lock Seat Alhambra 2011 Owner's Manual

293
Wheels and tyres
Wheels and tyres
Wheels
Introduction The SEAT Alhambra is equipped as standard with anti-puncture technology
tyr
e
s (Conti-Seal). In the event of a puncture or air leak of up to 5 mm, the
tyre seals the hole with a protective layer inside the tread.
SEAT recommend that all work on tyres and wheels is carried out by a Tech-
nical Service. They have the necessary special tools and replacement parts,
trained personnel and facilities for disposing of the old tyres. SEAT recom-
mends visiting a Technical Service.
Additional information and warnings:
● Transporting ⇒ page 13
● T

owing mode ⇒ page 233
● Br

aking, stopping and parking ⇒ page 183
● P

ark assist system ⇒ page 202
● T

yre control systems ⇒ page 221
● C

aring for and cleaning the vehicle exterior ⇒ page 242
● Wheel

trims ⇒ page 304
● Ch

ange wheel ⇒ page 305
● Not

es for the user ⇒ page 255 WARNING
The vehicle cannot be totally controlled or braked if the tyres (new or
used) ar e w

orn or damaged.
● Incorrect use of wheels and tyres could make driving more dangerous
and res
ult in serious accidents and damage.
● All four wheels must be fitted with radial tyres of the same type, size
(rol

ling circumference) and the same tread pattern.
● New tyres do not give maximum grip and will not have reached their
maximum br
aking capacity to start with, and therefore need running in.
To prevent accidents and major damage, extreme caution should be tak-
en for the first 600 km (370 miles).
● Check tyre pressures regularly and ensure they are maintained at the
pres
sures indicated. If the tyre pressure is too low, the tyres could over-
heat, resulting in tread detachment or even burst tyres.
● Never drive on damaged (punctured, cut, cracked or dented) or worn
tyre
s. Driving on damaged or worn tyres could result in burst tyres, seri-
ous accidents or damage. Worn or damaged tyres must be replaced im-
mediately.
● Never exceed the maximum permitted speed or loads specified for the
type of ty
re fitted on your vehicle.
● The efficiency of driver and brake assist systems also depends on the
grip of the tyr
es.
● If you notice unusual vibration or if the vehicle pulls to one side when
driving, s
top the car immediately and check the tyres and wheels for
damage.
● To minimise the risk of losing control of the vehicle or causing a seri-
ous ac
cident, never undo the bolted joints of beadlock wheels. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

296
Wheels and tyres
Wheel rims The design of wheel bolts is matched to the rims. If different rims are fitted,
the corr
ect
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 ⇒ page 305.
For technical reasons, it is not generally possible to use the wheels from
other vehicles. In some cases, this may also be true for the same model of
wheel.
The tyres and rims approved by SEAT are specially matched to the character-
istics of the vehicle and are critical to good road holding and safe handling.
Wheel bolts
Wheel bolts must be tightened to the correct torque ⇒ page 305.
Beadlock wheel rims
Beadlock wheel rims have various components. These are joined together
by special bolts using a special procedure. This ensures good performance,
a better seal, improved safety and wheel run out. Therefore, worn rims
should always be replaced and must only be repaired in a Technical Service.
SEAT recommends visiting a Technical Service ⇒  .
Wheel rims w

ith bolted trims
Wheel rims may be fitted with interchangeable trim parts which are attach-
ed to the rim using self-locking bolts. Worn trims should only be replaced at
a Technical Service. SEAT recommends visiting a Technical Service ⇒  .
WARNING
The use of worn or damaged wheel rims could make driving more danger-
ous and r

esult in serious accidents and damage.
● Only wheel rims which have been approved for use with your vehicle
should be u
sed.
● Inspect wheel rims regularly for damage and replace as required. WARNING
If the bolted joints of wheel rims with bolted ring trims are not correctly
tightened or loo sened, thi

s could result in serious accident.
● Never loosen the bolted joints of wheel rims with bolted ring trims.
● Any work relating to wheel rims with bolted rims should be carried
out at qua
lified workshop. SEAT recommends visiting a Technical Service. 
Replacement of new tyres and wheel rims New tyres
●
When tyres are new, drive with extreme caution for the first 500 km
(310 mil e

s), as all tyres need to be run-in. Tyres which have not been run-in
do not have such good grip ⇒  or braking capacity
⇒  .
● All four wheels must be fitted with radial tyres of the same type, size
(ro l

ling circumference) and the same tread pattern.
● The tread depth of new tyres may vary, according to the type and make
of tyr
e and the tread pattern.
Replacing tyres
● Where possible, always replace both wheels on an axle (both wheels on
the front ax
le or both wheels on the rear axle) ⇒  .
● Old tyres should only be replaced by SEAT approved tyres for the vehicle
in ques tion, and in ac

cordance with the maximum permitted size, diameter,
load and speed capacity.
● Never use tyres which are larger than SEAT approved tyres. If the tyres
are too b
ig, they may knock or rub against the chassis or other components,
resulting in damage. 

