Get Practical tips -> Wheels Guide for Seat Leon 4 Door Third Generation (2012-2020)

Practical tips

New tyres

can otherwise escape and possibly cause

damage.

Wheels

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 first 500 km (300 miles). This will

also increase the useful life of the tyres.

●

The battery holder and clamps must al-

Wheels and tyres

ways be correctly secured.

●

Before starting any work on the battery,

General notes

always observe the warnings listed under

page 330, Important safety warnings for

›››

The tread depth of new tyres may vary, ac-

cording to the type and make of tyre and the

tread pattern.

–

When driving with new tyres, be especially

careful during the first 500 km (300 miles).

handling a vehicle battery.

●

Do not forget to replace the battery cov-

–

erings, where applicable. It is a protection

for high temperatures. This in turn extends

the vehicle service life.

If you have to drive over a kerb or similar

obstacle, drive very slowly and as near as

possible at a right angle to the obstacle.

Low profile tyres

Low profile tyres, compared to other rim and

tyre combinations, offer a broader tread and

a greater rim diameter along with a lower

height of the tyre sidewall. This results in a

more agile driving behaviour. However, on

roads that are in poor condition, this might af-

fect comfort and cause more noise.

–

Check from time to time if the tyres are

For the sake of the environment

damaged (punctures, cuts, cracks or

dents). Remove any foreign objects em-

bedded in the treads.

 Batteries contain toxic substances in-

cluding sulphuric 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!

–

Damaged wheels and tyres must be re-

placed immediately.

Low profile tyres may deteriorate more quick-

ly than standard tyres, for instance due to

strong knocks, potholes, manhole covers and

kerbs. Therefore, maintaining the correct tyre

pressure is particularly important

–

Keep grease, oil and fuel off the tyres.

–

Replace any missing valve caps as soon as

possible.

–

Mark the wheels before taking them off so

that they rotate in the same direction when

put back.

page 333.

›››

To avoid damage to tyres and wheels, drive

with special care when driving on roads in

poor condition.

–

When removed, the wheels or tyres should

be stored in a cool, dry and preferably dark

place.

Visually inspect your tyres every 3,000 km re-

garding damage, e.g. flattening/cracks on

the tyre sidewall or deformations/cracks on

the rims.

332

Wheels

–

If the rims and tyres have received a heavy

impact or have been damaged, have them

checked and, if required, replaced at a speci-

alised workshop.

In vehicles with a tyre pressure indicator,

save the modified tyre pressure

Service life of tyres

page 336.

›››

–

Avoid fast cornering and hard acceleration.

Low profile tyres may deteriorate more quick-

ly than standard tyres.

Inspect the tyres for irregular wear from

time to time.

Concealed damage

The useful life of your tyres depends on the

following factors:

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. In-

spect the tyres for damage. If no external

damage is visible, drive slowly and carefully

to the nearest specialised workshop and

have the car inspected.

Tyre pressure

The maximum tyre pressure values are shown

on a sticker stuck to the back of the left front

door frame Fig. 312.

›››

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.

Fig. 312 Location of the tyre pressure sticker.

Tyres with directional tread pattern

Correct inflation pressures and sensible driv-

ing habits will increase the useful life of your

tyres.

Depending on the vehicle, tyre pressure can

be adjusted to medium load to improve driv-

ing comfort (tyre pressure ). When driving

with comfort tyre pressure fuel consumption

may increase slightly.

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.

– Check tyre pressure at least once a month,

and also prior to any long trip.

The tyre pressure must be adjusted accord-

ing to the load the vehicle is carrying. If the

vehicle is going to carry the maximum load,

the tyre pressure should be increased to

maximum value indicated on the sticker on

the inside of the fuel tank flap.

–

The tyre pressure should only be checked

when the tyres are cold. Do not reduce the

Retrofitting accessories

pressure of warm tyres.

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.

–

Adjust tyre pressure to the load being car-

ried by the vehicle.

»

333

Practical tips

WARNING

Always adapt the tyre pressure accord-

ingly when the vehicle load changes.

Do not forget the spare wheel when checking

the tyre pressures: Keep this spare wheel in-

flated to the highest pressure required for the

road wheels.

