About this road
| Meets | A406 North Circular |
|---|
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.
Tyre failure on the A205 South Circular
If a tyre fails on the A205 South Circular, your safety comes first and the tyre second. 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 the car is safely off the road, we can come to it.
Before anything else
If a tyre fails on the A205 South Circular
- Hold the steering wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator and do not brake hard.
- If 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.
- If you have to stop, pull as far from the traffic as you can and switch on the hazard warning lights, and the sidelights too if it is dark or visibility is poor.
- Get everyone out on the side away from the traffic and wait somewhere safe, behind a barrier if there is one.
- If it is safe, put a warning triangle at least 45 metres behind the car on the same side of the road.
- On a busy dual carriageway, do not try to change the wheel yourself.
If the car is stuck somewhere dangerous, call your breakdown cover, or 999 in an emergency.
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.
This advice follows the Highway Code rules on breakdowns and incidents (rules 274 to 287). Read the rules on GOV.UK.
Junction by junction
Junctions and what they serve
| Junction | What it serves |
|---|---|
| Woolwich (A206) | Woolwich town centre, Woolwich Ferry, A206 Plumstead Road |
| Well Hall roundabout, Eltham | A2 Rochester Way, Eltham High Street, Eltham station |
| Catford gyratory | A21 Bromley Road and Lewisham, Catford and Catford Bridge stations |
| Forest Hill | Forest Hill station, London Road, Sydenham |
| Dulwich Common | Lordship Lane, Dulwich Village, Dulwich College |
| Tulse Hill | A204 Tulse Hill, A215 Norwood Road, Tulse Hill station, West Norwood |
| Clapham Common South Side | A24 Clapham South, Balham, Clapham Common |
| Wandsworth (A3 and Trinity Road) | A3 Wandsworth High Street, Southside shopping centre, Wandsworth Town station |
| Putney (Upper Richmond Road) | A219 Putney Hill and Putney Bridge, Putney station, East Putney |
| East Sheen | Sheen Lane, Mortlake station, Richmond Park |
| Kew and Kew Bridge | Kew Road, Kew Gardens, A315 Kew Bridge, Chiswick roundabout |
Not every junction allows every movement, so follow the road signs.
Off the road
What can we do once you are off the road?
Every job below is done at the car, once it is parked somewhere safe and legal away from the traffic.
Tyre replacement at your car
The fitter brings the new tyre to your home, your workplace or a safe place to park, fits it, balances the wheel and sets the pressure.
Tell us the size from the sidewall and we can talk through budget, mid-range and premium options for it.
- New tyre sourced in your size, load index and speed rating
- Old tyre off, new tyre on, wheel balanced and refitted
- Wheel nuts tightened to the maker's torque figure
Puncture repair
A nail or screw in the main tread can often be repaired. The fitter takes the tyre off the rim and looks at the inside before deciding, because a small hole can hide bigger damage.
Damage in the shoulder or the sidewall, or a tyre that has been driven flat, cannot be repaired safely, and you are told why before anything else is done.
- Tyre taken off the rim and inspected inside
- Repair considered only for small holes in the central tread area
- Wheel balanced and pressure set after the repair
Flat tyre help
A flat tyre does not always mean a new tyre. Whether it can be repaired depends on where the damage is and how far the car was driven flat.
If the spare is missing, flat or a space saver you would rather not rely on, the repair or the new tyre is brought to the car.
- 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
Burst and damaged tyre replacement
A burst tyre, a bulge in the sidewall or a deep cut from a kerb or pothole cannot be repaired. The fitter replaces the tyre at the car and checks the wheel while the tyre is off.
Send a photo of the damage and the size on the sidewall so the right replacement can be found.
- 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
Out-of-hours tyre fitting
We work evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays when the diary allows, at the same price as a weekday job.
Out of normal working hours, where the car waits matters more: somewhere lit, legally parked and away from passing traffic.
- The same repair-or-replace check as at any other time
- A new tyre fitted when the damage rules out a repair
- A lit, legal spot to work in, agreed on the call
Removing locking wheel nuts
Lost, broken or rounded key? The nuts are removed at the car with extraction sockets made for locking nuts.
Plain nuts or a new locking set go back on, and the tyre can be sorted on the same visit.
- Removal without the key, using sockets made for locking nuts
- Replacement nuts matched to the wheel's seat type and thread
- Tyre repaired or replaced on the same visit if needed
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.
→
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.
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
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
Where we can work
Good spots for the job, and places to avoid
Good places for the job
- A driveway or private parking space
- A residential street where it is legal to park
- A workplace or business car park, with the site's agreement
- Firm, level ground with room to work around the wheel
Places we cannot work
- Motorways and fast main roads, including their hard shoulders and slip roads
- Anywhere the car or the van would block traffic or put people at risk
- Soft ground, steep slopes or loose gravel where a jack cannot sit safely
Supermarket, retail park and station car parks are private ground, so the owner's permission comes first.
If the car is in a controlled parking zone permit bay, tell us so the fitter can park legally beside it.
Road FAQs
Questions drivers ask about this road
Where is there no hard shoulder?
Entire length, Woolwich to Kew Bridge. On a stretch like that, keep going until you can leave the road or reach a lay-by, if the car can still be driven safely; call 999 if you are stuck in a live lane.
Where can a car not stop?
Whole route is a TfL red route with no stopping on the carriageway; Catford gyratory, the Wandsworth one-way system and Kew Bridge approaches in particular. If a tyre fails there, keep going until you are clear of it and off the road, if the car can still be driven safely.
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.
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.
Are you insured?
Yes. Rescue Tyres is fully insured, has fitted more than 2,000 tyres and is a UK registered company.
Can I bring the car to you instead?
No. Rescue Tyres is fully mobile and works from one base at Brent Cross, NW2, which is not open to walk-in customers. The fitter comes to the car.
Can you fit tyres to a car with pressure sensors?
Yes. Mention the sensors on the call, as they sit inside the wheel and stay with it when the tyre is changed.
Should new tyres go on the front or the rear?
When only two are replaced, the newer pair generally goes on the rear axle, which helps keep the car stable in the wet.
My tyre keeps losing air slowly. Is it a puncture?
It may be, or it may be the valve or the seal between the tyre and the rim; the tyre has to come off to tell which.
Can you remove locking wheel nuts without the key?
Yes. Removal without the key is the whole point of the job, and it is done at the car.
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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
Tyres for high-mileage and company-car drivers
If you cover serious miles, the right tyre saves real money. Here's how to choose for cost per mile and motorway safety, and keep a company car compliant.
A blowout at speed is frightening but survivable if you react correctly. Here's exactly what to do, why braking is dangerous, and how to prevent the next one.
What to keep in the car for a tyre emergency
Most cars carry the wrong things for a puncture. Here is the short list that helps at the roadside, and what to check you have now.
Call or WhatsApp us
Tell us where the car is
Tell us what has happened and the make and model of the vehicle.