What an out-of-hours job includes
- The same repair-or-replace check as at any other time
- A new tyre fitted when the damage rules out a repair
- A lit, legal spot to work in, agreed on the call
Out-of-hours tyre fitting near the A406 North Circular
We work evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays when the diary allows, at the same price as a weekday job. We work from one base at Brent Cross, NW2, which sits beside the North Circular, under half a mile from the road. Call and we will tell you straight away whether we can take the job; if we can, the arrival time is given on the call.
Staying safe
Safety first
TfL runs the whole North Circular as a red route with no hard shoulder, from the Chiswick roundabout to Beckton, and there is nowhere to stop in the underpasses or on the Brent Cross flyover.
If a tyre fails, hold the wheel firmly, ease off and, if the car can still be driven safely, get it off the road into a side road, a lay-by or a car park. If you have to stop, switch on the hazard lights, get everyone out on the side away from the traffic and wait somewhere safe. On a busy dual carriageway, do not try to change the wheel yourself; call your breakdown cover, or 999 if the car is somewhere dangerous. We never work on the carriageway of a motorway or main road, on a hard shoulder, in a smart motorway emergency area or on a slip road.
Tyre help
Getting off the road after dark
After dark, look for a lit side street once you have left the North Circular, so the fitter can see the wheel and you can wait somewhere visible.
Where we can work
Where we can fit the tyre late in the day
The car needs to be parked where the fitter can work safely and legally: a side street off the junction, your drive, or a car park whose owner allows it. Some retail car parks close or lock in the evening, so check before you leave the car there. If the car is in a controlled parking zone permit bay, tell us so the fitter can park legally beside it.
Pricing
Same price, but not a promise of a slot
The price is the same at any hour. What we cannot promise is that a fitter is free at every moment. When you call, we look at the diary, tell you honestly whether we can fit you in and, if we can, give you an arrival time and the price. If a van is already out this way, that can help.
Have the tyre size from the sidewall ready if you can, and check whether the car has locking wheel nuts and where the key is. Common sizes are often on the van; other sizes are sourced for the job. If your size cannot be sourced late in the day, we will say so on the call.
Tyre help
What the fitter does at the car
The fitter checks the damaged tyre first. A small puncture in the central tread can be repaired; anything else, including a burst or a tyre driven flat, needs a new tyre, fitted and balanced at the car. The wheel and the other tyres get a look too, and the fitter checks the pressures before you drive away.
Out of hours
Tyre trouble in the evening or at the weekend
Call to check what can be done; evening and weekend jobs are fitted around the work already booked.
A flat found at home or at work
A flat found on the drive or outside the house can stay where it is, as long as the car is legally parked. There is no need to move it to a garage.
At work or in a hospital or shift car park, check that the site is happy for a tyre to be fitted in its bays.
Light, space and firm ground
A well-lit spot on firm, level ground makes the job safer for everyone. Room on the side of the flat tyre lets the jack go in properly.
If the car is boxed in or in a tight bay, say so on the call so the fitter can plan around it.
Staying safe
Staying safe until the job is done
While you wait for the fitter
- Stop somewhere off the main flow of traffic, switch on the hazard lights and, if you have one, put on a high-visibility vest.
- Get everyone out on the side away from the traffic and wait behind a barrier, on a pavement or well back from the road.
- If the tyre may still be repairable, say so before using a sealant can, and leave any nail or screw where it is.
- Keep your phone on and charged, and tell us about anything that makes the spot hard to find.
What to tell us from the roadside
- Which road you were on and the direction you were travelling
- The last junction you passed, or the number on a driver location sign if you can read one safely
- Where the car is now: the exit, the side street or the car park it was moved to
- The tyre size from the sidewall, and whether the car has locking wheel nuts
Step by step
Calling us once the car is safe
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Tell us what happened
Call or WhatsApp with where the car is, the registration and the tyre size from the sidewall.
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Agree what happens next
You hear what the job involves and the options for your car. Nothing is booked until you say yes.
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Work at the car
The fitter comes to your home, your workplace or a safe place to park, raises the car on a jack and does the job beside it.
Checked before the fitter leaves
Before the fitter leaves, the wheel is checked for security and the tyre pressure is set to the maker's figure.
★★★★★
“Excellent service from start to finish. He came out quickly to help my mum change her tyre and was extremely friendly.”
EHEllie-Mai HalesGoogle review
★★★★★
“Fast and reliable.”
KSKhurram ShehzadGoogle review
Questions
Questions drivers ask
Do you charge more on a Sunday or a bank holiday?
No. The price is the same at any hour, on any day.
What if you cannot fit me in tonight?
We will tell you on the call. If the car is somewhere safe and legal, it can wait for a booked slot. If it is unsafe where it is, your breakdown cover may be the better option.
Will someone always pick up the phone?
We cannot promise that the phone is answered at every hour. If you cannot get through and the car is somewhere unsafe, call your breakdown cover.
Is a tyre job at night done any differently?
No. The checks are the same as in the day, but the fitter needs a lit, legal spot away from passing traffic to work safely.
Do new tyres come with a warranty?
New tyres carry the manufacturer's warranty against defects. It does not cover damage from punctures, kerbs or potholes.
How much will it cost?
The price depends on the tyre size, the tier you choose and the work needed.
Do I need to replace both tyres on the axle?
Not always. If the other tyre on that axle has good tread and is the same size and pattern, one new tyre can be enough.
Tyres and the law
Tread depth, tyre age and the law
The legal tread limit
Cars and light vans need at least 1.6 mm of tread across the central three-quarters of the tyre, around the whole circumference.
For a car, each illegal tyre can bring a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points; the maximum fine for a van is higher.
The 20p test
Push a 20p coin into the main grooves at several points around the tyre. If the outer band of the coin is visible, the tread may be close to the limit and should be measured properly.
Other defects that make a tyre illegal
A tyre is also illegal with a cut longer than 25 mm or a tenth of its section width, whichever is greater, that reaches the ply or cord, a lump or bulge, exposed cords, or the wrong size or type for the car.
How old is your tyre?
The last four digits of the DOT code on the sidewall give the week and year of manufacture, so 2319 means the 23rd week of 2019.
Rubber hardens and cracks with age even on a tyre that has done few miles, and many tyre makers advise replacing any tyre ten years old or more.
Helpful guides
Tyre advice worth reading
Is it safe to drive on a flat tyre?
Driving on a flat tyre is dangerous and can wreck your wheel. Here's what happens, what to do instead, and how far you can safely go (almost nowhere).
Tyre fitting at the office: how it works
Get your tyres fitted while you're at work. Here's how workplace mobile tyre fitting works, what we need from you, and why it saves you the most time.
What to keep in the car for a tyre emergency
Most cars carry the wrong things for a puncture. Here is the short list that helps at the roadside, and what to check you have now.
Call or WhatsApp us
Tell us where the car is
Call to check what the diary allows this evening or this weekend. Tell us what has happened and the make and model of the vehicle. We give you an arrival time when you call. The price is given on the call.