The original tyres on your vehicle have

1.6 mm high “tread wear indicators” running

across the tread. Depending on the manu-

facturer, 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.

●

A tyre with low air pressure has to flex a

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.

lot more when the vehicle is heavily loaded

or at high speeds, therefore causing over-

heating to occur. Under these conditions,

the tyre bead may be released or the tyre

may burst. Risk of accident!

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.)

Driving style

Fast cornering, heavy acceleration and hard

braking (squealing tyres) all increase tyre

wear.

For the sake of the environment

Under-inflated tyres will increase fuel con-

sumption.

WARNING

The tyres must be replaced at the latest

when the tread is worn down to the tread

wear indicators. Failure to follow this in-

struction could result in an accident.

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.

Wear indicators

●

Particularly in difficult driving conditions

such as 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.

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.

●

The scant driving safety due to insuffi-

cient tread depth is particularly evident in

vehicle handling, when there is a risk of

“aquaplaning” in deep puddles of water

and when driving through corners, and

braking is also adversely affected.

Incorrect wheel alignment

Incorrect running gear alignment causes ex-

cessive tyre wear, impairing the safety of the

vehicle. If you notice excessive tyre wear, you

should check wheel alignment at a SEAT Of-

ficial Service.

Fig. 313 Tyre profile: tread wear indicators.

●

The speed has to be adapted according-

Tread wear indicators indicate if a tyre is

worn.

ly, otherwise there is a risk of losing control

over the vehicle.

334

Wheels

–

Do not use tyres whose effective size ex-

ceeds the dimensions of the factory-ap-

proved makes of tyre.

Interchanging tyres

R

16

91

V

Tyre construction: Radial

Rim diameter in inches

Load rating code

If you 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.

Speed index

The manufacturing date is also indicated on

the tyre sidewall (possibly only on the outer

part):

The tyres and wheel rims are an essential

part of the vehicle's design. The tyres and

rims approved by SEAT are specially match-

ed to the characteristics of the vehicle and

make a major contribution to good roadhold-

DOT ... 2216 ...

it means, for example, that the tyre was man-

ufactured in the 22nd week of 2016.

Fig. 314 Interchanging tyres.

ing and safe handling

.

›››

But note that with some types of tyre, the

actual tyre size can differ from the nomi-

nal size marked on the tyre (for instance

205/55 R 16 91 W), and there may be sig-

nificant differences 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 exceed the di-

mensions of the factory-approved makes

of tyre.

To ensure that the wear is equal on all tyres

the wheels should be changed round from

time to time according to the system

The sizes of the rims and tyres approved for

your vehicle are listed in the vehicle docu-

mentation (e.g. EC Certificate of Conformity

or COC document¹⁾). The vehicle documen-

tation varies depending on the country of res-

idence.

Fig. 314. The useful life of all the tyres will

›››

then be about the same time.

A knowledge of tyre designations makes it

easier to choose the correct tyres. The fol-

lowing wording can be read on the sides of

the tyre:

New tyres or new wheels

–

All four wheels must be fitted with tyres of

the same type, size (rolling circumference)

and preferably the same tread pattern.

205/55 R16 91V

Failure to observe this requirement can af-

fect the clearance needed for the tyres. If

the tyres rub against the bodywork, in cer-

tain circumstances the tyres, running gear

or bodywork and pipes may be damaged,

–

Tyres should be replaced at least in pairs

and not individually (i.e. both front tyres or

both rear tyres together).

This contains the following information:

205 Tyre width in mm

55

Height/width ratio in %

»

1)

COC = certificate of conformity.

335

Practical tips

and vehicle safety could be severely im-

paired

Wheel bolts

ate the vehicle's registration for use on

public roads.

.

›››

The wheel bolts are matched 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.

●

If you use tyres that are approved by SEAT

you can be sure that the actual tyre di-

mensions will be correct for your vehicle. If

you decide to fit a different type of tyre,

you must obtain the appropriate manufac-

turer's certificate from the tyre retailer to

confirm that the tyres are suitable for your

vehicle. Keep this certificate in a safe

place.

Avoid running the vehicle on tyres that

are more than 6 years old. If you have no

alternative, you should drive slowly and

with extra care at all times.

