- A puncture often shows first as the car pulling to one side, a change in the steering or, on cars that have one, the tyre pressure warning light.
- Ease off the accelerator and do not brake hard. Leave at the next exit or pull into a service area if the car can still be driven safely.
- If it cannot, stop on the hard shoulder or in an emergency area, get out by the left-hand doors and wait behind the barrier. If the car is stuck in a live lane, stay in it with your seat belt on and call 999.
- Call National Highways on 0300 123 5000 or your breakdown provider.
Puncture repair once you are off the M25
We repair punctures at the car from one base at Brent Cross, NW2 1LX. The nearest point of the M25 is about 8 miles away in a straight line, and the far side of the ring is a much longer trip. Once the car is parked safely off the motorway, call. 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 loses air at motorway speed
There is no hard shoulder between junctions 5 and 7 or between junctions 23 and 27, where the M25 runs with all lanes open and emergency areas only. 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.
Repair or replace
Can the tyre be repaired?
A puncture can be repaired only when the damage is in the central part of the tread and no wider than 6 mm. 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.
Distance matters after a motorway puncture. A tyre that has lost pressure and been driven on to reach an exit flexes and heats up, which can damage the inner wall, so a hole that looks small from outside is not always repairable.
Staying safe
When a repair is not safe
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. Tyres on the same axle should be the same size and type, so the fitter also looks at the tyre on the other side. The price is given on the call.
Staying safe
Where the car can wait
A side road near the junction you left at, or a car park whose owner allows the work. The service areas on the ring (Clacket Lane, Cobham, South Mimms and Thurrock) are private ground, so we can only work there with the operator's permission. Cars cannot wait in the Dartford Tunnels northbound or on the QEII Bridge southbound.
Before you call
What to tell us when you call
- Which junction you left at and where the car is now
- The tyre size from the sidewall, for example 205/55 R16
- Where the damage is: the middle of the tread, or near the edge or sidewall
- Whether the tyre is losing air slowly or is already flat
- Whether the car has locking wheel nuts, and where the key is
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
★★★★★
“I urgently needed to replace my tyres and the team were prompt, friendly and efficient at a great price.”
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★★★★★
“Faultless experience. Great communication, attitude and service.”
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Questions
Questions drivers ask
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.
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.
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.
Do you charge more in the evening or at the weekend?
We work evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays when the diary allows, at the same price as a weekday job.
What if the tyre needs replacing rather than repairing?
You are told before anything else is done, with the reason and the options for a new tyre in your size. Nothing changes until you agree.
Can a damaged tyre get me to the next exit?
If the car is controllable and the tyre is only losing air, driving slowly to the exit is usually safer than stopping beside fast traffic. A tyre that has burst or is flapping loose is different: stop as soon as it is safe.
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 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
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
Nail or screw in your tyre? What to do, and when it can be repaired
Found a nail or screw in your tyre? Don't pull it out, it may be sealing the hole. Here's the safe way to handle it and whether it can be repaired.
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.
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.
Call or WhatsApp us
Tell us where the car is
Send the tyre size if you can read it. We give you an arrival time when you call.