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Getting your car ready for spring: grit, pollen and summer tyres
In spring a car needs three things: winter's film off the paint, the grit out of the mats and footwells, and summer tyres on once winter conditions are over. All three can be done in the same visit. Below we explain what to look out for and which service suits which job.
Getting winter's film off the paint
After winter the paint is coated with a mix of salt, grit and road grease, which shows as a grey tinge even after a normal wash. Premium wash (€39–52) includes a solvent wash of the paintwork, which loosens the greasy film. Winter also leaves salt under the car. You can ask for an underbody wash as an extra, which costs €11 extra: mention it in the Message to the shop field when you book, or tell us when you arrive.
Gritting sand stays on the streets well into spring, and the car soon gets dusty again. Do not wipe the dust off with a dry cloth, because the grit in it scratches the surface. Rinse and wash instead.
Pollen shows on a dark car
In spring and early summer, pollen shows up on the car as yellow dust, especially on dark paint. It mixes with street dust, so it should not be wiped off dry either. Water and washing loosen it without damaging the surface.
Pollen also collects along the bottom edge of the windscreen, where the air is drawn in. The incoming air passes through the cabin air filter. If it has been a while since the filter was changed, Filter replacement can be arranged by phone. Read more in our article on changing the cabin air filter.
Summer tyres on once winter conditions are over
According to Traficom, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, winter tyres must be used from 1 November to 31 March if the weather or road conditions require it, and studded tyres may be used during the same period and at other times too if conditions demand it. So switch to summer tyres when winter conditions are over; the calendar alone does not decide it.
Check your summer tyres before they go on. By law the main tread grooves must be at least 1.6 mm deep, but Traficom recommends at least 4 mm to avoid aquaplaning. You will find the details on Traficom's tyre page.
Seasonal package (€90–110) includes a tyre change, a tyre wash and a basic wash. Tyre hotel package (€149–169) also includes storing your winter tyres over the season. If your summer tyres are already in our tyre hotel, book the change at least 24 hours in advance, because the tyres are brought over from our own storage.
If your car has alloy wheels, the wheel bolts should be retightened after about 100 kilometres. As a tyre hotel customer you can come in to have them retightened free of charge, or you can tighten them yourself following the instructions you are given.
Getting the grit out of the interior
Over the winter, shoes carry grit inside, and it gets pressed into the mats and the seams of the footwells. There it wears the mats and rises into the air as dust. Light interior cleaning (€39–52) includes vacuuming the floor, seats and mats and wiping the dashboard. The rubber mats are washed in the Basic wash, which is already part of the Seasonal package.
If winter has left a film on the inside of the windows, choose Full interior cleaning (€64–77), which also includes the inside of the windows.
Protection for the summer
If water no longer beads on the paint, winter has worn the wax away. Spring is a good time to renew the protection, when the surface has just been washed clean. The options and prices are in our article on what a car wax costs.
Tyres, wash and interior cleaning in one visit
Seasonal package €90–110 and Light interior cleaning €39–52. Book online or call us.