●

If wheel trims are fitted after the car is

purchased, ensure that there is an ade-

quate flow of air for cooling the brake sys-

tem.

The wheel bolts must be clean and turn easi-

ly.

For the sake of the environment

Old tyres must be disposed of according to

the laws in the country concerned.

Your SEAT Official Service will be able to

advise you on which tyres may be fitted to

your vehicle.

A special adapter is required to turn the anti-

theft wheel bolts*

page 55.

›››



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.

Note

●

A SEAT Service Centre should be consul-

Tyre monitoring system

Introduction

ted to find out whether wheels or tyres of

different sizes to those originally fitted by

SEAT can be fitted, and to find out about

the combinations allowed between the

front axle (axle 1) and the rear axle (axle 2).

WARNING

Unsuitable handling of the wheels and

tyres may lead to sudden tyre pressure los-

ses, to tread separation or even to a blow-

out.

●

Never mount used tyres if you are not

sure of their “previous history”.

●

It is very important to ensure that the

tyres you have chosen have adequate

clearance. When selecting replacement

tyres, do not rely entirely on the nominal

tyre size marked on the tyre, since the ef-

fective tyre size can differ significantly de-

pending on the manufacturer. Inadequate

tyre clearance can result in damage to the

tyres or the vehicle, causing a serious safe-

ty risk. Risk of accident! It may also invalid-

●

For technical reasons, it is not generally

possible to use the wheels from other vehi-

cles. In some cases, this may also be true

for the same model of wheel.

●

Check tyre pressures regularly and en-

sure they are maintained at the pressures

indicated. Tyre pressure that is too low

could cause overheating, resulting in tread

detachment or even burst tyres.

336

Wheels

Tyre control lamp

●

Tyre pressure should be that indicated on

If the warning lamp  lights up, stop im-

mediately and check the tyres.

the label when the tyres are cold at all

times page 357.

›››

It lights up

●

If the tyres are inflated at different pres-



●

Regularly check the cold inflation pres-

sures or if a tyre pressure is too low, this will

increase tyre wear, negatively affecting ve-

hicle stability and increasing braking dis-

tances.

The tyre pressure in one or more wheels has clearly

gone down from the tyre pressure set by the driver or

the tyre has structural damage.

sure of the tyres. If necessary, change the

tyre pressure of the vehicle tyres while they

are cold.

Additionally, an audible warning can be heard and a

text message is displayed on the instrument panel

display.

●

Regularly check your tyres for damage

If tyres are inflated at different pressures

and wear.

●

or a tyre pressure is too low, a tyre may be

damaged and burst resulting in a loss of

control of the vehicle.

 Stop the vehicle! 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.

Never exceed the maximum permitted

speed or loads specified for the type of

tyre fitted on your vehicle.

●

The driver is responsible for ensuring that

all of the vehicle tyres are correctly infla-

ted to the right pressure. The recommen-

ded tyre pressure is indicated on the label

For the sake of the environment

Flashes



Under-inflated tyres lead to increased fuel

consumption and tyre wear.

page 357.

›››

Fault in the system.

The control lamp flashes for approximately one mi-

nute and then lights up permanently.

●

The tyre monitoring system can only op-

erate correctly if all of the tyres are infla-

ted to the correct pressure when cold.

If tyre pressure is correct, switch the ignition off and

on again. If the control lamp remains lit up, the tyre

monitoring indicator can be calibrated. Have the sys-

tem checked by a specialised workshop.

Note

●

Driving with tyres at the wrong pressure

●

Driving for the first time with new tyres at

can damage them and result in an acci-

dent. Ensure that the tyre pressures of all

the tyres correspond to the vehicle load.

a high speed can cause them to slightly ex-

pand, which could then produce an air

pressure warning.

Several control and warning lamps light up

for a few seconds when the ignition is switch-

ed on while the function is verified. They will

switch off after a few seconds.

●

Before starting a journey, always inflate

●

Only replace used tyres with those au-

tyres to the correct pressure.

●

thorised by SEAT for the corresponding

type vehicle.

Tyres with insufficient pressure are sub-

jected to more flexing. Due to this, the tyre

could become excessively hot, causing

tread separation and also tyre blow-out.

