On this road
| Road | A205 South Circular Road |
|---|---|
| Operator | Transport for London |
At its nearest measured point, the A205 South Circular is about 6 miles in a straight line from our only base at Brent Cross, NW2. We give you an arrival time when you call.
Out-of-hours tyre repair near the A205 South Circular
Tyre repair at the car once you are safely off the main road. We work evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays when the diary allows, at the same price as a weekday job.
What happens
Can it be repaired out of hours?
A repair in the evening, at night or at the weekend is held to the same standard as one in the day. Sealant from a can, or a plug pushed in from outside, is not a repair to that standard.
Damage in the sidewall or the shoulder, or a tyre that has been driven on while flat, cannot be repaired, and the tyre needs replacing. We tell you before any work is done. If the right tyre cannot be found, we tell you so you can decide what to do next.
What to have ready when you call
When the car is parked somewhere safe and legal, such as a side street near the exit or a car park where the owner allows it, we can come to it. Tell us which junction you left at and where the car is now.
- Where the damage is: the middle of the tread, or near the edge or sidewall
- Whether the tyre is already flat or losing air slowly
- The tyre size from the sidewall, for example 205/55 R16 91V
- Where the car is waiting: a postcode, a street name or the name of the car park
- The locking wheel nut key, if the car has locking nuts
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.
Waiting safely after dark
Park with the hazard lights on and, if you have one, wear a high-visibility vest. Wait away from the traffic side of the car, ideally behind a barrier or on a pavement, and keep your phone charged.
If you feel unsafe where the car is, wait somewhere nearby that is open and lit, and tell us where to find you.
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 the price depends on
The price depends on the tyre and the work, not on the clock. The price is the same at any hour.
The price is given on the call.
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.
★★★★★
“Good communication, excellent work and takes the initiative. Happy to go the extra mile, highly recommended if you're in a tyre-related bit of bother!”
DFDavid FordhamGoogle review
★★★★★
“Faultless experience. Great communication, attitude and service.”
BCBen CorrieGoogle review
Questions
Questions drivers ask
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.
Can I bring the car to you instead?
No. Rescue Tyres is fully mobile and works from one base at Brent Cross, NW2, which is not open to walk-in customers. The fitter comes to the car.
What if the tyre needs replacing rather than repairing?
You are told before anything else is done, with the reason and the options for a new tyre in your size. Nothing changes until you agree.
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.
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.
Do out-of-hours jobs include puncture repairs?
Yes. The repair-or-replace decision does not change out of hours: if the damage is outside the safe repair limits, the answer is a new tyre.
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.
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.
Safety first
Safety first
If a tyre fails and the car can still be driven safely, get it off the main road into a side street or a car park where the owner allows it. On a busy road or 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.
Road operator: Transport for London.
Transport for London runs the whole road as a red route. We cannot stop or work on a red route; the car needs to be on a side street or private ground first.
The road's junction list and the full Highway Code steps are on its main page, under Related pages below.
Helpful guides
Tyre advice worth reading
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.
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 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.