- the hole is in the central tread area, not near the edge or in the sidewall
- the hole is no more than 6 mm across
- the inside of the tyre has not been damaged by running flat
- there is no earlier repair overlapping the new one
Out-of-hours puncture repair off the M25
Rescue Tyres works from one base at Brent Cross, NW2 1LX, and the nearest junctions on the M25 are about 8 miles away in a straight line. We work evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays when the diary allows, at the same price as a weekday job.
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. Once the car is parked safely off it, call and we tell you whether we can come out and give you an arrival time on the call.
On the road
Get off the motorway before anything else
A puncture can show as a warning light, a pull to one side or a soft, heavy feel in the steering. If the car is still under control, leave at the next exit or pull into a service area, as the Highway Code asks. Driving a long way on a tyre that has gone flat can damage it from the inside, and then it cannot be repaired.
If you have to stop on the hard shoulder or in an emergency area, get out by the left-hand doors, wait behind the barrier and call your breakdown provider, or 999 if you are in danger. We cannot come to you there.
Between J23 and J27, the stretch closest to us, and between J5 and J7, there is no hard shoulder, only emergency areas; if you cannot reach an exit or an emergency area, move left, hazard lights on, and call 999 if you cannot get out safely.
Staying safe
Is a repair safe, or does it need a new tyre?
The tyre comes off the wheel so the fitter can check the inside as well as the outside. A repair is possible when:
If any of these fail, the safe answer is a new tyre, and the fitter tells you why before fitting one. Run-flat tyres follow the tyre maker's guidance, and some makers do not allow a repair at all.
Repair or replace
Repairs in the evening, overnight and at weekends
We fit urgent jobs in if the diary allows, and as we run more than one van, it helps if one is already out this way. We do not promise a slot we cannot keep: if we cannot take the job, we say so on the call, and your breakdown cover may then be the better route.
The price is the same at any hour.
Before you call
What to have ready when you ring
- the junction you left at and where the car is parked now
- the tyre size from the sidewall
- the locking wheel nut key, if the car has locking nuts (look in the glovebox or the boot)
- whether the tyre went fully flat and how far you drove on it
- whether a space saver is already on the car
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.
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.
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.
★★★★★
“I urgently needed to replace my tyres and the team were prompt, friendly and efficient at a great price.”
JIJisoo ImGoogle review
★★★★★
“Fast and reliable.”
KSKhurram ShehzadGoogle review
Questions
Questions drivers ask
Does a repair cost more at night?
No. The price is the same at any hour, so a night, weekend or bank holiday repair costs the same as a weekday one.
Can I drive to the next exit on a puncture?
If the tyre still holds some air and the car steers normally, driving slowly to the next exit or service area is safer than stopping on the motorway. If the tyre is fully flat or the car is hard to control, stop as the Highway Code describes and call for help.
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.
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 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.
Do you bring the tyre with you?
Common sizes are often on the van; other sizes are sourced for the job. Send the size from the sidewall when you call so the right tyre can be found.
What if I stop on a smart motorway?
Use an emergency area if you can reach one; they are marked with blue signs and an orange SOS phone. If the car stops in a live lane and getting out is not safe, everyone stays belted in with the hazard lights on while you dial 999.
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. 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 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.