Seat Mii 2014 Owner's manual

Wheels and tyres
Note
For technical reasons, it is not generally pos-
sible to use the wheels from other vehicles.
In some cases, this may also be true for the
same model of wheel. Please refer to the ve-
hicle documentation or ask at a technical
service. About your tyres and wheels
Fig. 114
Diagram for changing wheels The tyres of a vehicle are the components
which are subjected to most stress and are
the most underestimated. Tyres are very im-
portant, as the support offered by their nar-
row surface is the only point of contact be-
tween the vehicle and the road.
The service life of tyres is dependent on tyre
pressure, driving style, the care they receive
and the correct fitting. The tyres and wheel rims are an essential
part of the vehicle's design. The tyres and
rims approved by SEAT are specially matched
to the characteristics of the vehicle and our
critical to good road holding and safe han-
dling.
Avoiding damage to tyres and wheels
● 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 kerb.
● Inspect the tyres regularly for damage
(punctures, cuts, cracks, dents).
● Remove any foreign bodies found on the
outside of the tyre tread and ensure that they
have not passed through the wall of the tyre
››› page 163 .
● In a d
dition, the instructions for tyre control
systems should always be observed.
● Replace damaged or worn tyres as soon as
possible ››› page 163.
● Re

gularly check tyres for non-visible dam-
age ››› page 163
.
● Never exceed the maximum permitted
speed or loads specified for the type of tyre
fitted on your vehicle ››› page 167.
● Do not allow tyres (including the spare
wheel) to come into contact with aggressive
substances, grease, oil, fuel or brake fluid
››› .●
Lost valve caps should be replaced imme-
diately.
Tyres with directional tread pattern
Tyres with directional tread pattern have
been designed to operate best when rotating
in only one direction. An arrow on the tyre
sidewall indicates the direction of rotation on
tyres with directional tread ››› page 167. Al-
ways observe the direction of rotation indica-
ted when mounting the wheel. This guaran-
tees optimum grip and helps to avoid aqua-
planing, excessive noise and wear.
If the tyre is mounted in the opposite direc-
tion of rotation, drive with extreme caution,
as the tyre is no longer being used correctly.
This is of particular importance when the
road surface is wet. Change the tyre as soon
as possible or remount it with the correct di-
rection of rotation.
Interchanging tyres
To ensure that the wear is equal on all tyres
the wheels should be changed round from
time to time according to the system
››› Fig. 114 . The useful life of all the tyres will
then be about the s

ame time.
SEAT recommends you take the vehicle to a
specialised workshop to have the tyres
changed. »
159
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Advice
Tyres that are over 6 years old
Tyres are subject to an ageing process as a
result of physical and chemical processes.
This may affect their performance. Tyres
which are stored for long periods of time
without being used, harden and become
more fragile than tyres which are in constant
use.
SEAT recommends that tyres over six years
old are replaced with new tyres. This also ap-
plies to tyres (including the spare wheel)
which appear to be in perfect condition on
the outside and which have a tread depth
within the values stipulated by the Law ››› .
The date of manufacture, part of the tyre
identification number (TIN), indicates the age
of the tyre ( ) ››› page 167 .
St orin
g tyres
Mark tyres when you remove them to indicate
the direction of rotation (left, right, forwards,
backwards). This ensures you will be able to
mount them correctly when you replace
them. When removed, the wheels and/or
tyres should be stored in a cool, dry and pref-
erably dark location. Do not place tyres
mount

