres performed by a specialised workshop.
They are familiar with the procedure and
have the necessary special tools and spare
parts as well as the proper facilities for dis-
posing of the old tyres respecting the envi-
ronment. WARNING
● It i s

very important to ensure that the tyres
you have chosen have adequate clearance.
When selecting replacement tyres, do not re-
ly entirely on the nominal tyre size marked on
the tyre, since the effective tyre size can dif-
fer significantly depending on the 1)
COC = certificate of conformity.
258

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

Advice
Tyre monitoring indicator If a light appears
The pressure in one or more tyres has
clearly reduced in comparison to the
tyre pressure set by the driver or the
tyre has structural damage.
Additionally, an audible warning can be heard and a text
message can be seen on the instrument panel display.
Stop! Reduce speed immediately! Stop the vehicle
safely as soon as possible. Avoid sudden manoeuvres
and braking! Check all tyres and pressures. Replace any
damaged tyres. If flashing

System malfunction
The control lamp flashes for approximately one minute
and then lights up permanently.
If tyre pressure is correct, switch the ignition off and on
again. If the control lamp remains lit up, the tyre moni-
toring indicator can be calibrated. Have the system
checked by a specialised workshop.
Several warning and indication lamps light
up f
or a f
ew sec

onds when the ignition is
switched on while the function is verified.
They will switch off after a few seconds. WARNING
When the tyres are inflated at different pres-
sur e

s or at a pressure that is too low then a
tyre may be damaged resulting in a loss of control of the vehicle and a serious or fatal
acc
ident

.
● If the warning lamp  lights up
, stop im-
mediately and check the tyres.
● If the tyres are inflated at different pres-
sure
s or if a tyre pressure is too low, this will
increase tyre wear, negatively affecting vehi-
cle stability and increasing braking distan-
ces.
● If tyres are inflated at different pressures or
a tyre pr
essure is too low, a tyre may be dam-
aged and burst resulting in a loss of control
of the vehicle.
● The driver is responsible for ensuring that
all
of the vehicle tyres are correctly inflated
to the right pressure. The recommended tyre
pressure is indicated on the label
››› page 267.
● The tyre monitoring system can only oper-
ate corr
ectly if all of the tyres are inflated to
the correct pressure when cold.
● Driving with tyres at the wrong pressure
can dam
age them and result in an accident.
Ensure that the tyre pressures of all the tyres
correspond to the vehicle load.
● Before starting a journey, always inflate
tyre
s to the correct pressure.
● Tyres with insufficient pressure are subjec-
ted to mor
e flexing. Due to this, the tyre
could become excessively hot, causing tread
separation and also tyre blow-out.
● With an overloaded vehicle at high speed,
the tyre
s can overheat and burst resulting in
a loss of vehicle control. ●
Ty r

e pressures which are too high or too
low reduce the useful life of the tyre, affect-
ing vehicle performance.
● If a tyre has not been punctured and it does
not hav
e to be changed immediately, drive to
the nearest specialised workshop at a moder-
ate speed and have the tyre checked and in-
flated to the correct pressure. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›
››
in Warning
and indication l amp
s on page 109. Note
● If e x

cessively low tyre pressure is detected
with the ignition on, an audible warning will
sound. In the event that there is a fault in the
system, an audible warning will sound.
● Driving on dirt tracks for a long period of
time or driving in a s
porty style can tempora-
rily deactivate the TPMS. The control lamp
shows a fault, but disappears when road con-
ditions or the driving style change. 260