●

Do not only rely on the tyre monitoring

WARNING

system. Regularly check your tyres to en-

sure 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.

When the tyres are inflated at different

pressures 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 accident.

●

With an overloaded vehicle at high

speed, the tyres can overheat and burst re-

sulting in a loss of vehicle control.

»

337

Practical tips

el through a warning lamp and a warning to

Operation

●

Tyre pressures which are too high or too

the driver Fig. 315. When only one specific

›››

low reduce the useful life of the tyre, affect-

ing vehicle performance.

tyre is affected, its position within the vehicle

will be indicated.

●

If a tyre has not been punctured and it

does not have to be changed immediately,

drive to the nearest specialised workshop

at a moderate speed and have the tyre

checked and inflated to the correct pres-

sure.

 Loss of pressure: Check left

tyre pressure!

Wheel tread change

The wheel tread changes when:

WARNING

●

Tyre pressure is manually changed

●

Observe the safety warnings

in Con-

›››

Tyre pressure is insufficient

Tyre structure is damaged

Fig. 315 Instrument panel: warning of loss of

trol and warning lamps on page 123.

●

tyre pressure.

●

The vehicle is unbalanced because of a

Note

load

●

If excessively low tyre pressure is detec-

The wheels on an axle are subject to a

ted 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.

heavier load (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

●

Driving on dirt tracks for a long period of

time or driving in a sporty style can tempo-

rarily deactivate the TPMS. The control

lamp shows a fault, but disappears when

road conditions or the driving style change.

There may be a delay in the reaction of the

tyre  monitoring indicator or it may not indi-

cate anything under certain circumstances

(e.g. sporty driving, snow-covered or un-

paved roads, or when driving with snow

chains).

Fig. 316 Glove compartment: tyre control

switch.

The tyre monitor indicator compares wheel

revolutions 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 indi-

cator will indicate this on the instrument pan-

Calibrating the tyre monitoring indicator

After changing the tyre pressure or replacing

one or more wheels, the tyre monitoring

338

Wheels

indicator must be recalibrated. Do the same,

for example, when the front and rear wheels

are swapped.

Removing the temporary spare wheel

●

An erroneous indication may be given

when snow chains are in use because they

increase the tread of the wheel.

–

Lift and hold up the floor panel to take out

the temporary spare wheel Fig. 317.

›››

–

In vehicles with the Infotainment system:

Turn the thumb wheel anti-clockwise.

Take out the temporary spare wheel.

●

Switch the ignition on.

Temporary spare wheel

●

Store the new tyre pressure with the button

Chains

 /  and then the Vehicle > SETTINGS

> Tyresfunction button

^››› ^{page 35.}

For technical reasons, snow chains must not

be used on the temporary spare wheel.

General information

In vehicles without the Infotainment system:

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

punctured front wheel with this wheel.

●

Switch the ignition on.

●

Store the new tyre pressure using the switch

located in the glove compartment

Fig. 316. Press and hold down the ,

›››

until an acoustic signal is heard.

When driving, the system self-calibrates the

tyre pressure provided by the driver and the

wheels fitted. After a long journey with varied

speeds the programmed values are collected

and monitored.

WARNING

After fitting the temporary spare wheel,

check the tyre pressures as soon as possi-

ble. Failure to do so may cause an acci-

dent. The tyre pressures are listed on the

inside of the fuel tank flap.

●

Fig. 317 Spare wheel: floor panel raised.

The temporary spare wheel has been de-

signed to be used 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.

With the wheels under very heavy loads, the

tyre pressure must be increased to the total

recommended tyre pressure before the cali-

●

Do not drive at over 80 km/h (50 mph)

when the temporary spare wheel is fitted

on the vehicle: risk of accident!

bration page 357.

›››

●

Avoid heavy acceleration, hard braking

and fast cornering: risk of accident!

Note

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 rea-

son, do not use a temporary spare wheel

from a different type of vehicle.

●

The tyre monitoring indicator does not

●

Never use more than one temporary

spare wheel at the same time, risk of acci-

dent.

function when there is a fault in the ESC or

ABS page 245.