ed on the wheel in a vertical position.
Protect tyres not mounted on wheels from
dirt by storing them in suitable bags and
standing them on the ground on their tread. WARNING
Aggressive fluids or substances could result
in visible or invisible damage with the conse-
quent risks.
● Always ensure that tyres do not come into
contact with chemical products, oil, grease,
fuel, brake fluid or other aggressive substan-
ces. WARNING
Old tyres, even if they have never been used,
may lose air or burst unexpectedly while driv-
ing, resulting in serious accident or damage.
● If tyres are over six years old, they should
only be used in an emergency and with ex-
treme caution. For the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed of by qualified
personnel according to the laws in the coun-
try concerned. Wheel rims
The design of wheel bolts is matched to the
rims. If different rims are fitted, the correct
wheel bolts with the right length and correct-
ly shaped bolt heads must be used. This en-
sures that wheels are fitted securely and that
the brake system functions correctly
››› page 174 . F
or t
echnical reasons, it is not generally pos-
sible 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 spe-
cially matched to the characteristics of the
vehicle and are critical to good road holding
and safe handling.
Note for Italy:
A SEAT Service Centre should
be consulted whether different sized wheels
or tyres to those originally fitted by SEAT may
be fitted, as well as the combinations al-
lowed between the front axle (axle 1) and
back axle (axle 2).
Wheel bolts
Wheel bolts must be tightened to the correct
torque ››› page 174
.
Beadlock wheel rims
Beadlock wheel rims have various compo-
nents. 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 on-
ly be repaired in a specialised workshop.
SEAT recommends visiting a technical service
››› .
160

Wheels and tyres
Wheel rims with bolted trims
Wheel rims may be fitted with interchangea-
ble trim parts which are attached to the rim
using self-locking bolts. Worn trims should
only be replaced at a specialised workshop.
SEAT recommends visiting a technical service
››› .
WARNING
The use of worn or damaged wheel rims could
make driving more dangerous and result in
serious accidents and damage.
● Only wheel rims which have been approved
for use with your vehicle should be used.
● 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 loos-
ened, this 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 specialised
workshop. SEAT recommends taking your car
in for technical service. Replacement of wheel rims and new
tyres
New tyres
● When tyres are new, drive with extreme
caution for the first 600 km, as all tyres need
to be run-in . Tyres which have not been run-
in do not
have such good grip ››› or brak-
ing capacity ››› .
● All four wheels must be fitted with radial
tyres of the same type, size (rolling circumfer-
ence) and the same tread pattern.
● The tread depth of new tyres may vary, ac-
cording to the type and make of tyre and the
tread pattern.
Replacing tyres
● Where possible, always replace both
wheels on an axle (both wheels on the front
axle or both wheels on the rear axle) ››› .
● Only replace used tyres with those author-
ised by SEAT for the corresponding type vehi-
cle. Pay special attention to size, diameter,
and maximum load and speed capacity.
● Never use tyres which are larger than SEAT
approved tyres. If the tyres are too big, they
may knock or rub against the chassis or other
components, resulting in damage. WARNING
New tyres do not give maximum grip and will
not have reached their maximum braking ca-
pacity to start with, and therefore need run-
ning in.
● To prevent accidents and major damage,
extreme caution should be taken for the first
600 km. WARNING
There should be adequate space between the
tyres and the vehicle in accordance with the
vehicle design. If this is not the case, the
tyres may rub against parts of the running
gear, chassis or brake lines, leading to faults
in the brake system or to tread detachment,
and the risk of burst tyres.
● The true tyre dimension should not be
greater than the dimensions of tyres manu-
factured and approved by SEAT and should
not rub against parts of the vehicle. Note
Although tyres may be shown as being the
same size, the true dimensions of different
types of tyre may vary with respect to the
nominal size, or tread patterns may be differ-
ent. Note
If you use tyres that are approved by SEAT,
you can be sure that the true tyre dimensions » 161Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Advice
will be correct for your vehicle. For other tyre
models, the tyre vendor should provide the
manufacturer's certificate with the tyre, indi-
cating that this type of tyre is suitable for
your vehicle. This certificate should always
be carried with the vehicle.
Tyre pressures
Fig. 115
Position of tyre pressure specifica-
tion plate The correct tyre pressures for tyres fitted at
the factory is shown on a label and is valid
for summer and winter tyres. The label ›››
Fig. 115 is located on the driver's door pil-
l ar
.
Under-inflation or over-inflation will reduce
the life of the tyres considerably and also im-
pair the car's handling ››› . It is essential to
maintain the correct tyre pressures, especial-
ly if driving at high speeds. Incorrect tyre
pressure causes premature wear and could
cause tyre blow-out.
The pressure should therefore be checked at
least once a month and before starting a
journey.
As a general rule, the pressures given are for
cold tyres . When the tyres are hot, the pres-
s ur

