On this road
| Road | A406 North Circular Road |
|---|---|
| Operator | Transport for London |
At its nearest measured point, the A406 North Circular is about 0.1 miles in a straight line from our only base at Brent Cross, NW2. We give you an arrival time when you call.
Flat tyre help near the A406 North Circular
Help with a flat tyre once you are safely off the main road: we find the cause, then repair the tyre if it is safe to, or replace it.
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.
The North Circular has no hard shoulder anywhere between the Chiswick roundabout and Beckton, and Transport for London runs the whole road as a red route: no stopping on the carriageway, slip roads or underpasses except in a breakdown.
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 flat tyre help works
A flat tyre is not always a simple puncture. The cause can be a nail or screw, a damaged valve, a leak where the tyre meets the rim, or a bent wheel. Once the car is off the main road and parked somewhere safe and legal, do not drive it any further on the flat: a short distance can ruin the sidewall and turn a repairable puncture into a replacement.
The fitter finds the cause, then repairs the tyre if the damage allows it. If not, we tell you and quote a replacement.
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 195/65 R15
- Whether you can see a nail, a cut or damage to the wheel
- Whether the car has locking wheel nuts, and where the key is
Flat tyre
Dealing with a flat tyre safely
A flat tyre can come from a puncture, a damaged valve, a tyre pushed off its bead by a kerb or a split in the sidewall. The first job is to stop somewhere safe and not drive any further on it than you must.
Driving on a flat
Driving on a flat, even slowly, damages the tyre and can bend or crack the wheel. A short distance is often enough to turn a repairable puncture into a tyre that has to be replaced.
Get to the nearest place where it is safe to stop, switch the hazard lights on and stop there.
Tyre pressure warning lights
A tyre pressure warning light means the system has detected a drop in pressure in one or more tyres. Check all four by eye and with a gauge before driving further.
A light that flashes when the car starts and then stays on usually points to a fault in the system itself rather than a tyre.
What flat tyre help includes
- The cause found with the tyre off the rim
- A repair if the damage allows it, or a new tyre if not
- Valve checked and pressure set before the wheel 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.
- If the tyre may still be repairable, say so before using a sealant can, and leave any nail or screw where it is.
- 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. Say whether there is a usable spare.
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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.
★★★★★
“I urgently needed to replace my tyres and the team were prompt, friendly and efficient at a great price.”
JIJisoo ImGoogle review
★★★★★
“Quick, helpful and very understanding of our situation.”
EAEva AshmoreGoogle review
Questions
Questions drivers ask
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.
How far can I drive on a flat tyre?
Ideally nowhere. Even a short distance can destroy the tyre and damage the wheel, so stop as soon as it is safe to.
The pressure light is on but the tyre looks fine. What should I do?
Measure the pressures with a gauge before going further. A modern tyre can lose a lot of pressure before it looks flat.
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.
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.
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.
My spare is flat or missing. What now?
Many newer cars have no spare at all. A repair or a new tyre can be done at the car without one.
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
Run-flat tyres
Run-flat tyres
A run-flat tyre has a reinforced sidewall that carries the car for a limited distance with little or no air. Because the car can feel normal, the tyre pressure warning light may be the only sign that something is wrong.
How to tell if you have run-flats
Look near the size on the sidewall for markings such as RFT, SSR, ROF, ZP or RSC in a circle.
Cars on run-flats often have no spare wheel at all, so check under the boot floor and in the handbook.
Can a run-flat be repaired?
Sometimes, but less often than a standard tyre. TyreSafe does not recommend repairing run-flats, and some tyre makers advise against it, especially after the tyre has been driven without air.
The tyre comes off the rim and is checked against the maker's guidance before a repair is even considered.
Never mix run-flat and standard tyres
Run-flat and standard tyres should not be mixed on the same car.
Switching all four to standard tyres is possible on some cars, but it leaves you unable to drive on after a puncture, so check the handbook first.
What a run-flat job includes
- Correct run-flat in your size, load index and speed rating
- Inspection inside the tyre before any repair is considered
- Advice on maker markings such as RSC and the star
Helpful guides
Tyre advice worth reading
Is it safe to drive on a flat tyre?
Driving on a flat tyre is dangerous and can wreck your wheel. Here's what happens, what to do instead, and how far you can safely go (almost nowhere).
Spare wheel vs tyre repair kit: which is better?
Many new cars come with a sealant kit instead of a spare wheel. Here's the difference, the pros and cons of each, and what to do if you have neither.
Spare wheel maintenance and checks
The spare is the most forgotten tyre on the car, and often flat when you need it. Here's how to check and look after your spare, plus space-saver rules.
Call or WhatsApp us
Tell us where the car is
Stay safe, keep off the flat tyre and tell us where the car is. Tell us what has happened and the make and model of the vehicle.