What a puncture repair includes
- 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
- A plain answer if the tyre needs replacing instead
Puncture repair near the A34
The A34 covered here is two roads: the dual carriageway past Oxford, from the M40 at Wendlebury to the M4 at Chieveley, and the Stratford Road and Walsall Road through Birmingham. We never work on the carriageway; once the car is parked off the road, we can repair the tyre.
Our only base is at Brent Cross, NW2 1LX. The Oxfordshire towns on our list are 43 to 49 miles away in a straight line, a longer trip for the van; the Birmingham stretch is over 90 miles, where we have no base or van stationed nearby. Either way, the call confirms whether we can come, and the arrival time is given on the call.
Tyre help
If a tyre fails on the Oxford section
Most of the A34 between M40 J9 and Chieveley has no hard shoulder. If a tyre deflates, keep going gently to the next junction or into Oxford Peartree services at the Peartree Interchange if the car will make it. If you have to stop, get as far left as you can, put the hazard lights on, and if it is safe, get out on the side away from the traffic and stand well back behind the barrier. Call 999 if anyone is in danger, or National Highways on 0300 123 5000.
Around Oxford, do not stop on the A34 itself unless you have no choice. In Birmingham, turn into a side street before you stop, because parts of the Stratford Road and Birchfield Road have bus lanes and loading restrictions.
Repair or replace
How puncture repair works
A puncture can be repaired only when the damage is in the central part of the tread and no wider than 6 mm. That is the limit in BS AU 159. The fitter takes the tyre off the wheel and checks the inside, because a tyre that has been driven while flat can be damaged on the inner wall even when the outside looks fine.
A repairable hole is sealed from the inside with a combined plug and patch. If the damage is on the sidewall or shoulder, the hole is too big, or the inside is damaged, the tyre is not safe to repair and we say so before fitting a replacement. Our main puncture repair page, linked below, explains the standard in more detail.
Where we can work
Where the car needs to be
Somewhere a fitter can park beside it: a side street where parking is allowed, a car park whose owner is happy for the work to be done, or Oxford Peartree services if the operator allows it. In Birmingham the Clean Air Zone covers roads inside the A4540 Middleway, which the A34 meets at Camp Hill; check your car meets the standard before driving into it.
When you call, give us the junction you left at, the street or car park, the tyre size from the sidewall, and whether the locking wheel nut key is in the car.
We do not publish prices. The price is given on the call: a repair costs less than a replacement, and if the tyre cannot be repaired the fitter explains why before anything else is done. The price is the same at any hour.
Puncture repair
How a puncture is judged and repaired
The accepted way to repair a puncture is a combined patch and plug fitted from inside the tyre, rather than a string plug pushed in from outside. That means taking the tyre off the rim, which also lets the inner liner be checked for damage from running low.
Slow punctures and valve leaks
A tyre that needs air every week or two has a slow leak. The cause can be a small object in the tread, a leaking valve or valve core, or a poor seal where the tyre meets a corroded rim.
A slow leak still needs finding and fixing, because a tyre run underinflated wears faster, runs hotter and can fail at speed.
Sealant kits and what they mean for a repair
The sealant kit supplied with many new cars is a temporary measure to get you moving. The kit sets its own low speed and distance limits, printed on the bottle or in the handbook.
If you have used sealant, say so on the call. The inside of the tyre has to be cleaned before it can be inspected, and some sealants leave it unfit for a repair.
Nails and screws in the tread
If you can see a nail or screw in the tread, leave it where it is. It is often partly sealing the hole, and pulling it out can turn a slow leak into a flat.
Take a photo of where it sits and send it on WhatsApp. Its position across the tread says a lot about whether a repair is likely.
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. A photo of the tread where the damage is helps judge whether a repair is possible.
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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.
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Questions
Questions drivers ask
Can a run-flat tyre be repaired?
Some tyre makers do not approve any repair to their run-flat tyres; others allow one only if the tyre has not been driven while deflated. The fitter checks the maker's guidance and the inside of the tyre. Tell us it is a run-flat when you ring.
Can a tyre be repaired more than once?
Sometimes. Two repairs must not overlap or sit too close together, so where the earlier repair is matters.
Is a plug pushed in from outside a proper repair?
Not as a permanent repair. The British Standard for tyre repairs, BS AU 159, expects the tyre to come off the rim so the inside can be checked as well.
Is a puncture repair permanent?
A repair that meets BS AU 159 is treated as permanent, so the tyre can stay on the car for the rest of its legal tread life.
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.
Are you insured?
Yes. Rescue Tyres is fully insured, has fitted more than 2,000 tyres and is a UK registered company.
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. We give you an arrival time when you call.
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.
Do you bring the tyre with you?
Common sizes are often on the van; other sizes are sourced for the job. Send the size from the sidewall when you call so the right tyre can be found.
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. 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
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
Tyre valve problems and replacement
A faulty valve can leak air just like a puncture. Here's how to spot a bad tyre valve, why to replace it with every new tyre, and how TPMS valves differ.
Tyre repair vs replacement: which do you need?
Should you repair a damaged tyre or replace it? Here's how to decide, based on UK safety standards, the repair zone rules, and the real cost difference.
Call to check we can take the job
Tell us where the car is
Send the tyre size if you can read it. 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.