es are greater.
Never deflate a hot tyre in order to obtain the
required pressure. This could result in very
low tyre pressures which may lead to sudden
blow-outs.
Checking tyre pressures
Check tyre pressures only when the vehicle
has not been driven for more than a few kilo-
metres at low speeds in the past three hours.
● The tyre pressures should be checked regu-
larly, and only when the tyres are cold. Al-
ways check all tyres, including the spare
wheel. Tyre pressures should be checked
more often in colder regions, and only when
the vehicle has not been driven recently. Al-
ways use a correctly-operating tyre gauge. ●
Adjust tyre pressures to the loads carried in
the vehicle.
● After adjusting the tyre pressure, check that
the caps are properly screwed on.
The
spare wheel or temporary spare wheel
must be at the maximum pressure specified. WARNING
If tyre pressures are too high or too low, the
tyre may deflate or burst suddenly while driv-
ing. This could result in a serious accident.
● If the tyre pressure is too low, they could
overheat, resulting in tread detachment or
even burst tyres.
● When driving at high speeds and/or fully
loaded, the tyre could suddenly overheat,
burst or be subject to tread detachment, with
the resultant loss of control of the vehicle.
● Tyre pressures which are too high or too
low reduce the service life of the tyre, affect-
ing the vehicle's performance.
● Tyre pressures should be checked regularly,
at least once a month and before long jour-
neys.
● Adjust the pressures of all the tyres to the
vehicle load.
● Never deflate excess pressure from hot
tyres. 162

Wheels and tyres
CAUTION
● Take care not to tilt the manometer when
placing it on the valve. Otherwise, the valve
may be damaged.
● If tyre valves are not protected by caps, or if
the caps are not screwed on correctly, they
may become damaged. Check that the caps
are identical to the standard caps and have
been correctly tightened. For the sake of the environment
Under-inflated tyres will increase fuel con-
sumption. Tread depth and wear indicators
Fig. 116
Tyre tread: tread wear indicators Tread depth
Certain driving conditions require a deeper
tread, as well as needing the tread to be ap- proximately the same on the front and rear
tyres. This is particularly important when
driving in winter, in cold temperatures and on
wet roads
››› .
The minimum tread depth required by law in
the majority of cases is 1.6 mm, measured in
the tread grooves next to the tread wear indi-
cators. Observe legal requirements in each
country.
The performance of winter tyres is much re-
duced when the tread has worn to 4 mm.
The tread depth of new tyres may vary, ac-
cording to the type and make of tyre and the
tread pattern.
Wear indicators on the tyre
The original tyres on your vehicle have
1.6 mm high ››› Fig. 116 tread wear indicators
ru nnin
g across the tread. A number of these
indicators are equally spaced around the tyre
tread. Certain marks on the tyre walls (e.g.
the letters “TWI” or other symbols) indicate
the position of the wear indicators.
Tread wear indicators indicate if a tyre is
worn. They must always be replaced before
the tyre tread has worn to the level of the in-
dicator. WARNING
Driving with worn tyres is dangerous, and
may lead to loss of control of the vehicle with
serious consequences.
● Tyres must be replaced before the wear in-
dicators are at the same level as the tread
pattern.
● Worn tyres have significantly reduced grip,
especially on wet surfaces, increasing the
risk of “aquaplaning”.
● Worn tyres make control of the vehicle
more difficult in normal or difficult driving
conditions, increasing the braking distance
and the risk of skidding. Damaged tyres
Damage to wheels and tyres is often not im-
mediately visible. If you notice unusual
vibra-
tion or the car
pulling to one side
, this may
indicate that one of the tyres is damaged
››› .
● Slow down immediately if you think you
have a damaged wheel.
● Check the wheels and tyres for damage.
● If tyres are worn, stop driving and seek
qualified assistance.
● If there is no visible exterior damage, drive
slowly and carefully to the nearest special-
ised workshop and have the vehicle checked. »
163
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Advice
Foreign bodies in the tyre
● Do not remove foreign bodies if they have
penetrated through the tyre wall!
● You should obtain professional assistance
immediately.
Wear of tyres
The wear of tyres depends on a number of
factors, for example:
● Driving style.
● Unbalanced wheels.
● Running gear settings.
Driving style : Driving round bends quickly or
sudden acceleration or braking speed accel-
erates tyre wear. When the driving style is
normal, if the tyres wear too quickly, have the
running gear settings checked at a special-
ised workshop.
Wheel run-out : The wheels on new vehicles
ar e b
alanced. However, certain circumstan-
ces may lead to imbalance (run-out), which is
detected as vibrations in the steering wheel.
Run-out leads to wear of the steering and
suspension. In the event of run out, the
wheels should be balanced again. When a
new wheel is fitted, it should be balanced
again.
Running gear settings : an incorrectly posi-
tioned running gear increases the wear of
tyres and affects your safety while driving. If tyres wear too quickly, have the wheel align-
ment checked at a specialised workshop. WARNING
If you notice unusual vibration or the car pulls
to one side while driving, this may indicate
that one of the tyres is damaged.
● Reduce speed immediately and stop, while
observing the highway code.
● Check the wheels and tyres for damage.
● Never carry on driving on worn tyres or
wheels. Request qualified assistance immedi-
ately.
● If there is no visible exterior damage, drive
slowly and carefully to the nearest special-
ised workshop and have the vehicle checked. Tyre monitoring system* 
Fig. 117
Centre console: tyre monitor system
button The tyre control lamp compares wheel revolu-
tions and with it, the wheel diameter of each
wheel using the ESC. If the diameter 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.
● The wheels of one axle 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 pressure adjustment
On adjusting tyre pressure or changing one
or more wheels, the ››› Fig. 117 button must
be k ept
pressed down, with the ignition on,
until an acoustic signal is heard.
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.
164

