| What the fitter finds | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Hole up to 6 mm in the central part of the tread, inside sound | Repaired with a plug and patch from the inside |
| Damage in the sidewall or the shoulder | New tyre |
| Cut, tear or hole wider than 6 mm | New tyre |
| Inner wall damaged from running flat, or tread at 1.6 mm or less | New tyre |
Out-of-hours tyre repair near the M5
A puncture after dark or at a weekend can still be repaired if the damage is in the right place and the car has not been driven far on it flat. We repair tyres in the evening, at night, at weekends and on bank holidays when the diary allows, at the same price as a weekday job, once the car is parked off the M5.
Our only base is at Brent Cross, NW2 1LX, about 94 miles in a straight line from the M5 around Longbridge and Frankley, with no base or van stationed nearby. 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.
On the road
Before anything else: off the motorway
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. Leave at the next junction, or use Frankley services between J3 and J4, if the car will get there. Between J4a and J6 there is no hard shoulder, only emergency areas: if you cannot reach one, move as far left as you can with the hazard lights on, stay in the car with your seat belt on if it is not safe to get out, and call 999. Elsewhere, stop on the hard shoulder, leave by the left-hand doors and wait behind the barrier. If the car is unsafe where it is, your breakdown cover may reach you sooner.
Every mile on a flat tyre makes a repair less likely, because the inner wall breaks down. Once the car is parked, leave it there.
Repair or replace
Repair or replace: what decides it
The fitter takes the tyre off the rim and checks it from the inside before deciding.
If it has to be a new tyre, common sizes are often on the van; other sizes are sourced for the job, and out of hours that is harder, so the size helps us tell you on the call whether the job can be finished.
Where we can work
Where the car can be for the repair
The fitter needs room to park beside the car on firm, level ground: a side street where parking is allowed, a car park whose owner agrees, or Frankley services if the operator, Moto, allows it. Junctions J1 to J5 lead to West Bromwich, Oldbury, Halesowen, Quinton, Bromsgrove and Droitwich, so there are ordinary streets close to each exit.
Have the locking wheel nut key ready if the car has one, and tell us if you have used a tyre sealant, because the sealant has to be cleaned out before a repair.
Out of hours
Tyre trouble in the evening or at the weekend
We work evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays when the diary allows, at the same price as a weekday job. 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.
★★★★★
“Had two tyres replaced and was really impressed. Friendly and efficient, job completed quickly. Highly recommend!”
PNPegah NourmandGoogle review
★★★★★
“Faultless experience. Great communication, attitude and service.”
BCBen CorrieGoogle review
Questions
Questions drivers ask
Does a repair at night cost more than in the day?
No. It depends on whether the tyre can be repaired or needs replacing, and you are told it on the call before the fitter sets off.
Can a puncture near the edge of the tyre be repaired?
No. Under BS AU 159 only the central part of the tread can be repaired. Damage in the shoulder or the sidewall means a new tyre.
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.
How soon can the fitter get to me?
It depends on how far the car is from our only base at Brent Cross, NW2, and on the jobs already booked. We give you an arrival time when you call.
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.
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.
Can I claim for pothole damage?
You may be able to claim from the council or the authority that looks after the road. Note the location, photograph the pothole and the tyre, and keep the receipt.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.