- If the car can still be driven slowly and safely, leave at the next exit or pull into a motorway service area.
- If you cannot, stop on the hard shoulder or in an emergency area, as far to the left as you can, with the wheels turned to the left and the hazard lights on.
- Get out by the left-hand doors and wait behind the safety barrier, well away from the traffic. Do not put out a warning triangle and do not try to change the wheel yourself.
- If the car stops in a live lane and you cannot get out safely, keep your seat belt on and the hazard lights on, and call 999.
- From a safe place, call National Highways on 0300 123 5000 or your breakdown provider. Emergency areas have an SOS phone that connects to National Highways.
Mobile tyre fitting once you are off the M25
Rescue Tyres is a mobile tyre service working from one base at Brent Cross, NW2. The nearest junctions and towns on the M25 are about 8 miles from that base in a straight line, and the eastern and southern sides of the ring are a longer trip.
We never work on the carriageway, the hard shoulder, an emergency area or a slip road. Once you and the car are safely off the motorway, call us. 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.
On the road
If a tyre fails on the M25
Safety comes first. The Highway Code (rules 274 to 287) sets out these steps.
Between J5 and J7, and between J23 and J27, the motorway runs with no hard shoulder and emergency areas only. Stopping is not allowed in the Dartford Tunnels northbound or on the QEII Bridge southbound, on the A282 between J31 and J1a.
Where we can work
Where a fitter can meet you once you are off
The fitter comes to the car once it is parked somewhere safe and legal, away from the motorway. That can be:
Tell us the junction you left at and where the car is now; a postcode or what3words reference helps.
- a side road or residential street near the junction you left at, where it is safe and legal to park
- a retail park, supermarket or business car park, if the owner allows the work on their ground
- a motorway service area, only if the operator allows it and the car is in a parking bay, never on the approach or exit roads
- your home or workplace, if the car can be driven there safely, for example on a space saver
Tyre help
Service areas on the ring
| Service area | Operator | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Clacket Lane services | Roadchef | between J5 and J6 |
| Cobham services | Extra | between J9 and J10 |
| South Mimms services | Welcome Break | J23 |
| Thurrock services | Moto | J30 to J31 |
On the road
Junctions and what they serve
| Junction | Serves |
|---|---|
| J1a | A206 Dartford, Swanscombe, Erith |
| J1b | A225 and A2018 Dartford, Princes Road |
| J2 | A2 Canterbury, Dover, Bexleyheath, Bluewater |
| J3 | M20 Maidstone, A20 Swanley, Sidcup |
| J4 | A21 Orpington, Bromley, Sevenoaks |
| J5 | M26, A21 Sevenoaks, Hastings (Chevening interchange) |
| J6 | A22 Godstone, Caterham, East Grinstead |
| J7 | M23 Gatwick, Crawley, Brighton |
| J8 | A217 Reigate, Sutton, Banstead |
| J9 | A243 Leatherhead, Kingston, Chessington |
| J10 | A3 Guildford, Portsmouth, Kingston (Wisley interchange) |
| J11 | A320 Chertsey, Woking, Addlestone |
| J12 | M3 Basingstoke, Southampton, Camberley |
| J13 | A30 Staines, Egham, Windsor |
| J14 | A3113 Heathrow Terminals 4 and 5, Stanwell, Poyle |
| J15 | M4 London, Heathrow, Slough, Reading |
| J16 | M40 Uxbridge, Oxford, Birmingham (Denham) |
| J17 | A412 Maple Cross, Rickmansworth, Chalfont St Peter |
| J18 | A404 Chorleywood, Amersham, Rickmansworth |
| J19 | A411 Watford |
| J20 | A41 Kings Langley, Hemel Hempstead, Aylesbury |
| J21 | M1 Luton, The North, London |
| J21a | A405 St Albans, Watford, Bricket Wood, Park Street |
| J22 | A1081 St Albans, London Colney, Hatfield |
| J23 | A1(M) Hatfield, A1 Barnet, South Mimms |
| J24 | A111 Potters Bar, Enfield |
| J25 | A10 Enfield, Cheshunt, Hertford, Waltham Cross |
| J26 | A121 Waltham Abbey, Loughton, Epping |
| J27 | M11 Cambridge, Stansted, Harlow |
| J28 | A12 Brentwood, Chelmsford, Romford (Brook Street) |
| J29 | A127 Basildon, Southend, Romford |
| J30 | A13 Tilbury, Lakeside, Thurrock, Dagenham |
| J31 | A1306 Purfleet, West Thurrock, Lakeside; last exit before the crossing southbound |
Tyre help
What the fitter can do at the car
With the car parked safely, we can repair a puncture in the repairable area of the tread, or fit a new tyre when a repair is not safe, such as after a blowout. Common sizes are often on the van; other sizes are sourced for the job, so have the size from the sidewall ready. The price does not change in the evening, at weekends or on bank holidays.
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.
By job
Each job in more detail
What each job involves, with a link to its own page for this road.
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
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
Road FAQs
Questions drivers ask about this road
Which service areas are on this road?
Clacket Lane services (Roadchef) between J5 and J6; Cobham services (Extra) between J9 and J10; South Mimms services (Welcome Break) at J23; Thurrock services (Moto) between J30 and J31. A service area is private ground, so we can only work there with the operator's permission; a side street near the next exit is often simpler.
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.
Can I claim for pothole damage?
You may be able to claim from the council or the authority that looks after the road. Note the location, photograph the pothole and the tyre, and keep the receipt.
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.
Are you insured?
Yes. Rescue Tyres is fully insured, has fitted more than 2,000 tyres and is a UK registered company.
How do I find my tyre size?
Look on the side of the tyre for a code like 205/55 R16 91V. The handbook has it too, and many cars show it on a sticker inside the driver's door or the fuel flap.
Can a tyre with sealant in it be repaired?
Sometimes, but not always, as some sealants leave the inside of the tyre unfit for a repair.
What should I do if a tyre bursts while I am driving?
Hold the wheel firmly, keep straight, ease off the accelerator and avoid braking hard. Once the car has slowed, brake gently and pull over where it is safe.
Should I pull the nail out?
No. Leave it in, as it is often partly sealing the hole. Send a photo of where it sits instead.
How do I know if my car has run-flats?
Check the sidewall markings and whether the car has a spare wheel; run-flat cars often have none.
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“Good communication, excellent work and takes the initiative. Happy to go the extra mile, highly recommended if you're in a tyre-related bit of bother!”
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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.
Long motorway journey: tyre and safety checklist
Sustained motorway speed is hard on tyres. A pre-journey checklist: tread, laden pressures, the spare, towing loads and what to do if a tyre fails.
Call or WhatsApp us
Tell us where the car is
Tell us what has happened and the make and model of the vehicle. We give you an arrival time when you call.