Wheels and tyres
The tyre pressure control lamp  lights up
If the ty
re 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 pressure control lamp lights
up, reduce speed immediately and avoid any
sudden turning or braking manoeuvre. Stop
when possible, and check the tyre pressure
and status.
● The driver is responsible for maintaining
correct tyre pressures. For this reason, tyre
pressure must be regularly checked.
● Under certain circumstances (e.g. when
driving in a sporty 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 lamp  lights up after turning the
ignition on.

This should turn off after a brief
journey. Spare wheel or temporary spare
wheel*
Fig. 118
In the luggage compartment: hand
controlled wheel for securing the spare wheel Removing the spare wheel
● Open the rear lid and lift the luggage com-
partment shelf ››› page 73 .
● If nec

essary, remove the boot variable floor
››› page 73.
● Lift

up the carpet from the recess and re-
move it from the luggage compartment.
● If necessary, take out the vehicle tool kit
with the container.
● Completely remove the hand controlled
wheel from the centre of the spare wheel
››› Fig. 118 by turning it in an anticlockwise
direction, and t
ake out the spare wheel. Storing the replaced wheel
● Pull back the carpet.
● With the wheel rim facing downwards, sit-
uate the replaced wheel in the spare wheel
well so that the wheel rim central hole coin-
cides with the opening.
● Turn the hand controlled wheel with the
shank screwed clockwise until the replaced
wheel is secured.
● If necessary, store the vehicle tool in the
container, inside the boot.
● Replace the carpet on the boot floor.
● Lower the rear shelf.
● Close the rear lid.
If the spare wheel is different to the rest of
the vehicle tyres
If the spare tyre is not the same as the tyres
that are mounted on the vehicle - for example
with winter tyres or the temporary spare
wheel - 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 possi-
ble.
Please observe driving advice:
● Do not drive faster than 80 km/h (50 mph).
● Avoid heavy acceleration, hard braking and
fast cornering. »
165
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Advice
● Snow chains on the temporary spare wheel
are not permitted ››› page 169 .
● Af t
er mounting the spare wheel or the tem-
porary spare wheel, check the tyre pressure
as soon as possible ››› page 162.
It is advisable to check the spare wheel or
temporary spare wheel tyre pressure when
checking the rest of the vehicle wheels at
least once a month. The spare wheel should
have the highest pressure allowed for the ve-
hicle ››› page 162. The sticker situated on the
temporary spare wheel shows the tyre pres-
sure. WARNING
Incorrect handling of the spare wheel or the
temporary spare wheel can cause loss of ve- hicle control, producing collisions or other
serious accidents and injury.
●
Never use the spare wheel or the temporary
spare wheel if it is damaged or worn to the
wear indicator.
● In some vehicles the spare wheel is smaller
than the original tyres. This can be seen on a
sticker showing the text “80 km/h” and
“50 mph”. This text indicates the maximum
velocity permitted for this type of tyre.
● Never drive faster than 80 km/h (50 mph).
