The essentials
Changing a wheel R el
at
ed video Fig. 76
Wheels Vehicle tool kit
Fig. 77
Underneath the floor panel of the lug-
g ag
e c
ompartment: vehicle tool kit. An adapter for the anti-theft wheel bolts*
T
o
wline anc
horage
Box spanner for wheel bolts*
Crank handle for jack
1 2
3
4 Jack*
Hook
f
or e
xtracting the central wheel
trims*
Clip for removing the wheel bolt caps.
››› in Vehicle tools on page 97
››› page 97 Central trim for steel rims*
Fig. 78
Correct positioning of the central
wheel trim f
or s
teel rims. The central trims must be removed for access
t
o the wheel
bo
lts.
5 6
7 Removing
●
Attach the wire hook (vehicle tools
› ›
›
Fig. 77 6 ) to one of the chambers of the
c entr
al
wheel trim.
● Insert the box spanner through the hook,
suppor
ting it on the tyre and remove the
wheel trim.
Fitting
● Fit the central wheel trim onto the rim. The
bottom of the
“S” of the SEAT badge should
align with the inflation valve ››› Fig. 78 1 .
● Press the central trim firmly until it locks in
w ith an audib
l
e click. Note
There is also a valve mark on the back of the
centr a
l wheel trim that indicates the correct
alignment. 65
Advice
Service life of tyres Fig. 232
Tyre tread wear indicators. Fig. 233
Diagram for changing wheels. The useful life of tyres is dependent on tyre
pr
e
s
sure, driving style and fitting.
Wear indicators
The original tyres on your vehicle have
1.6 mm high “tread wear indicators”
››› Fig. 232, running across the tread. De- pending on the make, there will be 6 to 8 of
them evenly
spaced around the tyre. Mark-
ings on the tyre sidewall (for instance the let-
ters “TWI” or other symbols) indicate the po-
sitions of the tread wear indicators. The mini-
mum tread depth required by law is 1.6 mm
(measured in the tread grooves next to the
tread wear indicators). Worn tyres must be re-
placed. Different figures may apply in export
countries ››› .
T y
r
e pressure
Incorrect tyre pressure causes premature
wear and could cause tyre blow-out. For this
reason, the tyre pressure should be checked
at least once per month ››› page 275.
Driving style
Fast cornering, heavy acceleration and hard
braking all increase tyre wear.
Changing wheels around
If the front tyres are worn considerably more
than the rear ones it is advisable to change
them around as shown ››› Fig. 233. The use-
ful life of all the tyres will then be about the
same time.
Wheel balance
The wheels on new vehicles are balanced.
However, various factors encountered in nor-
mal driving can cause them to become unbal-
anced, which results in steering vibration. Unbalanced wheels should be rebalanced, as
they otherw
ise cause excessive wear on
steering, suspension and tyres. A wheel must
also be rebalanced when a new tyre is fitted.
Incorrect wheel alignment
Incorrect running gear alignment causes ex-
cessive tyre wear, impairing the safety of the
vehicle. If tyres show excessive wear, you
should have the wheel alignment checked by
a Technical Service. WARNING
There is a serious danger of accidents if a tyre
bur s
ts during driving!
● The tyres must be replaced at the latest
when the trea
d wear indicators are worn
››› page 276. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in an accident. Worn tyres do not
grip well at high speeds on wet roads. There
is also a greater risk of “aquaplaning”.
● At continuously high speeds, a tyre with in-
sufficient
pressure flexes more. This causes it
to overheat. This can cause tread separation
and tyre blow-out. Risk of accident. Always
observe the recommended tyre pressures.
● If tyres show excessive wear, you should
have the ru
nning gear checked by a Technical
Service.
● Keep chemicals such as oil, fuel and brake
fluid awa
y from tyres.
● Damaged wheels and tyres must be re-
plac
ed immediately! 276
