Surbiton, New Malden, Tolworth or Chessington: wherever the car is safely parked in the borough, a locking nut without a working key can be taken off at the wheel, and the tyre dealt with on the same visit if it needs it.
Kingston upon Thames is about 12 miles in a straight line from our only base at Brent Cross, NW2. We give you an arrival time when you call.
We cannot stop or work on a red route; the car needs to be on a side street or private ground first. In this borough that means the A3 Kingston bypass, including Robin Hood Way and the Tolworth and Hook stretches.
If the car is in a controlled parking zone permit bay, tell us so the fitter can park legally beside it.
The Bentall Centre, Kingston Hospital, Kingston University, the stations and the Wyvern, Rainbow and St George's industrial estates all manage private parking. The owner's permission comes first there.
A drive, a residents' bay or a quiet side street in Surbiton, Berrylands, Norbiton, Coombe, Kingston Hill, Kingston Vale, Old Malden, Hook or Chessington gives the fitter level ground and room around the wheel.
Removing a locking nut defeats a security device, so the fitter may ask to see the V5C logbook, or your ID with something linking you to the car. If neither can be shown, we may not be able to go ahead, so have them ready.
Once the nuts are off you choose what goes back on: standard wheel nuts or bolts, or a new locking set with its own key.
The price depends on how many locking nuts need removing and whether you want standard nuts or a new locking set, plus any tyre work. It is confirmed on the call before anyone sets off, and it does not change in the evening or at the weekend.
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Postcode districts | KT1, KT2, KT3, KT4, KT5, KT6, KT9 |
| Main roads | A3 Kingston bypass, A240 Ewell Road, A307 Portsmouth Road, A308 Kingston Hill and Kingston Bridge, A243 Hook Road |
| Areas | Surbiton, New Malden, Chessington, Norbiton, Tolworth, Berrylands, Hook, Kingston Vale, Coombe, Old Malden, Kingston Hill |
Most cars with locking wheel nuts have one on each wheel, with a patterned head that only its matching key will turn. The key is a small socket that fits between the nut and the wheel brace. Without it the wheel cannot come off, so a lost or broken key turns a simple puncture into a bigger job.
Each key has a code, usually on a small card that came with the car or stamped on the key itself. With the code, a replacement key can often be ordered from a dealer or the lock maker, which is worth doing if the wheel does not need to come off urgently.
A nut can also be damaged: the pattern rounds off when the wrong tool or an impact gun is used, or the key snaps inside the nut. In those cases the key would not help even if it turned up, and the nut has to be removed.
Every wheel nut is tightened to the maker's setting with a torque wrench. It is good practice to have the nuts checked again after the first short drive following any wheel work, as alloy wheels can settle slightly.
If you want locking nuts again, a new set can be fitted later. Keep the new key in the glovebox and note the key code somewhere outside the car, such as on your phone, so a replacement key can be ordered if it goes missing.
Tell us whether the key is lost, broken or rounded off. A clear photo of one of the nuts helps.
You hear what the job involves and the options for your car. Nothing is booked until you say yes.
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.
Before the fitter leaves, the wheel is checked for security and the tyre pressure is set to the maker's figure.
If the key turns up but does not fit, or it slips on the nut, stop rather than force it: a rounded nut is harder to remove.
The previous owner, or the dealer that sold the car, may still have the key or its code, so a call to them can be worth it if the wheel can wait.
“Had two tyres replaced and was really impressed. Friendly and efficient, job completed quickly. Highly recommend!”
“I urgently needed to replace my tyres and the team were prompt, friendly and efficient at a great price.”
“Very quick and efficient service.”
These are the neighbourhoods, postcode districts and main roads on record for this area. Whether we can take a particular job depends on the diary and the distance from our base, so the call always decides.
Yes, if the site allows it. Supermarket, retail park and station car parks are private ground, so the owner's permission comes first. Places of this kind in this area include:
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Tell us the make, model and registration, and whether you have the key code card. The price is given on the call.
