On this road
| Road | A205 South Circular Road |
|---|---|
| Operator | Transport for London |
At its nearest measured point, the A205 South Circular is about 6 miles in a straight line from our only base at Brent Cross, NW2. We give you an arrival time when you call.
Emergency mobile tyre fitting near the A205 South Circular
Emergency mobile tyre fitting once you are safely off the main road: the whole job done where the car is parked, fitted in when the diary allows.
Safety first
Safety first
If a tyre fails and the car can still be driven safely, get it off the main road into a side street or a car park where the owner allows it. On a busy road or dual carriageway, do not try to change the wheel yourself; call your breakdown cover, or 999 if the car is somewhere dangerous. 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.
Road operator: Transport for London.
Transport for London runs the whole road as a red route. We cannot stop or work on a red route; the car needs to be on a side street or private ground first.
The road's junction list and the full Highway Code steps are on its main page, under Related pages below.
What happens
How emergency mobile tyre fitting works
Emergency mobile tyre fitting means the whole job is done where the car is, so it does not need to be driven or recovered to a garage. The fitter brings the equipment to take the tyre off the wheel, repair it or fit a new one, and balance the wheel at the kerb.
Tell us where the car is, the tyre size and what happened, and send a photo if you can. Urgent jobs are fitted in if the diary allows. The car must be somewhere safe and legal, such as a driveway, a quiet street or a car park where the owner allows it.
Before you call
When the car is parked somewhere safe and legal, such as a side street near the exit or a car park where the owner allows it, we can come to it. Tell us which junction you left at and where the car is now.
- The tyre size from the sidewall, for example 205/55 R16
- What happened: a puncture, a flat tyre, a burst, or a cut or bulge in the tyre
- Whether the car has locking wheel nuts, and where the key is
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.
Matching the replacement
The new tyre should match the size, load index and speed rating on the sidewall of the damaged one, or the figures in the handbook.
Some cars need a maker-approved tyre, shown by a marking such as a star for BMW or MO for Mercedes-Benz. A photo of the sidewall lets the right one be found.
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.
★★★★★
“Excellent service from start to finish. He came out quickly to help my mum change her tyre and was extremely friendly.”
EHEllie-Mai HalesGoogle review
★★★★★
“Quick, helpful and very understanding of our situation.”
EAEva AshmoreGoogle review
Questions
Questions drivers ask
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.
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.
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.
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.
Do you bring the tyre with you?
Common sizes are often on the van; other sizes are sourced for the job. Send the size from the sidewall when you call so the right tyre can be found.
Will a flat tyre need replacing?
Not always. If the damage is in the repair zone and the tyre was not driven flat, it may be repairable.
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
Pothole damaged your tyre? How to claim
Potholes wreck tyres and wheels. Here's how to claim for the damage in the UK, who's responsible for the road, and exactly what evidence you need.
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.