Spring is a great time to press the reset button and clean things up. Nature does it, homeowners do it, and so should car owners. From changing tires to cleaning the undercarriage, here’s how to get your car ready for spring.

Change your winter tires back to your all-season tires

Ah the Ontario winter. So generous it is that it sometimes continues to give its frozen gifts well into spring. Just when think you’re safe to change your tires, Ontario gets hit with an April blizzard. If you want to play it safe, wait until you get a few days in a row at 10 degrees Celsius or higher — usually mid-March or later —  before you make the switch.

Check your tire pressure

Once you get your all-season tires back on, it’s time to check their pressure as compared to the recommended pressure settings in your manual. If you don’t own one already, buy a tire gauge – we recommend a digital gauge for greater accuracy – and make sure your tires are ready to take on snow-free roadways.

Have your dealership check your tire alignment

Winter driving can take a toll on your alignment since that’s the worst time of year for overall road conditions. If there’s a statistic for “average potholes driven over per month”, the winter months would surely be in the lead. If you haven’t had your tires rotated in a while, this might be a good time to do it.

Thoroughly clean your car inside and out

Simple, right? Maybe, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. If you live in areas where roadways get salted, it’s imperative that you take your car through a car wash that features undercarriage cleaning so you can protect it from rust damage. That takes care of the exterior, and then you can shake out your floor mats, vacuum out the seats and carpet, and remove any garbage or clutter. If you really take pride in your car, consider taking it to a professional detailer so you can truly get it looking and smelling like new again.

Don’t forget about the small stuff

You don’t want to learn the hard way, during that first spring rain shower, that your wipers are shot, so make sure to address the small stuff. What state are the floor mats in? Should you order some new ones? Or how about the mud flaps?

Following these spring-specific tips and making sure you continue to follow your manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule for oil changes, air filters, cooling system, etc. will ensure you’re as ready as you can be for the spring driving season.