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Breaking In a New Convertible Top in Chicago Weather

2026-10-07

You've just picked up your car with a brand-new convertible top. It looks great, and you want to put it down and enjoy the drive. Before you do, it helps to understand why new tops need a little patience, especially here, where the weather can swing 30 degrees in a day.

At Don's Auto Interiors & Tops, we've installed convertible tops in Alsip since 1977. We give every customer care instructions at pickup. This article explains the reasons behind them.

Important: your installer's instructions for your specific top always come first. What follows is general background.

Why a new top needs to settle

A convertible top is fitted snugly so that it seals tightly against the windshield header and side windows. When it's new, the material hasn't fully relaxed into its final shape. With time, and especially with warmth, the material settles onto the frame, and the fit becomes smooth and even.

If you fold a brand-new top before it has settled, especially in cold weather, you can:

• Set creases in the fabric or vinyl
• Stress seams that haven't relaxed yet
• Strain the rear window, particularly plastic windows

How cold weather changes things

Cold makes materials stiffer:

• Vinyl becomes noticeably less flexible in the cold.
• Plastic rear windows are prone to creasing and cracking when folded cold.
• Cloth tops stay more flexible, but their windows have the same cold-weather concerns.

That's why tops installed in fall or winter often need a longer settling period before they're folded. A top installed on a warm spring day may settle sooner.

General habits that help

• Keep the top up and latched for the period your installer recommends.
• Let the car sit in the sun on warm days. Warmth helps the material relax.
• Avoid folding the top in cold weather, especially if it has a plastic rear window.
• Don't fold it wet. Let the top dry before lowering it.
• Skip the automatic car wash for a while, and avoid brush-type washes altogether.
• Watch for anything unusual, like a leak, a seam that looks stressed, or a latch that won't close easily, and call your installer.

A few minor wrinkles

Some minor wrinkling can be normal on a new top, especially if it's installed in cool weather. These often relax as the top settles. If wrinkles don't improve after the break-in period, or you notice water getting in, it's worth having the installer take a look. Sometimes a latch, a frame adjustment, or a seal needs a small tweak.

Rear window care

• Plastic windows: clean only with products made for plastic convertible windows and a soft cloth. Never use household glass cleaners or paper towels, which can scratch or cloud the plastic. Avoid folding them cold.
• Glass windows: if your top has a heated glass window, don't use sharp tools to remove ice.

When you can enjoy it

Once your top has settled, it's ready for regular use. Get into good habits from the start:

• Fold it carefully following your car's procedure.
• Keep the top clean with products made for its material.
• Keep drains clear so water doesn't collect.

For longer-term advice, see our winter convertible top care guide.

Power tops during break-in

If your car has a power top, resist the urge to cycle it repeatedly to "test" it in the first days, especially in cold weather. Let the top settle first, then use it normally.

Questions about your new top?

If you had your top installed at Don's and something doesn't look or feel right, call us. We'd rather take a look early. Call (708) 371-8020 or send us a message. Thinking about a new top? See convertible top replacement and our comparison of vinyl vs. cloth tops.

Request a free estimate or call (708) 371-8020.