›››

»

339

Practical tips

–

Vehicles without boot variable floor: remove

the floor panel (carpet) of the subwoofer

by pulling the carpet in the direction of the

backrest and then pull upwards to remove

it.

●

No other type of tyre (normal summer or

Winter service

winter tyre) may be fitted on the compact

temporary spare wheel rim.

Winter tyres

●

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.

–

Winter tyres must be fitted on all four

wheels.

–

Vehicles with boot variable floor: lift and se-

cure the floor storage compartment as ex-

–

Only use winter tyres that are approved for

your vehicle.

plained in page 173, page 174

›››

Disconnect the cable for the subwoofer

–

Please note that the maximum permissible

speed for winter tyres may be lower than

for summer tyres.

Getting the spare wheel out of ve-

hicles with BEATS Audio 10 speak-

ers (with subwoofer)*

1

speaker Fig. 318

.

›››

–

2

Turn the securing wheel anti-clockwise

.

Remove the subwoofer speaker and the

spare wheel.

–

Also note that winter tyres are no longer ef-

fective when the tread is worn down.

–

When re-mounting the spare tyre, place the

subwoofer on the base of the wheel rim

with care. When doing so, the tip of the

“FRONT” arrow on the subwoofer should

point forward.

–

After fitting the wheels you must always

check the tyre pressures. When doing so,

take into account the correct tyre pressures

listed on the rear of the front left door frame

page 333.

›››

–

Reconnect the speaker cable and firmly ro-

tate the securing wheel clockwise so that

the subwoofer system and wheel are firmly

in place.

In winter road conditions winter tyres will con-

siderably improve vehicle handling. The de-

sign of summer tyres (width, rubber com-

pound, tread pattern) gives less grip on ice

and snow. This applies particularly to vehicles

equipped with wide section tyres or with

high speed tyres (code letters H, V or Y on

the sidewall).

Fig. 318 In the boot: remove the subwoofer.

To remove the spare wheel, you must first re-

move the subwoofer.

Only use winter tyres of the correct type ap-

proved for your vehicle. The sizes of these

340

Wheels

tyres are specified in the vehicle's documents

(e.g. EC Certificate of Conformity or COC¹⁾).

The vehicle documentation varies depending

on the country of residence. See also

Vehicles capable of exceeding these speeds

must have an appropriate sticker attached

so that it is visible to the driver. Suitable stick-

ers are available from the SEAT Official Serv-

ice and specialised workshop. Please note

the regulations to this effect in your country.

For the sake of the environment

Summer tyres should be fitted again as

soon as possible after the winter period;

they give better handling on roads which

are free of snow and ice. Summer tyres per-

form with less rolling noise, tyre wear and –

most important – reduce fuel consumption.

page 335.

›››

Winter tyres lose a great deal of their proper-

ties when the tread is worn down to a depth

of 4 mm.

“All-weather” tyres can also be used instead

of winter tyres.

The performance of winter tyres is also se-

verely impaired by ageing, even if the tread is

still much deeper than 4 mm.

Using winter tyres with V-rating

Please note that the generally applicable

240 km/h (150 mph) speed rating for winter

tyres with the letter V is subject to technical

restrictions; the maximum permissible

speed for your vehicle may be significant-

ly lower. The maximum speed limit for these

tyres depends directly on the maximum axle

weights for your car and on the listed weight

rating of the tyres being used.

Winter tyres are subject to the following max-

imum speed limits according to speed rating

code letter:

›››

Speed rating code Maximum speed lim-

letter page 335 it

›››

Q

S

T

160 km/h (100 mph)

It is best to contact a SEAT Official Service to

check the maximum speed which is permissi-

ble for the V-rated tyres fitted on your car on

the basis of this information.

180 km/h (112 mph)

190 km/h (118 mph)

210 km/h (130 mph)

H

WARNING

240 km/h (149 mph)

(please note relevant re-

strictions)

V

Exceeding the maximum speed permitted

for the winter tyres fitted on your car can

cause tyre failure, resulting in a loss of con-

trol of the vehicle – risk of accident.

W

Y

270 km/h (168 mph)

300 km/h (186 mph)

1)

COC = certificate of conformity.

341

Practical tips -> Wheels for Your Seat Leon 4 Door Third Generation (2012-2020)

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