en:Car Terms:T:Tyres COM/EN

SEAT Glossary

All the details.

T

Tyres

Tyres must meet many, very different requirements: grip in all driving and weather conditions, durability, and comfort when running. Each tyre consists of two main elements. The running surface and the substructure or carcass. The tyre bead reinforcement is made from strong, heat resistant fibres which enhances stability providing extra steering precision and with the steel core, the tyre sits firmly on the wheel rim. Furthermore, the tyre consists of a complex mixture and inserts of more than 200 different materials whose most important constituents are rubber and black carbon. Their interaction between the different materials provides stability, comfort and security.

SEAT tyres are also available with Air Stop ® technology to prevent pressure loss as a result of nails becoming lodged in the tyre tread (up to 5mm). It has a sticky, viscous layer as an integral part from shoulder to shoulder along the inner liner which seals the puncture and ensures that the customer can drive to the nearest service center.

Additionally, our tyres are specially developed and tested for Volkswagen Group cars. They are fully adjusted to all our vehicles and guarantee maximal performance. Our customers benefit from tailor-made, premium quality and the certainty of being well prepared for almost any driving situation on the road.

Also, to meet American and European standards, tyres bear prescribed labelling that gives information about type, size, maximum running speed, age and manufacturer. The EU tyre label, by law 2020/740, indicates the fuel efficiency (with rating A (best) to G (worst)), the external rolling noises as well as the grip on wet, snowed, or iced streets.

The different climatic conditions in different seasons require specialized types of tyres for optimum driving safety in central and northern European latitudes. When the temperature falls below 7º degree, the security risk increases because of a longer braking distances required. Therefore, manufacturers offer special summer and winter tyres which differ fundamentally with regards to the design of the tread and the material mixture in order to meet the requirements of the respective seasons. Also, the legislators of many countries stipulate to drive only with winter tyres, marked with snowflake or M+S (mud + snow) symbol, when wintery conditions set in on the streets.  In general, regular maintenance and replacement of the tyre is important. Therefore, the tyre pressure and tread depth, which should not be below the legal minimum, should be checked regularly. By doing so, fuel bills and CO2 emissions can be reduced, while well as efficient braking, acceleration and cornering is assured.

SEAT specialists recommend a minimum of 4mm remaining tread depth for winter tyres and a minimum of 3mm for summer tyres.