Seat Ibiza: Wheels 

Seat Ibiza Owners Manual

General notes

Avoiding damage

– 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. – Keep grease, oil and fuel off the tyres. – Inspect the tyres regularly for damage (cuts, cracks or blisters, etc.). Remove any foreign objects embedded in the treads.

Storing tyres

– Mark tyres when you remove them to indicate the direction of rotation. This ensures you will be able to install them correctly when you replace them. – When removed, the wheels and/or tyres should be stored in a cool, dry and preferably dark location. – Store tyres in a vertical position if they are not fitted on wheel rims.

New tyres

New tyres have to be run in. The tread depth of new tyres may vary, according to the type and make of tyre and the tread pattern.

Concealed damage

Damage to tyres and rims is often not readily visible. If you notice unusual vibrations or the car pulling to one side, this may indicate that one of the tyres is damaged. The tyres should be checked immediately by an Authorised Service Centre.

Tyres with directional tread pattern

An arrow on the tyre sidewall indicates the direction of rotation on tyres with directional tread. Always observe the direction of rotation indicated when fitting the wheel. This guarantees optimum grip and helps to avoid aquaplaning, excessive noise and wear.

WARNING

• New tyres do not have maximum grip in the first 500 km. Drive particularly carefully to avoid risk of accident.

• Never drive with damaged tyres. This may cause an accident.

• If you notice unusual vibration or if the vehicle pulls to one side when driving, stop the vehicle immediately and check the tyres for damage.

Checking tyre pressure

The correct tyre pressure can be seen on the sticker on the inside of the tank flap.

1. Read the required tyre inflation pressure from the sticker. The values refer to Summer tyres. For Winter tyres, you must add 0.2 bar to the values given on the sticker.

2. The tyre pressures should only be checked when the tyres are cold. The slightly raised pressures of warm tyres must not be reduced.

3. Adjust the tyre pressure to the load you are carrying.

Tyre pressure

The correct tyre pressure is especially important at high speeds. The pressure should therefore be checked at least once a month and before starting a journey.

WARNING

A tyre can easily burst if the pressure is too low, causing an accident!

• At continuously high speeds, a tyre with insufficient pressure flexes more. In this way it becomes too hot, and this can cause tread separation and tyre blow-out. Always observe the recommended tyre pressures.

• If the tyre pressure is too low or too high, the tyres will wear prematurely and the vehicle will not handle well. Risk of accident!

For the sake of the environment

Under-inflated tyres will increase fuel consumption.

Tyre service life

The service life of tyres is dependent on tyre pressure, driving style and fitting.

Fig. 134 Tyre tread wear indicators

Fig. 135 Changing wheels

Wear indicators

The original tyres on your vehicle have 1.6 mm high “tread wear indicators”, fig. 134, running across the tread. Depending on the make, there will be six to eight of them evenly spaced around the tyre. Markings on the tyre sidewall (for instance the letters “TWI” or other symbols) indicate the positions of the tread wear indicators. The minimum tread depth required by law is 1.6 mm (measured in the tread grooves next to the tread wear indicators). Worn tyres must be replaced. Different figures may apply in export countries ⇒   .

Tyre 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.

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. 135. All the tyres will then last for about the same time.

Wheel balance

The wheels on new vehicles are balanced. However, various factors encountered in normal driving can cause them to become unbalanced, which results in steering vibration. 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.

Incorrect wheel alignment

Incorrect wheel alignment causes excessive tyre wear, impairing the safety of the vehicle. If tyres show excessive wear, you should have the wheel alignment checked by an Authorised Service Centre.

WARNING

There is a serious danger of accidents if a tyre bursts during driving!

• The tyres must be replaced at the latest when the tread is worn down to the tread wear indicators. Failure to do so 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 insufficient 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 running gear checked by an Authorised Service Centre.

• Keep chemicals such as oil, fuel and brake fluid away from tyres.

• Damaged wheels and tyres must be replaced immediately!

For the sake of the environment

Under-inflated tyres will increase fuel consumption.

New tyres and wheels

New tyres and wheels have to be run-in.

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 make a major contribution to good road holding and safe handling ⇒   . Tyres should be replaced at
least in pairs and not individually (i.e. both front tyres or both rear tyres together). A knowledge of tyre designations makes it

easier to choose the correct tyres. Radial tyres have the tyre designations marked on the sidewall, for example:

195/65 R15 91T

This contains the following information:

195 Tyre width in mm

65 Height/width ratio in %

R Tyre construction: Radial

15 Rim diameter in inches

91 Load rating code

T Speed rating

The tyres could also have the following information:

• A direction of rotation symbol

• “Reinforced” denotes heavy-duty tyres.

