
Operation
CAUTION
● To ens ur
e that the ESC works correctly, all
four wheels must be fitted with the same
tyres. Any differences in the rolling radius of
the tyres can cause the system to reduce en-
gine power when this is not desired.
● Any modifications made to the vehicle (for
exampl
 e, to the engine, brake system, run-
ning gear or to the combination of wheels
and tyres) may affect the operation of the
ABS, EDL, ESC and ASR. Traction control system (ASR)*
The traction control system prevents the driv-
en wheel
s
 fr om s
pinning when the vehicle is
accelerating. This system always includes
ABS.
Description and operation of the traction
control system during acceleration (ASR)
On front-wheel drive vehicles, the ASR sys-
tem intervenes, reducing engine power and
preventing the driven wheels from slipping
during acceleration. The system works in the
entire speed range in conjunction with ABS.
If a failure occurs in the ABS, the ASR will al-
so stop working.
TCS helps the car to start moving, accelerate
and climb a gradient in slippery conditions
where this may otherwise be difficult or even
impossible. The ASR automatically switches on when the
engine is s
tarted. If necessary, it could be
connected or disconnected by means of the
Easy Connect system.
When the ASR is off, the warning lamp lights
up . The ASR should normally be left on.
Only in exceptional circumstances, when
wheel spin is required, can they be turned off
using the ESC button, for example:
● With compact temporary spare wheel.
● When using the snow chains.
● When driving in deep snow or on soft ter-
rain.
● When the vehic
le is bogged-down, to free it
“by roc
 king it.”
The ASR should be switched on again as
soon as possible.
Control lamp
There are two control lamps for the traction
control system:   and . Both control lamps
light up together when the ignition is switch-
ed on and should turn off after approximately
2 seconds. This is the time taken for the func-
tion check.
The  lamp has the following function:
● It flashes when the ASR is working if the ve-
hicle is
  moving. If the system is deactivated or if it has any
fault, the warnin
g lamp will remain lit. The
warning lamp will also light up if a fault
should occur in the ABS because the ASR op-
erates in conjunction with the ABS. For fur-
ther information, see  ››› page 156.
The  lamp provides information about the
disconnection status of the system:
● It stays lit when the ASR is disconnected
via Ea
 sy Connect.
By means of Easy Connect, the ASR function
is reactivated and the warning lamp switched
off. WARNING
● Remember that  not
 even the ASR can defy
the laws of physics. This should be kept in
mind, particularly on slippery and wet roads
and when towing a trailer.
● Always adapt your driving style to suit the
condition of the ro
 ads and the traffic situa-
tion. The greater safety provided by the ASR
should not encourage you to run any risks. CAUTION
● To ens ur
e that the ASR works correctly,
identical tyres should be fitted on all four
wheels. Any differences in the rolling radius
of the tyres can cause the system to reduce
engine power when this is not desired. 156    

Advice
●
Never use o l
d tyres or those with an un-
known “history of use”.
● If wheel trims are retrofitted, you must en-
sure that
  the flow of air to the brakes is not
restricted. This could cause the brake system
to overheat.
● All four wheels must be fitted with radial
tyres
  of the same type, size (rolling circumfer-
ence) and the same tread pattern. For the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed of according to
the l aws
 in the country concerned. Note
● A SEA T 
Service Centre should be consulted
to find out whether wheels or tyres of differ-
ent sizes to those originally fitted by SEAT
can be fitted, and to find out about the com-
binations allowed between the front axle
(axle 1) and the rear axle (axle 2).
● For technical reasons, it is not generally
possib
 le to use the wheels from other vehi-
cles. 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 vehi-
cle'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 period of time and drive with extra care. Refit the normal road wheel as
soon as po
s
sible. Wheel bolts
The design of wheel bolts is matched to the
rims. If differ
ent
 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 190. WARNING
If the wheel bolts are not tightened correctly,
the wheel cou l
d become loose while driving.
Risk of accident.
● The wheel bolts must be clean and turn
easi
 ly. Never apply grease or oil to them.
● Use only wheel bolts which belong to the
wheel.
● If the pre
scribed torque of the wheel bolts
is too lo
 w, they could loosen whilst the vehi-
cle is in motion. Risk of accident! If the tight-
ening torque is too high, the wheel bolts and
threads can be damaged. CAUTION
The prescribed tightening torque for wheel
bolts  f
or steel and alloy wheels is 120 Nm. Tyre pressure
Fig. 191 
Centre console: tyre monitoring sys-
t em b
utton. The tyre monitoring lamp * c
omp
are
s
wheel revolutions and with it, using the ESC,
the wheel diameter of each wheel. If the di-
ameter of a wheel changes, the tyre control
lamp  lights up. The wheel diameter
changes when:
● Tyre pressure is insufficient.
● The tyre structure is damaged.
● The vehicle is unbalanced because of a
load.
216     

Wheels
● The wheel s
 of  one ax
le are under more
pressure (for example, driving with a trailer or
on steep slopes).
● The vehicle is fitted with snow chains.
● The temporary spare wheel is fitted.
● The wheel on one axle is changed.
Tyre pr
 essure adjustment
On adjusting tyre pressure or changing one
or more wheels, the  ››› Fig. 191 button must
be kept pressed down, with the ignition on,
until an acoustic signal is heard.
Store the new tyre pressure in the Easy Con-
nect system with the button    and the func-
tion b utt
on  Set
up  
› ›
› 
 p
age 24.
If
 the wheels are under excessive load (for ex-
ample, driving with a trailer or heavy load),
the tyre pressure must be increased to the
recommended value for a full load (see the
sticker on the inside of the fuel flap). If the
tyre monitor system button is pressed down,
the new tyre pressures are confirmed.
The tyre pressure control lamp   lights up
If the tyre pressure of a wheel is much lower
than the value set by the driver, then the tyre
pressure control lamp  ›››   will light up.
WARNING
● When the tyre pr e
ssure control lamp lights
up, reduce speed immediately and avoid any sudden turning or braking manoeuvre. Stop
when poss
ib
le, and check the tyre pressure
and status.
● The driver is responsible for maintaining
correct ty
 re pressures. For this reason, tyre
pressure must be regularly checked.
● Under certain circumstances (e.g. when
driving in a spor
 ty manner, in winter condi-
tions or on a dirt track) the tyre control lamp
may light up belatedly or may function incor-
rectly. Note
If the battery is disconnected, the yellow
warning l amp 
 lights up after turning the
ignition on. This should turn off after a brief
journey. Winter service
W int
er ty r
es In winter conditions winter tyres will consid-
er
ab
ly impr
ove the vehicle's handling. The
design of summer tyres (width, rubber com-
pound, tread pattern) gives less grip on ice
and snow.
Winter tyres must be inflated to a  pressure of
0.2 bar (2.9 psi/20 kPa) higher than the pres-
sures specified for summer tyres (see sticker
on fuel tank flap). Winter tyres must be fitted on all four wheels.
Information on permitted 
winter tyre sizes
can be found in the vehicle's registration
documentation. Use only radial winter tyres.
All tyre sizes listed in the vehicle documenta-
tion 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 215, New
tyres and wheels  determines the following
speed limits for winter tyres:  ›››  max. 160 km/h (99 mph)
m
ax. 180 km/h (112 mph)
m ax. 190 km/h (118 mph)
m ax. 210 km/h (130 mph)
In some c
ountries, 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 unnecessa-
rily 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 215, New
tyres and wheels . »
Q
S
T
H
217
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety