We work evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays when the diary allows, at the same price as a weekday job.
Croydon is about 15 miles in a straight line from our only base at Brent Cross, NW2. We give you an arrival time when you call.
The A23, which carries London Road, Purley Way and Brighton Road through the borough, is a red route, so the fitter cannot stop on it. Turn off into a side street or onto private ground before calling, if the car can be driven there slowly and safely.
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Other main roads | A232 Addiscombe Road, A22 Godstone Road, A212 Wellesley Road, M23 from Coulsdon |
| Stations | Norbury, Thornton Heath, Purley, Coulsdon South |
| Postcode districts | CR0, CR2, CR5, CR7, CR8, SE25, SE19, SW16 |
The Purley Way retail parks, the Whitgift Centre and Centrale and the car parks at the university hospital and the stations belong to their operators, who have to agree to the work first.
Station, retail park and industrial estate car parks are private land. The fitter can work there only if the owner or operator allows it, so check the signs or ask first. A driveway or a quiet, well lit residential street is usually the easiest place for the work.
The price is the same at any hour. It depends on the job, and we confirm it on the call before anyone sets off.
Whether we can come out depends on the diary, on where the vans are and on how far the car is from our base. 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.
Common sizes are often on the van; other sizes are sourced for the job. Late at night or on a bank holiday suppliers may be closed, so if the right tyre cannot be found, we tell you on the call so you can decide what to do next. A puncture is repaired where the damage allows it.
Do not wait on the carriageway or the verge of a motorway or a fast road. If the car can be moved safely, leave at the next exit and stop in a lit side road or car park. If it cannot, follow the Highway Code: hazard lights on, everyone out on the side away from the traffic and behind the barrier if there is one, use the emergency phone or call 999 if anyone is in danger, then call your breakdown cover. 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. We can help once the car is somewhere safe.
Try not to keep driving on a flat tyre. It can turn a repairable puncture into a tyre that has to be replaced, and it can damage the wheel.
The replacement has to be the size the car is built for, with a load index and speed rating at least as high as the maker specifies. All of it is printed on the sidewall of the old tyre, and most cars also have a sticker inside the driver's door or the fuel flap.
Tyres on the same axle should match: the same size and type, ideally the same model, so the car brakes and corners evenly. If the tyre on the other side of the axle is badly worn, it is worth replacing the pair, and we tell you what we find while the car is up.
Four-wheel-drive cars are more sensitive. Some makers ask for all four tyres to be close in tread depth to protect the transmission, so tell us on the call if the car is four-wheel drive.
Call or WhatsApp with where the car is, the registration and the tyre size from the sidewall.
You hear what the job involves and the options for your car. Nothing is booked until you say yes.
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.
Before the fitter leaves, the wheel is checked for security and the tyre pressure is set to the maker's figure.
“Arrived and was very kind and polite. Reassured me about changing the tyres and was quick and attentive straight away.”
“I urgently needed to replace my tyres and the team were prompt, friendly and efficient at a great price.”
“Fast and efficient, really good service, sociable guy.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
These are the neighbourhoods, postcode districts and main roads on record for this area. Whether we can take a particular job depends on the diary and the distance from our base, so the call always decides.
Yes, if the site allows it. Supermarket, retail park and station car parks are private ground, so the owner's permission comes first. Places of this kind in this area include:
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.
Night driving safety and your tyres
At night you spot hazards later, so grip matters more than ever. Here's how to drive safely after dark and why healthy tyres are your safety net.
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. The price is given on the call.