The manufacturing date is also indicated on the tyre sidewall (possibly only on the inner side of the wheel). “DOT... 1103...” means, for example, that the tyre was produced in the 11th week of 2003. We recommend that work on tyres and wheels is carried out by an Authorised Service Centre. They are familiar with the procedure and have the necessary special tools and spare parts as well as the proper facilities for disposing of the old tyres. Any Authorised Service Centre has full information on the technical requirements when installing or changing tyres, wheels or wheel trims.

WARNING

• We recommend that you use only wheels and tyres which have been approved by SEAT for your model. Failure to do so could impair vehicle handling. Risk of accident.

• Avoid running the vehicle on tyres that are more than six years old. If you have no alternative, you should drive slowly and with extra care at all times.

• Never use old tyres or those with an unknown “history of use”.

• If wheel trims are retrofitted, you must ensure that the flow of air to the brakes is not restricted. This could cause them to overheat.

• All four wheels must be fitted with radial tyres of the same type, size (rolling circumference) and the same tread pattern.

For the sake of the environment

Old tyres must be disposed of according to the laws in the country concerned.

Note

• For technical reasons, it is not generally possible to use the wheels from other vehicles. This can also apply to wheels of the same model. The use of wheels or tyres which have not been approved by SEAT for use with your model may invalidate the vehicle's type approval for use on public roads.

• If the spare tyre is not the same as the tyres that are mounted on the vehicle - for example with winter tyres - 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 possible.

Wheel bolts

Wheel bolts must be tightened to the correct torque.

The design of wheel bolts is matched to the rims. If different wheel 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 certain circumstances, you may not use wheel bolts from a different car - even if it is the same model.

WARNING

If the wheel bolts are not tightened correctly, the wheel could become loose while driving. Risk of accident.

• The wheel bolts must be clean and turn easily. Never apply grease or oil to them.

• Use only wheel bolts which belong to the wheel.

• If the prescribed torque of the wheel bolts is too low, they could loosen whilst the vehicle is in motion. Risk of accident! If the tightening torque is too high, the wheel bolts and threads could be damaged.

Caution

The prescribed torque for wheel bolts for steel and alloy wheels is 120 Nm.

Winter tyres

Winter tyres will improve the vehicles handling on snow and ice.

In winter conditions winter tyres will considerably improve the vehicles handling. The design of summer tyres (width, rubber compound, tread pattern) gives less grip on ice and snow. Winter tyres must be inflated to a pressure 0.2 bar higher than the pressures specified for summer tyres (see sticker on tank flap). Winter tyres must be fitted on all four wheels.

Information on permitted winter tyre sizes can be found in the vehicle's registration documents. Use only radial winter tyres. All tyre sizes listed in the vehicle documentation also apply to winter tyres. Winter tyres lose their effectiveness when the tread is worn down to a depth of 4 mm.

The speed rating code, “New tyres and wheels” determines the following speed limits: ⇒

Q max. 160 km/h

S max. 180 km/h

T max. 190 km/h

H max. 210 km/h

In some countries, vehicles which can exceed the speed rating of the fitted tyre must have an appropriate sticker in the driver's field of view. These stickers are available from your Authorised Service Centre. The legal requirements of each country must be followed. Do not have winter tyres fitted for unnecessarily long periods. Vehicles with summer tyres handle better when the roads are free of snow and ice. If you have a flat tyre, please refer to the notes on the spare wheel, “New tyres and wheels”.

WARNING

The maximum speed for the winter tyres must not be exceeded. Otherwise, this could lead to tyre damage and thus, an accident risk.

For the sake of the environment

Fit your summer tyres in good time. They are quieter, do not wear so quickly and reduce fuel consumption.

Note

• The rims of the IBIZA CUPRA have been designed so as not to obstruct the optional 4-cylinder brake unit.

• The CUPRA version has a specific tyre for driving in winter of 205/40 17 XL 84H. When you use this winter tyre, do not exceed 210 km/h.

Snow chains

Snow chains are only permitted on the front wheels and only for tyres 155/80 R13; 165/70 R14 and 185/80 R14. Snow chains must have fine-pitch links which do not protrude more than 15 mm, including tension device. Remaining tyres can be fitted with chains no thicker than 9 mm. Remove wheel hub covers and trim rings before fitting snow chains. For safety reasons cover caps, available in any Authorised Service Centre, must then be fitted over the wheel bolts.

WARNING

Observe the fitting instructions provided by the snow chain manufacturer.

Caution

You must remove the snow chains to drive on roads which are free of snow. Otherwise they will impair handling, damage the tyres and wear out very quickly.

Note

In some countries, the speed limit for using snow chains is 50 km/h. The legal requirements of the country should be followed.