Wheels
Tyre monitoring indicator Fig. 240
Instrument panel: warning of loss of
ty r
e pr
essure. The tyre monitor indicator compares wheel
r
ev
o

lutions and, with this information, the
tread of each wheel using the ABS sensors. If
the rolling circumference of one or more
wheels has changed, the tyre monitoring in-
dicator will indicate this on the instrument
panel through a warning lamp and a warning
to the driver ››› Fig. 240. When only one spe-
cific tyre is affected, its position within the
vehicle will be indicated.
 Loss of pressure: Check left
tyre pressure!
Wheel tread change
The wheel tread changes when: ●
Tyr
e pressure is manually changed
● Tyre pressure is insufficient
● Tyre structure is damaged
● The vehicle is unbalanced because of a
load
● The wheel

s on an axle are subject to a
heavier lo
ad (e.g. with a heavy load).
● The vehicle is fitted with snow chains
● The temporary spare wheel is fitted
● The wheel on one axle is changed
There ma
y be a delay in the reaction of the
tyre  monitoring indicator or it may not in-
dicate anything under certain circumstances
(e.g. sporty driving, snow-covered or un-
paved roads, or when driving with snow
chains). Calibrating the tyre monitoring indica-
tor Fig. 241
Glove compartment: tyre control
sw it
c

h. After changing the tyre pressure or replacing
one or mor
e wheel
s, the ty

re monitoring indi-
cator must be recalibrated. Do the same, for
example, when the front and rear wheels are
swapped.
● Switch the ignition on.
● Store the new tyre pressure in the Easy
Connect sy
stem with the button  and the
f u
nction b
utton Setup
› ›
›
 page 28 or us-
ing the switch located in the glove compart-
ment 1)
››› Fig. 241.
When driving, the system self-calibrates the
tyre pressure provided by the driver and the
wheels fitted. After a long journey with varied »1)
In vehicles without the Infotainment system:
261
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
speeds the programmed values are collected
and monit or
ed.
W
ith the wheels under very heavy loads, the
tyre pressure must be increased to the total
recommended tyre pressure before the cali-
bration ››› page 267. Note
● The tyr e monit

oring indicator does not
function when there is a fault in the ESC or
ABS ››› page 178.
● An erroneous indication may be given when
snow c
hains are in use because they increase
the tread of the wheel. Temporary spare wheel
Gener a
l

information Fig. 242
Compact temporary spare wheel:
r ai
sed floor p

anel. The temporary spare wheel has been de-
s
igned t
o be u

sed for short periods of time.
Have the tyres checked, and if necessary, re-
placed as soon as possible at a SEAT Official
Service or at a specialised workshop.
Please note the following restrictions when
using the compact temporary spare wheel.
The compact temporary spare wheel is de-
signed specifically for this model. For this
reason, do not use a temporary spare wheel
from a different type of vehicle.
Removing the temporary spare wheel
– Lift and hold up the floor panel to remove
the temporar

y spare wheel ››› Fig. 242.
– Turn the thumb wheel anti-clockwise.
– Take out the temporary spare wheel.
Chains
F

or technical reasons, snow chains must not
be used on the temporary spare wheel.
If you have a puncture on one of the front
wheels when using snow chains, fit the tem-
porary spare wheel in place of one of the rear
wheels. Fit the snow chains on the rear wheel
that you have removed and replace the punc-
tured front wheel with this wheel. WARNING
● Aft er fittin

g the temporary spare wheel,
check the tyre pressures as soon as possible. Failure to do so may cause an accident. The
tyr
e pr

essures are listed on the inside of the
fuel tank flap.
● Do not drive at over 80 km/h (50 mph)
when the temporar
y spare wheel is fitted on
the vehicle: risk of accident!
● Avoid heavy acceleration, hard braking and
fas
t cornering: risk of accident!
● Never use more than one temporary spare
wheel at the s
ame time, risk of accident.
● No other type of tyre (normal summer or
winter ty
re) may be fitted on the compact
temporary spare wheel rim.
● If you are driving using the spare wheel,
the ACC
system could automatically switch
off during the journey. Switch off the system
when starting off. Extraction of the spare wheel in vehi-
c
l
e

s with SEAT SOUND 10 speakers
(with subwoofer)* –
Disassemble the s ub
woofer's
floor panel
(carpet) as follows:
– LEON/LEON SC model: first, p
ull the carpet
in the direction of the backrest and then
pull it upwards to remove it. LEON ST mod-
el: lift and secure the floor storage com-
partment as explained in ››› page 157.
– Disconnect the subwoofer's
speaker cable.
– Turn the securing wheel anti-clockwise.
262