| Place | Distance from Brent Cross |
|---|---|
| Marble Arch (Westminster) | about 5 miles |
| Kilburn and Cricklewood (Brent/Camden) | about 1 to 3 miles |
| Staples Corner, Hendon and Edgware (Barnet, where our base is) | under 1 to about 4 miles |
| Dunstable | about 25 miles |
| Milton Keynes | about 40 miles |
| Towcester | about 50 miles |
| Nuneaton | about 84 miles |
| Atherstone | about 89 miles |
| Tamworth | about 96 miles |
| Cannock | about 108 miles |
Out-of-hours tyre fitting along the A5
Our only base is at Brent Cross, NW2 1LX, a few hundred metres from the A5 at Staples Corner. The road starts at Marble Arch, about 5 miles south, and runs north past Cannock towards Shrewsbury and Holyhead. We list it as far as Cannock, over 100 miles away, and the further north you are, the less likely we can reach you.
We work evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays when the diary allows, at the same price as a weekday job. Call once the car is parked safely off the main 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.
How far each stretch is from Brent Cross
The London stretch from Marble Arch to Edgware is close to the base. Dunstable and Milton Keynes are a longer trip for the van, and the call confirms whether and when we can come. From Towcester northwards we are more than 50 miles away, with no base or van stationed anywhere near. If the car is unsafe where it is, your breakdown cover may reach you sooner.
Stopping on Edgware Road
Much of the A5 in London has stopping restrictions: yellow lines, bus lanes and loading rules on Edgware Road, Kilburn High Road and Cricklewood Broadway. We cannot work in the main road. The car needs to be on a side street where parking is allowed, or on private ground whose owner allows the work. If the side street has permit bays, tell us so the fitter can park legally beside the car.
The whole London stretch is inside the London-wide ULEZ. That is a charge for driving a vehicle that does not meet the standard, not for a parked car.
If a tyre fails on the open road
Much of the road beyond London is high-speed dual or single carriageway with no hard shoulder, including the Milton Keynes section between Fenny Stratford and Old Stratford. The Highway Code asks you to:
On the trunk lengths managed by National Highways, their number is 0300 123 5000. If the car is stuck in a lane and you are in danger, call 999. 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.
- get the car off the road if you can, into a lay-by, a side road or a car park
- switch on the hazard lights, and the sidelights if it is dark or visibility is poor
- put a warning triangle at least 45 metres behind the car on the same side, only if it is safe to do so
- keep everyone away from the traffic and wear something light or reflective in the dark
Tyres after dark
The fitter can repair a puncture in the repairable area of the tread, or fit a new tyre when a repair is not safe. Common sizes are often on the van; other sizes are sourced for the job, so have the tyre size from the sidewall ready, and find the locking wheel nut key if the car has one. The price is the same at any hour.
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.
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
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
Calling us once the car is safe
Tell us what happened
Call or WhatsApp with where the car is, the registration and the tyre size from the sidewall.
Agree what happens next
You hear what the job involves and the options for your car. Nothing is booked until you say yes.
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.
“A pleasure having them come down and save me. Big shout out to Hiwad, really responsive, recommend him to anybody.”
“Had two tyres replaced and was really impressed. Friendly and efficient, job completed quickly. Highly recommend!”
Questions drivers ask
Can you meet me on Edgware Road itself?
Will someone always pick up the phone?
Is a tyre job at night done any differently?
What if the tyre needs replacing rather than repairing?
What should I do if a tyre bursts while I am driving?
Are you insured?
Do new tyres come with a warranty?
How the price is worked out
There is no fixed figure that suits every car, so the price is built from a few things and told to you before you decide.
The price is given on the call. Asking for a price does not commit you to anything.
When you compare prices, compare like with like: the same brand and pattern, the same load index and speed rating, and whether balancing and a new valve are part of the job.
What goes into the price
- The tyre itself: size, load index, speed rating and whether it is a run-flat
- The tier you choose: budget, mid-range or premium
- The work: a repair, one new tyre or several, and any locking nut removal
- The location of the car
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.
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).
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.
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.
Tell us where the car is
Call to check what the diary allows this evening or this weekend.
