- the hole is in the central area of the tread, not in the sidewall or near the edge;
- it is no bigger than 6 mm;
- the inside of the tyre is undamaged when it is taken off the wheel and checked;
- the tyre has legal tread left.
Out-of-hours tyre repair near the M6
We work evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays when the diary allows, at the same price as a weekday job. But this road is a long way from us. The M6 at junction 1, near Rugby, is about 72 miles in a straight line from our only base at Brent Cross, NW2, and we have no base or van stationed in the Midlands. 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
Off the motorway before anything else
If a tyre loses air on the M6, ease off, hold the wheel firmly and leave at the next exit or pull into a service area if the car can still be driven safely. If you cannot, stop in an emergency area or on the hard shoulder where there is one, put the hazard lights on, get everyone out by the left-hand doors and wait behind the barrier. Parts of the M6 are smart motorway with no hard shoulder: if you are stuck in a live lane, stay in the car with your seat belt on and call 999. 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.
Repair or replace
Which punctures can be repaired at the car
A repair is only safe when:
A tyre driven flat on a motorway can fail the inside check, because the sidewall is crushed as it turns. If the tyre cannot be repaired, it needs replacing. Common sizes are often on the van; other sizes are sourced for the job, and out of hours that may not be possible.
Tyre help
What helps when you call from the Midlands
With that we can tell you honestly whether the trip is possible and what it would cost. The price is the same at any hour.
- the junction you left at and where the car is parked now;
- whether the car is on a street, at home, or in a car park, and whether the owner allows work there (motorway services only if the operator allows it);
- the tyre size from the sidewall;
- Whether the car has locking wheel nuts, and where the key is.
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.
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.
★★★★★
“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
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.
Are you insured?
Yes. Rescue Tyres is fully insured, has fitted more than 2,000 tyres and is a UK registered company.
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.
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.
What if the car is in a car park that closes overnight?
Check the closing time and tell us on the call. If the car would be locked in before the job is done, it may be simpler to sort the tyre when the car park opens again.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.