301
Wheels and tyres
Please observe all instructions and warnings when using snow c hains
⇒  page 301. WARNING
Although winter tyres help to make driving safer in the winter, you
shoul d not

take unnecessary risks.
● Adjust your speed and driving style to visibility, road, traffic and
weather c
onditions.
● Never exceed the maximum permitted speed or loads specified for the
type of w
inter tyre fitted on your vehicle. For the sake of the environment
When winter is over, change back to summer tyres. In temperatures above
+7°C (+45°F), per f

ormance will be improved if summer tyres are used. Fuel
consumption, wear and noises while driving will all be reduced. Note
● If the vehicle is fitted with a tyre control system, this should be “reprog-
r ammed” whenev

er a tyre is changed ⇒ page 223.
● Please ask at SEAT qualified workshops for information about the per-
mitted siz
es for winter tyres. 
Snow chains When using snow chains, applicable local legislation and maximum permit-
ted s
peed limits

must be observed.
In winter weather, snow chains not only help to improve grip but also im-
prove the braking capacity. Snow chains must only be mounted
on the front wheel
s, even on all-wheel
drive vehicles, and only with the tyre and rim combinations listed below: Tyre size Wheel rim
205/60 R16 6 1/2 J x 16 ET 33
SEAT recommends you ask a SEAT qualified workshop for further informa-
tion on wheel, tyr
e and c

hain sizes.
Wherever possible use fine-link chains measuring less than 15 mm (37/64
inch) including the lock.
Remove wheel hub covers and trim rings before fitting snow chains ⇒  .
The wheel bo lts

should be covered with caps for safety reasons. These are
available from qualified workshops. WARNING
The use of unsuitable or incorrectly fitted chains could lead to serious ac-
cident s

and damage.
● Always the appropriate snow chains.
● Observe the fitting instructions provided by the snow chain manufac-
turer
.
● Never exceed the maximum permitted speeds when driving with snow
chain
s. CAUTION
● You must remove the snow chains to drive on roads which are free of
s no

w. Otherwise they will impair handling, damage the tyres and wear out
very quickly.
● Wheel rims may be damaged or scratched if the chains come into direct
contact
with them. SEAT recommends the use of covered snow chains. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

304
Wheels and tyres
max. 210 km/h (130 mph)
max. 240 km/h (149 mph)
m ax. 240 km/h (149 mph)
m
ax. 270 km/h (168 mph)
max. 300 km/h (186 mph)
Some manufacturers use the letters “ZR” for tyres with a maximum author-
ised speed above 240 km/h (149 miles). 
Wheel trims*
Introduction Additional information and warnings:
●
Caring for and cleaning the vehicle exterior ⇒ page 242
● Ch

ange wheel ⇒ page 305
● V

ehicle tools ⇒ page 320 WARNING
If the wheel trims are not appropriate or not fitted correctly, they could
cau se m

ajor accidents or damage.
● Incorrectly mounted wheel trims may come off while driving and en-
dang
er other road users.
● Damaged trims must never be mounted on the wheels.
● Always ensure that the brake ventilation and cooling is not cut off or
block
ed. This is also valid if hubcaps are fitted later. If there is not
enough air, you may require significantly longer braking distances. H
V
Z
W
Y
CAUTION
Remove and remount wheel trims taking care to avoid damage to the vehi-
cl e. 
F

ull hubcaps* Fig. 179 Removing the
fu
l

l hubcap.
Removing the full hubcap
● Take the wheel brace and the wire hook from the vehicle tool kit
⇒ pag e 320.
● Hook

the wire through one of the grooves on the hubcap.
● Insert the wheel brace onto the wire hook ⇒ fig. 179 and pul
l the hub
cap in the direction shown by the arrow.
Fitting hubcaps
Before mounting the full hubcap, the anti-theft wheel lock must be threaded
into position ⇒ fig. 182 2 or
3 . Otherwise it will not be possible to mount
the fu l

l hubcap. 

