- Where the car is: the junction you left at (T1 to T8) and the street or car park, or that you are at Norton Canes services.
- If you are at the services or in a private car park, whether the operator or owner is happy for the work to be done there.
- The tyre size from the sidewall, and whether the locking wheel nut key is in the car.
- Where the damage is on the tread, if you can see it safely.
Puncture repair near the M6 Toll
A nail in the tread is still a reason to leave the M6 Toll at the next exit or at Norton Canes services, not to stop beside the traffic. We never work on the carriageway, the hard shoulder or at the toll plazas.
Our only base is at Brent Cross, NW2 1LX, about 92 miles in a straight line from the nearest point listed for this road, and we have no base or van stationed in the Midlands. 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.
Tyre help
Pressure warning or a slow leak at speed
If the tyre pressure warning comes on or the steering pulls, ease off and leave at the next junction or pull into the services. Do not stop at the toll booths. If the tyre goes flat and you cannot reach an exit, stop on the hard shoulder as far left as you can, get out by the left-hand doors, wait behind the barrier and call your breakdown provider, or 999 if anyone is in danger. The Highway Code says not to attempt even simple repairs on a motorway. If the car is unsafe where it is, your breakdown cover may reach you sooner.
Driving on a flat tyre quickly damages the inner wall, and that damage can rule out a repair, so drive only as far as you need to reach a safe place. If the car is already parked and the tyre is flat, leave it there.
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
Telling us where the car has stopped
We do not publish prices.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.
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.
★★★★★
“A pleasure having them come down and save me. Big shout out to Hiwad, really responsive, recommend him to anybody.”
AMAdam MorrisGoogle review
★★★★★
“Had two tyres replaced and was really impressed. Friendly and efficient, job completed quickly. Highly recommend!”
PNPegah NourmandGoogle review
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 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.
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 you work on the street outside my house?
Yes, if it is legal to park there and the car is not blocking traffic. A quiet residential street is usually fine; a busy main road or a red route is not.
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.
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 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 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 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 sealant: good idea or bad idea?
Tyre sealant can get you moving after a puncture, but it has real downsides. Here's when to use it, when to avoid it, and why it isn't a proper repair.
Call to check we can take the job
Tell us where the car is
Send the tyre size if you can read it.