The essentials
Tyres with compulsory direction of ro-
t ation A directional tread pattern can be identified
by
the arr
ows on the sidewall that point in
the direction of rotation. Always observe the
direction of rotation indicated when fitting
the wheel to guarantee optimum properties
of this type of tyres with regard to grip,
noises, wear and aquaplaning.
If it is absolutely necessary to fit the spare
tyre* against the direction of rotation, drive
with care as this means the tyre does not of-
fer optimum driving properties. This is of par-
ticular importance when the road surface is
wet.
To return to directional tread tires, replace
the punctured tyre as soon as possible and
restore the obligatory direction of rotation of
all tyres.
After the wheel change ●
Clean the vehicle tools, if necessary and
p ut
them a
way in the luggage compartment
foam holder ›››
page 70.
● Store the spare wheel, the temporary spare
wheel or the ch
anged wheel securely in the
luggage compartment. ●
Have the tightenin
g torque of the wheel
bolts checked as soon as possible with a tor-
que wrench ››› page 38.
● Have the flat tyre replaced as quickly as
poss
ible.
Snow chains Use When using snow chains, applicable local
l
e
gi
slation and maximum permitted speed
limits must be observed.
In winter weather, snow chains not only help
to improve grip but also improve the braking
capacity.
The fitting of chains is permitted only on
front wheels and with the following combi-
nations of wheel trims and tyres :
Tyre sizeWheel rim
165/70 R145 J x 14 offset of 35175/65 R14 SEAT recommends you ask a technical serv-
ic
e f
or f
urther information on wheel, tyre and
chain sizes.
Wherever possible use fine-link chains meas-
uring less than 15 mm including the lock. Remove wheel hub covers and trim rings be-
fore fittin
g snow chains ››› . The wheel bolts
shou l
d be c
overed with caps for safety rea-
sons. These are available from technical serv-
ices.
Temporary spare wheel
For technical reasons, snow chains must not
be used on the compact temporary spare
wheel ›››
page 207.
If it is necessary to fit chains with the tempo-
rary spare wheel in use, install the wheel on
the rear axle in the event of a fault in a front
wheel. Then, fit the rear wheel that is free, in-
stead of the damaged front wheel. In this sit-
uation, observe the rotating direction of the
wheels. SEAT recommends attaching the
snow chains before fitting the wheel. WARNING
The use of unsuitable or incorrectly fitted
ch ain
s could lead to serious accidents and
damage.
● Always the appropriate snow chains.
● Observe the fitting instructions provided by
the snow c
hain manufacturer.
● Never exceed the maximum permitted
speeds
when driving with snow chains. » 41
Safety
in the direction of the collision. The belt ten-
s ioner w
ork
s in combination with the airbag
system. The belt tensioner will not be trig-
gered in the event of the vehicle overturning
if the side airbags are not deployed.
If the belt tensioner is triggered, a fine dust is
produced. This is normal and it is not an indi-
cation of fire in the vehicle.
Belt tension limiter
The belt tension limiter reduces the force of
the seat belt on the body in the event of an
accident. Note
The relevant safety requirements must be ob-
serv ed when the
vehicle is dismantled or sys-
tem components are removed. These require-
ments are known to specialised workshops
››› page 58. Service and disposal of belt tension
dev
ice
s If you work on the belt tensioners or remove
and in
s
t
all other parts of the vehicle when
performing other repair work, the seat belt
may be damaged. The consequence may be
that, in the event of an accident, the belt ten-
sioners function incorrectly or not at all. So that the effectiveness of the belt tensioner
is not
reduced and that removed parts do not
cause any injuries or environmental pollu-
tion, regulations must be observed. These re-
quirements are known to specialised work-
shops. WARNING
● Improper u se or r
epairs not carried out by
qualified mechanics increase the risk of se-
vere or fatal injuries. The belt tensioners may
fail to trigger or may trigger in the wrong cir-
cumstances.
● Never attempt to repair, adjust, remove or
inst
all parts of the belt tensioners or seat
belts.
● The seat belt tensioner, seat belt and auto-
matic r
etractor cannot be repaired.
● Any work on the belt tensioners and seat
belts, includin
g the removal and refitting of
system parts in conjunction with other repair
work, must be performed by a specialised
workshop only.
● The belt tensioners will only provide pro-
tection for one ac
cident and must be changed
if they have been activated. For the sake of the environment
Airbag modules and belt tensioners may con-
tain per c
hlorate. Observe the legal require-
ments for their disposal. Airbag system
Brief intr
oduction
Intr
oduction Front airbags have been installed for both
driver and p
a
ssenger. The front airbags can
also protect the chest and head of driver and
passenger if the seats, seat belts head re-
straints and, for the driver, the steering
wheel are correctly adjusted and used. Air-
bags are considered as additional safety
equipment. An airbag cannot replace the
seat belt, which must be worn at all times,
even in front seats where front airbags have
been installed.
The airbag can protect vehicle occupants in
the event of an accidents, cushioning the
movement of the occupants in the direction
of the collision in frontal and side accidents.
Deployed airbags fill with a propellant gas.
This causes the airbag covers to break and
the airbags to deploy extremely quickly in
their entire deployment space within frac-
tions of a second. When an occupant with the
seat belt properly fastened puts pressure on
the inflated airbag, the propellant gas es-
capes to absorb the force of the impact and
slow the movement. This reduces the risk of
severe or fatal injuries. Airbag deployment
does not mean that other types of injury such
58
