On this road
| Road | A205 South Circular Road |
|---|---|
| Operator | Transport for London |
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.
New tyres fitted near the A205 South Circular
New tyres fitted at the car once you are safely off the main road, parked somewhere safe and legal.
What happens
How new tyre fitting works
We bring the tyre to the car and fit it there, so you do not need to drive anywhere. You choose from the brands made in your size, from budget to premium, and we confirm the price on the call.
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 205/55 R16 91V
- How many tyres you need, and whether you have a brand in mind
- Where the car is: a postcode or the nearest road
- Whether the car has locking wheel nuts, and where the key is
- Whether the car has run-flat tyres (the sidewall or the handbook will say)
New tyres
New tyres fitted where the car is parked
Having new tyres fitted at the car saves a trip to a tyre centre and a wait in a reception area. The work is the same as in a workshop: the old tyre comes off the rim, the new one goes on, the wheel is balanced and refitted, and the nuts are tightened to the maker's torque figure.
Reading the size on your sidewall
The size is the string of figures on the tyre wall, such as 205/55 R16 91V. The first number is the width in millimetres, the second is the sidewall height as a percentage of that width, R means radial construction and the last number is the rim diameter in inches.
The part after the size, 91V in that example, is the load index and speed rating. A replacement should match or exceed both, and the two tyres on one axle should be the same size and pattern.
Budget, mid-range or premium
Tyres fall roughly into three tiers. Premium brands usually stop shorter in the wet and often last longer; budget tyres cost less up front but vary more in quality.
The label on most new car tyres grades wet grip, fuel efficiency and outside noise, which is a fairer guide than the brand name alone. For a car doing high mileage or plenty of motorway driving, look at the wet grip grade first.
Signs a tyre is due for replacing
Tread close to the legal minimum is the obvious sign, but it is not the only one. Fine cracks that open up when you squeeze the sidewall, a bulge, exposed cords or uneven wear on one edge all mean the tyre should be looked at.
Tyre safety groups suggest thinking about new tyres at 3 mm of tread, because stopping distances in the wet grow noticeably below that depth.
What the fitter needs at the car
A driveway, a residential street where parking is legal or a workplace car park all work. The jack needs firm, level ground and there has to be room to work around the wheel.
Supermarket, retail park and station car parks are private ground, so the owner's permission comes first.
What a tyre fitting includes
- 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
- Pressures set to the figure on the door placard or in the handbook
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.
- 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.
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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
★★★★★
“Fast and reliable.”
KSKhurram ShehzadGoogle review
Questions
Questions drivers ask
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.
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.
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.
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.
Are you insured?
Yes. Rescue Tyres is fully insured, has fitted more than 2,000 tyres and is a UK registered company.
Do I need to replace both tyres on the axle?
Not always. If the other tyre on that axle has good tread and is the same size and pattern, one new tyre can be enough.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
The road's junction list and the full Highway Code steps are on its main page, under Related pages below.
Helpful guides
Tyre advice worth reading
You don't always need four new tyres. Here's when you can replace just one, when you should do a pair, and when all-wheel-drive means replacing all four.
The tyre label explained: grip, fuel and noise
Every new tyre carries a label grading fuel efficiency, wet grip and noise. Here's how to read each rating and use it to buy a safer, cheaper tyre.
When to replace your tyres: 7 warning signs
Not sure if you need new tyres? Here are seven clear signs it's time to replace them, from low tread and cracking to bulges, vibration and age.
Call or WhatsApp us
Tell us where the car is
Send the size from the sidewall and where the car is parked, and the fitting is booked around you. Tell us what has happened and the make and model of the vehicle. The price is given on the call.