Avoid powerful acceleration, hard braking
and taking corners at high speed.
● Never drive more than 200 km with a tem-
porary spare wheel fitted to the drive axle.
● Replace the temporary spare wheel for a
normal wheel as soon as possible. The com-
pact temporary spare wheel is only intended
for temporary use over short distances. ●
The temporary spare wheel must always be
secured with the factory supplied wheel
bolts.
● You should never use more than one tem-
porary spare wheel.
● After mounting the temporary spare wheel,
check the tyre pressure as soon as possible
››› page 162.
● Sno w c

hains on the temporary spare wheel
are not permitted. Note
Wherever possible, secure the spare wheel,
temporary spare wheel or the replaced wheel
safely in the luggage compartment. In vehi-
cles with anti-puncture kit, it is not possible
to secure the defective wheel. 166

Wheels and tyres
Tyre code Fig. 119
Universal code on tyres Radial
Rim diameter code
Load index & speed rating
DOT tyre identification number
Severe snow conditions
Tyre ply composition and materials used
Max. load rating
Treadwear, traction and temperature
grades
Max. permissible inflation pressure
Passenger car tyre
Nominal width of tyre in millimetres
Ratio of height to width (aspect ratio)
1 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12Tyre code (example)Meaning
Make, logotypeManufacturer
Product nameName of tyre assigned by manufacturer.
P255 / 55 R 18Size:
PPassenger vehicle code.
255Nominal width between walls, in mm.
55Height/width ratio in %
RTyre type (R indicates "radial").
18Rim diameter in inches»
167
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

AdviceTyre code (example)Meaning
109 HLoad index
››› page 169 and speed rating ››› page 169.
XLReinforced tyres (“Reinforced”).
M+S or M/S or Winter tyres code (mud and snow tyres).
RADIAL TUBELESSRadial tyre without inner tube.
E4 ...E-mark certifying tyre complies with international legislation followed by a number denoting the country granting the au-
thorisation. The authorisation number ( several digits) is shown below.
DOT BT RA TY5 1709Tyre identification number (TIN a)
, may be only on interior wall of wheel) and date of manufacture:
DOTThe tyre complies with the legal requirements of the US Department of Transport, responsible for tyre
safety regulations.
BTPlace of manufacture code.
RAInformation about manufacturer and tyre size.
TY5Manufacturer's tyre specifications.
1709Date of manufacture: Week 17 of 2009.
TWIThis identifies the position of the Tread Wear Indicator ››› page 163.
Made in GermanyCountry of manufacture.
MAX LOAD 615 KGUS load rating, indicating maximum permitted load per tyre.
MAX INFLATION 350 KPA (51 PSI)US limit, indicating maximum permitted tyre pressure.
SIDEWALL 1 PLY RAYONInformation about tyre wall components:
1 layer of rayon (artificial silk).
TREAD 4 PLIES
1 RAYON + 2 STEEL + 1 NYLONInformation about tread components:
In the example, there are 4 layers below the tread: 1 layer of rayon (artificial silk), 2 layers of steel reinforcement and 1
layer of nylon.
Information for the end consumer concerning the comparative values of the established base tyres (standardised test procedures) ››› page 134: 168