Oxford is about 46 miles in a straight line from our only base at Brent Cross, NW2 (further by road). 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.
Cut, split or bulging tyres replaced where the car is parked
A tyre with a cut, a bulge, a split, exposed cords or sidewall damage is not safe to repair, so it is replaced. A bulge means the inner structure is broken and the tyre can fail without warning, so it is safest not to drive on it.
Common sizes are often on the van; other sizes are sourced for the job, and we tell you on the call which applies to yours. The fitter fits the new tyre at the car and balances the wheel. The fitter also checks the wheel for damage from the same kerb or pothole and looks at the tyre on the other side of the axle: tyres on the same axle must be the same size and type, and should have a similar tread depth. If both need changing, we tell you before any work starts. Our main damaged tyre page, linked below, has more detail.
If the car is parked at home or at work, the fitter can usually change the tyre there, on a driveway, in a legal space on a quiet street or in a car park whose owner allows it. If you can see a bulge, leave the car where it is rather than driving it anywhere.
What the job includes
A look at the damage, from a photo on WhatsApp if you can send one
A new tyre in the right size, load index and speed rating
The wheel checked for damage from the same impact
Wheel balanced and nuts tightened to the maker's setting
The tyre size from the sidewall, for example 225/45 R17
What the damage looks like: a cut, a bulge, a split or exposed cords
Where the car is: a postcode or the nearest road
Whether the car has locking wheel nuts, and where the key is
A photo of the damage on WhatsApp, if you can send one
Not quite your situation?
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.
Keep your phone on and charged, and tell us about anything that makes the spot hard to find.
Tyre failure on a motorway
If the car can still be driven safely, carry on to the next exit or services and stop away from traffic before you call.
If you cannot leave, use an emergency area or the hard shoulder, stop well to the left and, if it is safe to, get out on the side away from the traffic.
Wait behind the barrier, not in the car. Rule 277 of the Highway Code says not to attempt any repairs on your vehicle on a motorway.
Call 999 if you are in danger or stuck in a live lane. Otherwise National Highways can be reached on 0300 123 5000.
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.
Damaged tyres
Bulges, cuts and splits: what the law says
The rules on tyre condition are in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. They apply to every tyre fitted to the car's wheels, and a damaged tyre carries the same penalty as a bald one: for a car, a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points can be given for each tyre.
A car tyre is not legal to use when it has:
A lump, bulge or tear caused by the structure of the tyre failing
Any ply or cord showing
A cut longer than 25 mm or 10% of the tyre's width, whichever is greater, deep enough to reach the ply or cord
Less than 1.6 mm of tread across the central three-quarters, all the way round
Potholes and kerbs do much of this damage. A hard knock can break the cords inside the sidewall without marking the outside, and the bulge may only show days later, so it is worth looking at a tyre again after any heavy impact.
Step by step
From your call to the finished job
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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. A photo of the damage helps find the right replacement.
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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.
Tyre sizes
How to read the size on the sidewall
The size is moulded into the sidewall as a line such as 205/55 R16 91V. Reading it out on the call, or sending a photo of it on WhatsApp, is the most useful thing you can do before the fitter sets off.
What each part means:
205 is the width of the tyre in millimetres
55 is the profile: the sidewall height as a percentage of the width
R means radial construction, and 16 is the wheel diameter in inches
91 is the load index, the weight each tyre can carry (91 means 615 kg)
V is the speed rating, the highest speed the tyre is built for
Elsewhere on the sidewall, at the end of the DOT code, is a four-digit date code such as 2423, which means the tyre was made in the 24th week of 2023. Tyres age even when they are not used, so an old spare is worth checking before it is relied on.
“Had two tyres replaced and was really impressed. Friendly and efficient, job completed quickly. Highly recommend!”
PNPegah NourmandGoogle review
★★★★★
“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
★★★★★
“Good and reliable service in all conditions.”
LOLeo OduorGoogle review
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 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
Around the area
Neighbourhoods, roads and nearby towns
These are the neighbourhoods, postcode districts and main roads on record for this area. Whether we can take a particular job depends on the diary and the distance from our base, so the call always decides.
Can the fitter work in a hospital, station or retail park car park?
Yes, if the site allows it. Supermarket, retail park and station car parks are private ground, so the owner's permission comes first. Places of this kind in this area include:
John Radcliffe Hospital
Oxford railway station
Kassam Stadium
Thornhill park and ride
Seacourt park and ride
Will the wheel be damaged too?
It can be. The rim is inspected with the tyre off, and you are told if it is bent or cracked before the new tyre is fitted.
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.
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.
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.
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 fit tyres at my workplace?
Yes, if the site is happy for the work to be done there and there is room around the wheel. Tell us the address and where the car is parked on site.
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