305
Wheels and tyres
Press the hubcap against the wheel so that the space for the valve fits over
the tyr e
valve ⇒ fig. 182 1 . Make sure that the hubcap is correctly fitted all
the wa y
around the wheel. 
Wheel bolt caps Fig. 180 Removing the
wheel bo
lt

caps
● Take the wire hook from the vehicle tool kit ⇒ page 320.
● In

sert the wire hook in the cap through the opening ⇒ fig. 180 and pul
l
outwards in the direction of the arrow.
The caps protect the wheel bolts and should be remounted after changing
the tyre.
The anti-theft wheel locking bolt has a special cap. This cap only fits on an-
ti-theft locking bolts and is not for use with standard wheel bolts. Changing a wheel*
Introduction The tyres mounted on the vehicle are anti-puncture. The wheels should only
be ch
an

ged when switching from summer to winter tyres or vice-versa. See
⇒  page 299
You should only change the wheels yourself if the vehicle is parked in a safe
place, you are familiar with the procedure and you have all the necessary
tools! Otherwise, you should seek professional assistance.
Additional information and warnings:
● Vehicle key set ⇒ pag
e 71
● Wheels and tyres ⇒ pag
e 293
● Wheel trims ⇒ pag
e 304
● Vehicle tools ⇒ pag
e 320 WARNING
Changing a wheel can be dangerous, especially on the hard shoulder.
Ple a

se observe the following rules to minimise the risk of injury:
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible. Park your vehicle as safe
dist
ance from surrounding traffic to change a wheel.
● When changing a wheel, keep all passengers and particularly chil-
dren a saf
e distance away from the work area.
● Turn on the hazard warning lights to warn other road users.
● Ensure the ground on which you park is flat and solid. If necessary,
suppor
t the jack on a wide solid base.
● If you are changing a wheel yourself, you should be familiar with the
required pr
ocedure. Otherwise, you should seek professional assistance. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

306
Wheels and tyres WARNING (Continued)
● Only use suitable tools that are not damaged when changing a wheel.
● A
lw
ays stop the engine, turn on the electronic parking brake and
plac
e the gear selector lever in position P, for an automatic gearbox, or
engage a gear for a manual gearbox to reduce the risk of the vehicle mov-
ing accidentally.
● Have the tightening torque of the wheel bolts checked as soon as
poss
ible with a reliable torque wrench. 
Preparations for changing a wheel Check list
Bef
or

e changing a wheel, complete the following operations in the order
given ⇒  :
Park the

vehicle on an even and solid surface.
Connect the electronic parking brake ⇒ page 183.
Automatic gearbox: Move selector lever to position P ⇒ page 174.
Stop the engine and remove the key from the ignition ⇒ page 170.
Manual gearbox: Select a gear ⇒ page 174.
Have all vehicle occupants get out of the vehicle and wait in a safe
place (for example, behind the safety barrier).
Block the opposite wheel with wedges or a similar object.
When towing a trailer: unhook the trailer from the towing vehicle and
park it correctly.
If the luggage compartment is full: take the baggage out of the vehicle. Take the vehicle tool kit out of the luggage compartment.
Remove the wheel trims ⇒ page 304.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11. WARNING
Failure to follow the checklist prepared for your own safety could lead to
acc ident

s and severe injuries.
● Always complete the operations given in the checklist and observe
the genera
l rules of safety. 

307
Wheels and tyres
Wheel bolts Fig. 181 Changing the
wheel: Sl
ac
ken the wheel
bolts. Fig. 182 Changing the
wheel: T
y

re valve 1 and
pos ition of
anti-theft
wheel locking bolt 2 or
3 .
Only use the tool supplied with the vehicle to loosen the wheel bolts.
Loo sen the wheel

bolts only about one turn before raising the vehicle with
the jack. If the wheel bolt is very tight, you may be able to loosen it by pushing down
on the end of the wheel br

ace carefully with your foot. Hold on to the car for
support and take care not to slip.
Loosening wheel bolts
● Fit the wheel brace as far as it will go over the wheel bolt ⇒ fig. 181.
● Hold the wheel brace at the end and rotate the bolt approximately one
turn antic
lockwise ⇒  .
Loo senin
g anti-theft wheel bolts
For wheels with full hubcap, the anti-theft wheel lock must be threaded into
position ⇒ fig. 182 2 or
3 before mounting the hubcap. Otherwise it will
not be po s

sible to mount the full hubcap.
● Take the adapter for anti-theft wheel bolts out of the vehicle tool kit.
● Insert the adapter onto the wheel bolt.
● Fit the wheel brace onto the adapter as far as possible.
● Hold the wheel brace at the end and rotate the bolt approximately one
turn antic
lockwise ⇒  .
Import ant
information about wheel bolts
The wheel rims and bolts have been designed to be fitted to factory op-
tions. If different 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 some circumstances, wheel bolts from the same model vehicle should
not be used.
Wheel bolt tightening torque
The prescribed tightening torque for wheel bolts for steel and alloy wheels
is 140 Nm. Have the tightening torque of the wheel bolts checked as soon
as possible with a reliable torque wrench.
If wheel bolts are rusty and it is difficult to tighten them, the threads should
be replaced and cleaned before checking the torque. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

