| Junction | Serves |
|---|---|
| M6 J2 | M6 for Birmingham and Rugby, A4600 Coventry, Walsgrave, Ansty |
| J1 | A5 Hinckley, Nuneaton, Tamworth, Lutterworth |
| J2 | B4669 Burbage, Hinckley east, Sapcote |
| M1 J21 | M1 for London and the north, A5460 Leicester, Fosse Park, Narborough |
Out-of-hours tyre fitting near the M69
The motorway between Coventry and Leicester is a long way from us. Its Coventry end, at M6 J2, is about 78 miles in a straight line from our only base at Brent Cross, NW2 1LX, and Hinckley about 82. We have no base or van stationed in the Midlands.
Call once you are safely off the motorway. 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. If the car is unsafe where it is, your breakdown cover may reach you sooner.
On the road
Getting off the motorway safely in the dark
If a tyre fails, hold the wheel firmly, slow down gently and switch on the hazard lights. If the car still steers, leave at the next junction. If you have to stop on the motorway, pull as far left as you can, get out by the left-hand door if it is safe, and wait behind the barrier, well away from the traffic. If you stop in a live lane, stay belted in and call 999.
National Highways looks after this motorway and takes calls on 0300 123 5000. Do not attempt a wheel change on the motorway, especially after dark. These steps follow Highway Code rules 274 to 287. 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
What out-of-hours help means from us
We work evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays when the diary allows, at the same price as a weekday job. We do not promise cover at every moment, and for a car this far from our base the honest answer on some calls will be that we cannot take it. We give you an arrival time when you call.
Common sizes are often on the van; other sizes are sourced for the job. Tell us the size on the call and we will say whether we can get that tyre for you.
On the road
Junctions between Coventry and Leicester
Once off, the car needs to be on a side street where it is legally parked, in a car park whose owner allows the work, or at your home or workplace.
Tyre help
Before you ring
A puncture in the central part of the tread, no wider than 6 mm, can be repaired once the tyre has been checked from the inside. Other damage means a new tyre. We confirm the price on the call before anyone sets off.
- The junction you left at and the postcode or street where the car is now
- The tyre size from the sidewall, for example 225/45 R17
- The locking wheel nut key, if the car has locking nuts
- What happened: a slow puncture, a sudden loss of air, a cut or a bulge
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.
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
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.
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Questions
Questions drivers ask
Do you charge more in the evening or at the weekend?
No. The price is the same as a weekday job, whatever day you call.
Should I call my breakdown cover instead?
If the car is somewhere unsafe, or if we tell you we cannot take the job, yes. We are a long way from this motorway and will say so honestly on the call.
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.
Can you work on the street outside my house?
Yes, if it is legal to park there and the car is not blocking traffic. A quiet residential street is usually fine; a busy main road or a red route is not.
Can a damaged tyre get me to the next exit?
If the car is controllable and the tyre is only losing air, driving slowly to the exit is usually safer than stopping beside fast traffic. A tyre that has burst or is flapping loose is different: stop as soon as it is safe.
Is it safe to change a wheel on the hard shoulder?
No. The advice in the Highway Code is to keep well away from the vehicle and the traffic and not to attempt any repairs there.
Pricing
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. The price is the same at any hour. 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
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
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.
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).
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 we can take the job
Tell us where the car is
Call to check what the diary allows this evening or this weekend.