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
Emergency tyre replacement near the M40
A burst, split or flattened tyre needs replacing, not repairing. We never work on the motorway or hard shoulder, so first get off the road safely. Junction 1 at Denham is about 11 miles in a straight line from our only base at Brent Cross, NW2 1LX; Oxford is about 46 miles and Warwick about 76, where we have no base or van, so call and we will tell you straight away whether we can take the job. We give you an arrival time when you call. If the car is unsafe where it is, your breakdown cover may reach you sooner.
Staying safe
Safety before the tyre
If a tyre fails at speed, hold the wheel firmly and ease off. Leave at the next junction or service area if you can do so safely. If not, stop as far left as you can, switch on the hazard lights, get out by the left-hand doors and wait behind the barrier. Do not change the wheel at the side of the motorway. Call your breakdown provider or National Highways on 0300 123 5000, or 999 if you are stranded in a live lane (Highway Code rules 274 to 287).
We come to the car once it is parked safely and legally: a side street, a driveway, the address it was recovered to, or a car park whose owner allows the work.
Repair or replace
Getting the right replacement tyre
The size is printed on the sidewall as a code such as 225/45 R17 94W: width, profile and rim size, then the load index and speed rating. A photo of the sidewall gives us all of it. Tell us too if the tyre is a run-flat, or if the car has locking wheel nuts and where the key is.
Common sizes are often on the van; other sizes are sourced for the job, which can mean the fitting is booked for later, and we tell you that on the call. The price depends on the size and brand you choose and is confirmed on the call.
Tyre help
Run-flats and matching the axle
A run-flat tyre can be driven a limited distance after losing pressure, at the speed and distance in the car's handbook. Most makers advise replacing a run-flat that has been driven flat rather than repairing it, because the sidewall can be damaged where it cannot be seen. Many cars on run-flats carry no spare, so tell us on the call.
Tyres on the same axle should match in size and construction. If the other tyre on that axle is badly worn, we tell you, and the choice of whether to replace both is yours.
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.
If a tyre bursts while you are driving
Hold the steering wheel firmly and keep the car straight. Do not brake hard: ease off the accelerator and let the car slow down, then brake gently once it is under control.
Indicate, move to the side when it is safe and switch the hazard lights on.
Checking the wheel as well as the tyre
A burst or a hard pothole strike can bend or crack the rim. With the tyre off, the fitter looks at the bead seat and the rim edge before the new tyre goes on.
A badly bent or cracked wheel cannot hold a tyre safely, and if that is the case you hear about it before the job goes further.
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.
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
→
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.
→
Agree what happens next
You hear what the job involves and the options for your car. Nothing is booked until you say yes.
→
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.
★★★★★
“Had two tyres replaced and was really impressed. Friendly and efficient, job completed quickly. Highly recommend!”
PNPegah NourmandGoogle review
★★★★★
“A pleasure having them come down and save me. Big shout out to Hiwad, really responsive, recommend him to anybody.”
AMAdam MorrisGoogle review
Questions
Questions drivers ask
Can I drive on the space-saver until you arrive?
Yes, at or below the speed limit printed on the space-saver, and only as far as you need to. Tell us where the car will be and we will say on the call whether we can come there and when.
Is an emergency job charged extra at weekends?
No. The price is the same at any hour, on weekdays, weekends and bank holidays.
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.
What if the tyre needs replacing rather than repairing?
You are told before anything else is done, with the reason and the options for a new tyre in your size. Nothing changes until you agree.
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.
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.
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
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.
Buckled alloy wheel: the signs and the fix
A buckled wheel causes vibration, slow air loss and uneven wear. Here's how to spot one, how it differs from a balance problem, and whether it can be repaired.
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 to check we can take the job
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. 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.