311
Wheels and tyres
Changing a wheel Fig. 185 Changing the
wheel: loosen wheel
bo
lt
s with the socket at
the end of the wheel
brace.
Removing the wheel
● Please observe the check list ⇒ page 306.
● L

oosen the wheel bolts ⇒ page 307.
● Jac

king up the vehicle ⇒ page 309.
● U

sing the hexagonal socket in the wheel brace ⇒ fig. 185, uns
crew the
slackened wheel bolts and place them on a clean surface.
● Take off the wheel.
Putting on the s
pare wheel
Check the direction of rotation of the tyre ⇒ page 295.
● Fit the wheel.
● Screw on the anti-theft locking bolt with the adapter in position
⇒ fig. 182 2 or
3 clockwise and tighten gently.
● Replace the other wheel bolts and tighten slightl
y using the hexagonal
socket on the end of the wheel brace.
● Lower the car with the jack. ●
Tighten all of the wheel bolts clockwise ⇒  . Tighten the bolts in diago-
nal p

airs (not in a circle).
● Put the caps, trim or full hubcap back on ⇒ page 304. WARNING
If the wheel bolts are not treated suitably or not tightened to the correct
tor que then thi

s could lead to loss of vehicle control and to a serious ac-
cident.
● All the wheel bolts and hub threads should be clean and free of oil
and grea
se. The wheel bolts should be easily tightened to the correct tor-
que.
● The hexagonal socket in the wheel brace should be used for turning
wheel bolt
s only. Do not use it to loosen or tighten the wheel bolts. 
After changing the wheel ●
Clean the wheel brace, if necessary and put it away in the luggage com-
par tment

⇒ page 320.
● Have the tightening torque of the wheel bolts checked as soon as possi-
ble w
ith a torque wrench ⇒ page 307. Note
If the vehicle is fitted with a tyre monitoring system, this should be “reprog-
rammed” if nec

essary whenever a tyre is changed ⇒ page 223.Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

312
If and when
If and when
In case of emergency
Introduction Additional information and warnings:
●
Braking, stopping and parking ⇒ pag e 183
● Emer
gency locking and unlocking ⇒ page 314
● V

ehicle tools ⇒ page 320 WARNING
A faulty vehicle in traffic represents a risk of accident for the driver and
for other r o

ad users.
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible. Park the vehicle a safe
dist
ance from surrounding traffic to lock all the doors in case of an emer-
gency. Turn on the hazard warning lights to warn other road users.
● Never leave children or disabled people alone in the vehicle if the
doors ar
e to be locked. In case of an emergency, passengers will be trap-
ped inside the vehicle. Individuals locked in the vehicle can be exposed
to very high or very low temperatures. Protecting yourself and securing the vehicle Fig. 186 In the centre of
the ins
trument

panel:
Switch for hazard warn-
ing lights.
Always fulfil legal requirements for securing a broken down vehicle. In a
number of cou
ntries it is now obligatory, for example, to turn on the hazard
warning lights and use a reflective safety vest ⇒ page 314.
When being towed with the hazard warning lights on, a change in direction
or traffic lane can be indicated as usual using the turn indicator lever. The
hazard lights will be interrupted temporarily.
Checklist
For your own safety and that of other passengers, the following points
should be observed in the order given ⇒  :
Park the

vehicle a safe distance from traffic and on suitable ground
⇒  .
Turn on the h az

ard warning lights with the button  ⇒ 
fig. 186 .
C

onnect the electronic parking brake ⇒ page 183.
1.
2.
3.

314
If and when
First aid kit, warning triangle, reflective vests and fire
extingui
shers* Fig. 187 On the boot lid:
Warnin
g tri

angle bracket.
Reflective vests
Some vehic
les will have a driver's door compartment to store a reflective
vest ⇒ page 53.
Warning triangle
With the tailgate open, rotate the lock ⇒ fig. 187 90°. Lower the bracket and
remove the warning triangle.
First-aid kit
There is a first aid kit ⇒ page 141 in the rear left-hand side storage com-
partment of the luggage compartment.
The first aid kit must comply with legal requirements. Check the expiry date
of the contents of the first aid kit.
Fire extinguisher
There is a Fire extinguisher underneath the passenger seat. The fire extinguisher must conform to legal requirements, be ready for use
and be check

ed regularly. Check the certification seal on the extinguisher. WARNING
Loose objects in the passenger compartment can be violently thrown in
ca se of

a sudden manoeuvre or braking and especially in accidents caus-
ing serious injury.
● Secure fire extinguishers, first aid kit, reflective vests and warning
triangl
e securely to their respective supports. 
Emergency locking and unlocking Introduction The doors, tailgate and panoramic sliding roof can be locked manually and
par
ti

ally opened, for example if the key or the central locking is damaged.
Additional information and warnings:
● Vehicle key set ⇒ pag
e 71
● Central locking and locking system ⇒ pag
e 74
● Doors ⇒ page 80
● T

ailgate ⇒  pag
e 84
● Panorama sliding sunroof ⇒ pag
e 92
● In case of emergency ⇒ pag
e 312 