- Hold the steering wheel firmly and keep the car straight.
- Do not brake hard. Ease off the accelerator and let the car slow down.
- When it is under control, signal and move left. Leave at the next exit or pull into a service area if the car can get there safely.
- If it cannot, stop on the hard shoulder or in an emergency area, get out by the left-hand doors and wait behind the barrier.
- Call National Highways on 0300 123 5000 or your breakdown provider. If the car is stuck in a live lane, call 999.
Burst tyre replacement after a blowout on the M25
We fit replacement tyres at the car from one base at Brent Cross, NW2 1LX. The nearest junctions on the M25 are about 8 miles away in a straight line, and the far side of the ring is a longer trip. Once the car is parked safely off the motorway, call. 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
When a tyre bursts at motorway speed
The Highway Code asks you not to attempt even a simple repair on the hard shoulder, so do not fit the spare there. 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
A burst tyre is replaced, not repaired
Once a tyre has burst, its structure is damaged and no repair is safe. The fitter takes the old tyre off, fits and inflates a new one, and refits the wheel to the correct torque. Common sizes are often on the van; other sizes are sourced for the job, so the tyre size from the sidewall (or from the other tyre on the same axle) is the first thing we ask for.
Tyre help
What else the fitter checks
If anything else is wrong, the fitter tells you before doing more work.
- The wheel rim, for cracks, bends or a damaged bead seat. A cracked or badly bent wheel has to be dealt with before a new tyre can go on it safely.
- The tyre on the other side of the same axle, for tread depth and damage, since the two should match in size and be in similar condition.
- The valve, which is checked and normally replaced when a new tyre goes on.
Staying safe
Where the car can wait for the fitter
A side road near the junction you left at, a car park whose owner allows the work, or a motorway service area if the operator allows it. If the car has to be recovered first, tell us where it ends up and we will say whether we can come there. Cars cannot wait in the Dartford Tunnels northbound or on the QEII Bridge southbound.
The price is the same in the evening, at weekends and on bank holidays as on a weekday.
Burst and damaged tyres
When a tyre is beyond repair
A tyre that has burst, split or been cut on the sidewall is beyond any repair, so the answer is a new tyre. What matters first is getting the car to a safe place without driving on the damaged tyre for longer than you have to.
Bulges, cuts and kerb damage
A bulge on the sidewall means cords inside the tyre have broken and air is pushing the rubber outwards. It can fail without warning, so the tyre should be replaced rather than driven on.
Cuts deep enough to show the cords, cracking around the bead and damage from a hard kerb strike are also replacement jobs.
Pothole damage and making a claim
If a pothole caused the damage, note the exact location, photograph the hole and the tyre, and keep the receipt for the new tyre.
Claims go to whoever looks after the road: National Highways for motorways and major A roads in England, and the local council for most other roads.
What a damaged tyre replacement includes
- Damaged tyre removed and the rim checked for bends or cracks
- Replacement matched to the size, load index and speed rating
- New tyre balanced on the wheel before it goes back on
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.
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. 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.
★★★★★
“Arrived and was very kind and polite. Reassured me about changing the tyres and was quick and attentive straight away.”
EBEliza BarclayGoogle review
★★★★★
“Amazingly fast, polite and saved my day.”
YOYvonne OphausGoogle review
Questions
Questions drivers ask
Can I drive on a space saver until you arrive?
A space saver is for a short distance at reduced speed; the limit is printed on the wheel or in the handbook. Fit it only somewhere safe off the motorway, never on the hard shoulder.
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.
Is a bulge in the sidewall dangerous?
Yes. A bulge means the internal cords have broken and the tyre can fail without warning. Do not drive on it further than you need to reach a safe place.
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.
Do you charge more 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.
Are you insured?
Yes. Rescue Tyres is fully insured, has fitted more than 2,000 tyres and is a UK registered company.
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.
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.
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.
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. 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
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
A blowout at speed is frightening but survivable if you react correctly. Here's exactly what to do, why braking is dangerous, and how to prevent the next one.
Is sidewall tyre damage repairable?
Bulge, cut or crack in your tyre's sidewall? Here's why sidewall damage almost always means a new tyre, what causes it, and why it's so dangerous.
Tyre blowouts: causes and prevention
Most tyre blowouts are preventable. Here are the main causes, the simple monthly checks that stop them, and what to do if one happens anyway.
Call or WhatsApp us
Tell us where the car is
Get the car somewhere safe, send a photo of the damage and the size, and the new tyre comes to the car. Tell us what has happened and the make and model of the vehicle. We give you an arrival time when you call.