Where we can do this
The van needs firm, level ground with room to jack it safely and work beside it: a yard, a driveway, a legal space on a quiet street, or a car park where the owner allows it.
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Main roads | A38, A5, A51 |
Van tyre fitting in Lichfield
Lichfield is about 102 miles in a straight line from our only base at Brent Cross, NW2 (further by road). We have no base or van stationed nearby. 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.
Van tyres
Van tyres fitted at your yard, site or home
Van tyres are built for heavier loads than car tyres, so a replacement must match the size, load index and speed rating on the sidewall, or exceed them. Many vans use C-rated, reinforced tyres. We fit van tyres where the van is parked, on firm, level ground, and balance the wheels there.
For a van up to 3,500 kg gross weight, the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm across the central three quarters of the tread, all the way round. A bulge, a deep cut or exposed cords makes a tyre unsafe to drive on, whatever the tread depth.
Tell us the full size from the sidewall, including the load index, and whether the van is loaded, because a loaded van can be harder to jack safely. Common sizes are often on the van; other sizes are sourced for the job. Our main van tyres page, linked below, has more detail.
What the job includes
- Commercial (C-rated) tyres with the right load index
- Fitting and balancing where the van is parked
- Pressures set to the van maker's laden figures
- Wheel nuts tightened with a torque wrench
- The old tyres taken away
Van tyres
Why van tyres are different
Most vans run on commercial tyres, marked with a C after the wheel size, as in 215/65 R16C. They have stronger casings to carry heavier loads, and they run at higher pressures than car tyres.
Van tyres often show two load indexes, such as 109/107. The first is the load per tyre on a single wheel, the second the load per tyre when wheels are fitted in pairs on a twin-wheel axle. A replacement must match or beat the load figures of the original tyres.
Fitting a car tyre to a van to save money is a false economy, as it can be overloaded on the first full working day. The same 1.6 mm minimum tread applies to vans up to 3,500 kg as to cars.
At the van
Fitting at a yard, depot or site
Vans are often easiest to do where they are parked overnight or between jobs: a yard, a depot, a site compound or the street outside home. We need firm, level ground beside the wheel, and the van empty enough to be lifted safely.
If the van is on a construction site or a secure yard, tell us about access rules, gate times or a site induction before the fitter sets off. For a small fleet, several vans can be done in one visit if they are parked together.
Step by step
From your call to the finished job
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Tell us what happened
Tell us the van's tyre size, its registration and where it will be parked, by phone or WhatsApp.
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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.
Before the visit
Getting the car ready
Leave the locking wheel nut key somewhere easy to find, such as the driver's seat or the glovebox, and tell us if the car will be at work rather than at home.
You do not need to stay with the car for the whole job, but someone needs to hand over the keys and agree the work. If the car is in a residents' bay or a work car park, check the fitter can park close to it.
Have these ready when you call:
- The full tyre size from the sidewall, for example 215/65 R16C 109/107T
- How many tyres you need, and whether the van is loaded
- Where the van is parked, with firm, level ground beside it
- Whether the van has locking wheel nuts, and where the key is
Not quite your situation?
Tread and age
When a tyre needs replacing
Most tyres have small raised bars in the main grooves, called tread wear indicators. When the tread is worn level with them, the tyre is at the legal limit. A 20p coin is a rough check: if the outer band of the coin shows when it is pushed into the main grooves, the tread may be close to the limit.
Grip in the wet falls away well before the limit, so many drivers replace tyres at around 3 mm. Age matters too: cracking in the sidewall or between the tread blocks means the rubber is perishing, even on a tyre with plenty of tread left.
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
★★★★★
“Had two tyres replaced and was really impressed. Friendly and efficient, job completed quickly. Highly recommend!”
PNPegah NourmandGoogle review
★★★★★
“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!”
DFDavid FordhamGoogle review
★★★★★
“Good and reliable service in all conditions.”
LOLeo OduorGoogle review
Around the area
Neighbourhoods, roads and nearby towns
These are the neighbourhoods, postcode districts and main roads on record for this area. Whether we can take a particular job depends on the diary and the distance from our base, so the call always decides.
Neighbourhoods and villages
- Boley Park
- Chadsmead
- Leomansley
- Curborough
- Streethay
- Whittington
- Shenstone
- Wall
- Fradley
- Elmhurst
- Darnford
Postcode districts
- WS13
- WS14
Main roads
- A5127 Birmingham Road
- M6 Toll
Landmarks
- Beacon Park
- Whittington Barracks
- Fradley Park
The same service in nearby towns
Questions
Questions and answers
Can the fitter work in a hospital, station or retail park car park?
Yes, if the site allows it. Supermarket, retail park and station car parks are private ground, so the owner's permission comes first. Places of this kind in this area include:
- Lichfield City station
- Samuel Johnson Community Hospital
- Three Spires shopping centre
What does the C on a van tyre mean?
It stands for commercial. C-marked tyres are built to carry the higher loads of a van.
Why are there two load numbers on my van tyre?
The first is the load for a single wheel and the second for twin rear wheels. A replacement should match both.
Can I put car tyres on my van?
Only if the handbook or the vehicle plate allows that size and load index. Most vans need C-marked tyres to carry their rated load.
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.
What should I have ready when I call?
The tyre size from the sidewall, the registration and the exact location of the car. If the car has locking wheel nuts, have the key ready.
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 new tyres come with a warranty?
New tyres carry the manufacturer's warranty against defects. It does not cover damage from punctures, kerbs or potholes.
Helpful guides
Tyre advice worth reading
Electric van tyres: what's different
Electric vans are heavier and torquier than diesels, so tyres wear faster. Here's what to look for in load rating, rolling resistance and range protection.
Tyre load index and speed rating explained, with full charts
The load index and speed rating on your tyre matter for safety and the law. Here's what those final numbers and letters mean, and why matching them is vital.
Correct tyre pressure for your car, and what under-inflated tyres do
Find your car's recommended tyre pressure on the door placard or in the handbook, and learn how to set it correctly for load and conditions on UK roads.
All tyre help here
Every tyre service, done at the car
Call to check we can take the job
Tell us where the van is
Send the van's tyre size and where it will be parked. The price is given on the call.