A burst tyre cannot be repaired, so the job is always a new tyre, fitted where the car is safely parked.
Kettering is about 61 miles in a straight line from our only base at Brent Cross, NW2 (further by road). We have 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. If the car is unsafe where it is, your breakdown cover may reach you sooner.
The A14 runs round the south and east of the town, with junctions 7 to 10. It is a National Highways road, so if the car stops on it, National Highways can be reached on 0300 123 5000.
We cannot work on the A14 or its slip roads, or beside the traffic on the A43, the A509 or the A6, so the car has to be moved or recovered to a side street, a drive or a car park whose owner allows the work first.
What the job includes
A new tyre in the right size, load index and speed rating
The wheel checked for cracks or bends after running on the road
The tyre on the other side of the axle checked while the car is up
Wheel balanced and nuts tightened to the maker's setting
Hold the steering wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator and let the car slow down. Do not brake hard.
When the car is under control, signal and move left, out of the traffic, and put the hazard lights on.
On a motorway, leave at the next exit if the car can get there. If not, stop on the hard shoulder or in an emergency area, get out by the left-hand doors and wait behind the barrier.
If you are stopped in a live lane and cannot get out safely, stay in the car with your seat belt on and call 999.
Do not change the wheel on the hard shoulder or next to moving traffic. Driving on a burst tyre can ruin the wheel, so move the car only as far as you must to get out of danger.
Burst tyre
What the fitter checks
BS AU 159, the British Standard for tyre repairs, allows a repair only to small holes in the central part of the tread. A blowout tears the casing, so the tyre is always replaced.
Before the new tyre goes on, the fitter checks the rim for bends and cracks. A tyre cannot safely be fitted to a damaged wheel; if we find one, we tell you so it can go to a wheel specialist. We do not repair wheels.
The tyre on the other side of the same axle is checked too. Tyres on one axle must be the same size and type, and should have a similar tread depth; if the other one is much more worn, you are told and you decide. The new tyre is fitted and balanced at the car.
Before you call
What to have ready when you call
Common sizes are often on the van; other sizes are sourced for the job. The price is the same at any hour. It depends on the tyre and is given on the call.
The tyre size from the sidewall, for example 205/55 R16 91V, or from the tyre on the other side of the axle if the burst one is unreadable.
Where the car is now.
Whether the car has locking wheel nuts, and where the key is.
Related help
Not quite your situation?
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.
“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!”
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★★★★★
“From start to finish, Hiwad was incredibly professional and helpful.”
KMKian MGoogle review
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“Faultless experience. Great communication, attitude and service.”
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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
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.
Yes, once it has been fitted somewhere safe off the road, never on the hard shoulder. Keep to the speed limit printed on the wheel or in the handbook. It is a temporary wheel, so the burst tyre still needs replacing.
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:
Kettering General Hospital
Newlands Shopping Centre
Telford Way industrial estate
Pytchley Lodge industrial estate
What should I do if a tyre bursts while I am driving?
Hold the wheel firmly, keep straight, ease off the accelerator and avoid braking hard. Once the car has slowed, brake gently and pull over where it is safe.
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.
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.
Is there any way to save a burst tyre?
No. A burst or a split sidewall destroys the structure of the tyre, so it is always replaced.
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.
Can you come to 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. If the car can be driven safely, leave at the next exit, stop away from traffic and then call.
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.
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