Stitch dyeing and tyre marks

Two small things that spoil the look of a whole interior more than you would expect. Thread in the seams fades faster than the leather — contrast stitching especially, and especially in a car that sits in the sun. A restored seat with faded stitching still looks tired.

The second case is the mark left by a tyre leaning against the upholstery: a black, greasy smear that soaks into the leather and will not come off with ordinary cleaning. Most often in the boot and on the bolster after folding the rear bench down.

How we do it

• Stitching: degreasing the seam and dyeing the thread itself, spot by spot, without going onto the surrounding leather.
• Tyre marks: working out how deep the dye has gone into the material.
• Removing the discolouration; on deep marks — stripping the finish and rebuilding the colour on that section.
• Protecting the area so it does not come back.

Realistically

A fresh tyre mark comes off almost every time. One that has sat for several months in a hot boot soaks deep into the leather and sometimes ends in local re-colouring rather than cleaning — still cheaper and quicker than a new cover.

This is the easiest job to quote from photos. Take them in daylight, close up.