Operation
ABS to be activated more quickly and
eff ectiv
ely
.
Do not lift your foot off the brake pedal!
When the brake pedal is released or when
the brake force is reduced, braking assist au-
tomatically turns off the brake servo.
Traction control system (ASR) or Traction
Control (TC)*
In the event of wheelspin, the traction control
system ASR or TC reduces the engine torque
to match the amount of grip available. The
ASR or TC makes some situations easier, for
example, when starting, accelerating or go-
ing uphill, even in unfavourable road condi-
tions.
Electronic differential lock (EDS)
EDL is available when driving in straight lines
under normal conditions. When the EDL de-
tects wheelspin, it brakes the spinning wheel
and directs the power to the other one. To
prevent the disc brake of the braked wheel
from overheating, the EDL cuts out automati-
cally if subjected to excessive loads. The EDL
will switch on again automatically when the
brake has cooled down. WARNING
Driving at high speed on icy, slippery or wet
grou nd c
an result in loss of vehicle control and serious injury to the driver and passen-
ger
s.
● Adju
st your speed and driving style to visi-
bility
, road, traffic and weather conditions.
Even though the brake assist systems, ABS,
BAS, EDL, ASR and ESC* provide more securi-
ty, do not take unnecessary risks while driv-
ing.
● Brake assist systems can not overcome the
law
s of physics. Even with ESC* and other
systems, slippery and wet roads will always
be dangerous.
● Driving to quickly on wet ground can result
in the wheels lo
sing contact with the ground
in an effect known as “aquaplaning”. Without
adherence, it is impossible to brake, steer or
control the vehicle.
● Brake assist systems cannot avoid acci-
dents if
, for example, the driver does not re-
spect safety distances or drives to quickly in
difficult conditions.
● Even though brake assist systems are ex-
tremely eff
ective and help control the vehicle
in difficult situations, remember that the ve-
hicle stability depends on tyre grip.
● When accelerating on a slippery surface,
for ex
ample on ice or snow, press the acceler-
ator carefully. The wheels can still slip even
with brake assist systems resulting in loss of
vehicle control. WARNING
The effectiveness of the ESC* can be consid-
erab ly
reduced if other components and sys-
tems affecting driving dynamics are not main-
tained or are not functioning correctly. This
includes, among others, brakes, tyres and
other systems already mentioned.
● Remember that changing and fitting other
components
to the vehicle can affect opera-
tion of the ABS, BAS, ASR TC, EDL and ESC*.
● Changes to the vehicle suspension or using
unap
proved wheel/tyre combinations can af-
fect operation of the ABS, BAS, ASR, TC, EDL
and ESC* and their effectiveness.
● Likewise, the effectiveness of ESC* de-
pends on the u
se of suitable tyres
››› page 197. Note
● To en s
ure that the ESC*, ASR and TC work
properly, all four wheels must be fitted with
identical tyres. Any differences in the rolling
radius of the tyres can cause the system to
reduce engine power when this is not de-
sired.
● If a malfunction should occur in the ABS,
the ESC*, ASR, T
C and EDL will also be affec-
ted.
● Noises may be heard while any of the
above sy
stems are operating.148
Wheels and tyres
Wheels and tyres
T y
r
es
Introduction SEAT recommend that all work on tyres and
wheels
i
s 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
brak ed if
the tyres (new or used) are worn or
damaged.
● Incorrect use of wheels and tyres could
make driv
ing more dangerous and result in
serious accidents and damage.
● All four wheels must be fitted with radial
tyre
s of the same type, size (rolling circumfer-
ence) and the same tread pattern.
● New tyres do not give maximum grip and
wil
l 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 ty
re 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,
crac
ked 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 loa
ds specified for the type of tyre
fitted on your vehicle.
● The effectiveness of driver and brake assist
syst
ems also depends on the grip of the
tyres.
● If you notice unusual vibration or if the ve-
hicle p
ulls 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
vehicl
e or causing a serious accident, never
undo the bolted joints of beadlock wheels.
● Never mount used tyres or wheels if you are
not sur
e 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, ma
y 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.
Note
For technical reasons, it is not generally pos-
s ib l
e 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. Handling tyres and wheels
Fig. 172
Diagram for changing wheels The tyres of a vehicle are the components
whic
h ar
e s
ubjected 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. »
197
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Advice
Replacement of wheel rims and new
ty r
e
s New tyres
● When tyres are new, drive with extreme
caution f or the fir
st 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 c ap
acity ››› .
● All four wheels must be fitted with radial
tyr e
s of the same type, size (rolling circumfer-
ence) and the same tread pattern.
● The tread depth of new tyres may vary, ac-
cor din
g to the type and make of tyre and the
tread pattern.
Replacing tyres
● Where possible, always replace both
wheels on an ax
le (both wheels on the front
axle or both wheels on the rear axle) ››› .
● Only replace used tyres with those author-
i sed b
y
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
appro
ved 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 h av
e reached their maximum braking ca-
pacity to start with, and therefore need run-
ning in.
● To prevent accidents and major damage,
extreme c
aution should be taken for the first
600 km. WARNING
There should be adequate space between the
tyr e
s 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
great
er 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 s iz
e, 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 c an be s
ure that the true tyre dimensions will be correct for your vehicle. For other tyre
models, the ty
r
e 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. 173
Position of tyre pressure specifica-
tion p l
at
e The correct tyre pressures for tyres fitted at
the f
act
or
y is shown on a label and is valid
for summer and winter tyres. The label
200