Published
Getting your car ready for winter: tyres, wax, windows and interior
Before the first frosts, see to four things: winter tyres on in good time, wax on a clean surface before the salt season, winter-grade washer fluid in the reservoir and any stone chips in the windscreen repaired. A clean interior also means the windows mist up less all winter.
Winter tyres in good time
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. Slippery conditions can arrive before November, though, so do not leave the change until the last minute.
Check the tread depth of your winter tyres before they go on. The legal minimum is 3 mm, but for snow and slush Traficom recommends at least 5 mm. Check the tyre pressures after the change and again when the cold nights begin, because the cold lowers the pressure. Traficom recommends checking at least once a month. You will find the details on Traficom's tyre page.
Tyre hotel: book a day ahead
In the tyre hotel, tyres are stored over the season in our own storage facility, not in the wash hall. That is why tyres in the hotel must be booked at least 24 hours before the change, so there is time to fetch them. The hotel includes a tyre pressure check and a suggested time for the next change. Fitting the tyres and washing them are not included in the hotel price; they are separate services or part of a package.
| Package | Also includes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Seasonal package | Basic wash | €90–110 |
| Tyre hotel package | Storage over the season (6 months) and Basic wash | €149–169 |
| VIP package | Storage, Premium wax and Full interior cleaning | €299–319 |
Wax before the salt season
Salt and slush come off a waxed surface more easily, so winter washes are quicker and the paint needs less rubbing. Wax goes on a clean surface, so it is best done in autumn, before salt starts to build up. A pre-wash and clay treatment are part of every wax and coating job we do.
Hard wax (€129–149) protects the paint for 6–8 months, so if it is done in autumn it lasts until spring. Premium wax lasts about a year. It is also part of the VIP package, which covers the tyre change, tyre storage and interior cleaning at the same time. The options are compared in our article on what a car wax costs.
Windows, washer fluid and lights
Summer-grade washer fluid freezes in the reservoir and the nozzles when it is below zero, and you use a lot of washer fluid in slushy weather. Switch to winter grade before the frosts. We can also fill the reservoir in the same visit (Washer fluid top-up, €10–25). We have both winter and summer grade fluid.
Have stone chips in the windscreen repaired in autumn. Frost and heating the glass can make even a small chip crack, and a crack usually means replacing the whole windscreen. Windscreen repair (€69) can be booked online. Windscreen replacement is available for all makes, including through insurance and leasing companies, with Saint-Gobain glass and a one-year warranty on the work. You can get a quote for a replacement by phone.
In the dark months, the strength of your headlights matters more, and cloudy lenses weaken the light. Headlight lens repair (€60–80) deals with those. Also replace the wiper blades if they leave streaks on the glass. We can replace blades and blown bulbs for you too; arrange it by phone.
Interior and misting
A dirty window mists up on the inside more easily than a clean one, and the film causes glare from oncoming headlights. In winter, damp from the mats and footwells adds to the misting. Full interior cleaning (€64–77) includes a full vacuum, a wipe-down of the surfaces and the inside of the windows. For the winter, swap textile mats for rubber ones, which are easy to empty of snow and salty water.
Servicing before winter
Check the frost protection of your coolant before the hard frosts. Coolant, Basic service and other servicing work are done on our own premises on a quote basis and cannot be booked online. Call 010 508 9300 or send a message.
Winter tyres on, summer tyres into the hotel
Tyre hotel package €149–169, Seasonal package €90–110, VIP package €299–319. Book online or call us.