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
Flat tyre help near the M1
A flat tyre on a motorway is a safety problem before it is a tyre problem. 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. Once you are safely off the road, we come to the car from our only base at Brent Cross, NW2 1LX; the M1 starts at Staples Corner (J1), under half a mile from there. We give you an arrival time when you call.
Where we can work
Do not drive on a flat tyre
A tyre with little or no air can be ruined within a short distance and makes the car harder to steer and stop. If it deflates at speed, ease off, keep a firm hold of the wheel, and leave at the next exit or service area if you can reach it without risk. If you cannot, stop on the hard shoulder or in an emergency area as far left as possible, switch on the hazard lights, get out on the left and wait behind the barrier. Do not change the wheel yourself at the roadside. If you are stuck in a live lane, stay belted in and call 999; otherwise call your breakdown provider or National Highways on 0300 123 5000 (Highway Code rules 274 to 287).
Between J6a and J10 do not rely on a hard shoulder, and between J10 and J19 much of the motorway has emergency areas only.
Staying safe
What to look at once the car is parked safely
- Whether there is a nail, screw or other object in the tread, and roughly where: middle of the tread or near the edge.
- Any cut, bulge or split on the sidewall.
- Whether the tyre is completely flat or slowly losing air.
- Whether a sealant kit has been used, because the sealant has to be cleaned out before the tyre can be checked.
- The tyre size on the sidewall, for example 225/45 R17, and the locking wheel nut key if the car has one.
Repair or replace
Repair or a new tyre: decided at the wheel
A puncture can be repaired when the hole is in the central part of the tread and no wider than 6 mm. The tyre comes off the wheel and is checked from the inside first, because a tyre that has been driven while flat can be damaged inside even when the outside looks fine. Damage near the shoulder or in the sidewall, or a hole larger than that, means a new tyre. Common sizes are often on the van; other sizes are sourced for the job. The price depends on which it turns out to be and, for a new tyre, on the size and brand; we confirm it on the call.
Where we can work
Where we can meet you once you are off
We work wherever the car can be parked safely and legally after you leave the motorway: a side street, a driveway, or a car park when the owner allows. A service area such as London Gateway (between J2 and J4) is possible only if the operator allows the work.
Tell us the junction you left at; the M1 guide lists the junctions and what they serve.
Beyond J11 the trip gets much longer: Milton Keynes is about 40 miles from the base, Northampton about 54 and Rugby about 71. We have no base or van stationed that far north. Call and we will tell you straight away whether we can take the job; if the car is unsafe where it is, your breakdown cover may reach you sooner.
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.
What to tell us when you call
Say where the car is, whether it is safe where it is, the tyre size and whether there is a usable spare. A photo of the damage and of the size on the sidewall saves questions later.
If the car has locking wheel nuts, have the key ready.
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.
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.
★★★★★
“A pleasure having them come down and save me. Big shout out to Hiwad, really responsive, recommend him to anybody.”
AMAdam MorrisGoogle review
★★★★★
“Faultless experience. Great communication, attitude and service.”
BCBen CorrieGoogle review
Questions
Questions drivers ask
Can I fit the space-saver myself instead?
If you have a space-saver and can fit it somewhere safe off the motorway, that is a sensible choice. Keep to the speed limit printed on it and get the proper tyre sorted soon after.
Is a slow puncture worth a call?
Yes. A tyre losing air slowly is the best case for a repair, provided the damage is in the central tread and the tyre has not been driven flat.
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.
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.
Are you insured?
Yes. Rescue Tyres is fully insured, has fitted more than 2,000 tyres and is a UK registered company.
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.
Can a damaged tyre get me to the next exit?
If the car is controllable and the tyre is only losing air, driving slowly to the exit is usually safer than stopping beside fast traffic. A tyre that has burst or is flapping loose is different: stop as soon as it is safe.
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.
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.
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.
How far a run-flat will go
Tyre makers commonly quote up to 50 miles at no more than 50 mph after pressure loss, but the handbook has the final word.
Use that range to reach a safe place such as home or a car park, not to finish a long journey.
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.
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
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.
TPMS warning light: what it means and what to do
That horseshoe-shaped dashboard light is your tyre pressure monitoring system. Here's what it means, the steady vs flashing difference, and how to respond.
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).
Call to check we can take the job
Tell us where the car is
Stay safe, keep off the flat tyre and tell us where the car is. 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.