Cambridge tyre emergencies, day and night
A tyre can fail at the worst possible spot: in heavy traffic on the A14 near Girton, on the M11 coming up past Trumpington, or in a narrow terraced street off Mill Road where there's barely room to open a door. Whatever time it is, call us. The line is staffed through the night and at weekends, and we send the nearest fitter who is free, carrying a replacement tyre and the tools to fit it wherever you are.
We aim to reach you within 60 minutes in most cases, though that depends on exactly where you are and the state of the city's traffic. We'll give you a fair estimate on the phone.
Safety first on the M11, the A14 and the A428
- On the M11 between junctions 11 and 14: pull onto the hard shoulder, or into an emergency area if you reach one first, and switch on your hazards. Get out through the left-hand doors and stand behind the barrier, away from the carriageway. If you've stopped in an emergency area or in a live lane, ring National Highways on 0300 123 5000. Nobody should be changing a wheel there, us included. Read our advice on a motorway flat for the full steps.
- On the A14 and the A428: these are fast, busy dual carriageways. Keep going slowly with the hazards on until you can leave at a junction or reach a lay-by, rather than stopping in a lane. If you have no choice but to stop, get out on the side away from the traffic and keep well back.
- Inside the city: pull into a side road or car park, not a bus lane or a cycle lane, and keep clear of junctions so the fitter has space to work.
Fitted, repaired or moved
Usually the fitter replaces the tyre right where the car is. A small puncture in the central part of the tread, on a tyre that hasn't been run flat, can often be repaired to British Standard guidance instead. If you suspect a slow leak rather than a sudden failure, our guide to slow puncture signs can help. When roadside work isn't safe, or the wheel is damaged, we arrange breakdown recovery.
Replacement tyres come in premium, mid-range and budget choices, each with the manufacturer's guarantee, and balancing and taking the old one away are free.
Have the locking nut key ready. If your wheels use locking nuts, the fitter can't remove them without the key. It's usually in the glovebox or in the spare wheel well, so dig it out while you wait.
Making room for a fitter on tight city streets
Much of central Cambridge is terraced housing with permit parking and no driveways, and a flat discovered outside your front door in Petersfield or Romsey can be awkward to deal with. The fitter needs to reach the affected wheel and have a little space beside it to jack the car safely. If the car is hemmed in or parked with the flat tyre against a wall, tell us on the phone. Don't try to shunt it out on the rim. We'll work out the best approach, and if the car really can't be reached, we'll talk through other options before anyone sets off.
The same applies in multi-storey and park and ride car parks at night. Let us know the level and bay number, and whether there's a height barrier at the entrance.
Neighbourhoods, villages and routes we come out to
We cover the whole city, including Abbey, Petersfield, Coleridge, Queen Edith's, Orchard Park and Eddington, and the surrounding villages such as Cottenham, Waterbeach, Sawston, Bar Hill, Comberton and Teversham. Roads include the M11 from junction 11 up to the Girton Interchange, the A14, the A428, the A10, the A11 and the A1307. For tyres you'd rather book ahead, visit our Cambridge mobile tyre fitting page.
Our fitters also cover Peterborough to the north-west and Letchworth Garden City down the A505.
Help the fitter find the car quickly
- An exact location: the street, junction number or nearest exit, a postcode or a what3words reference.
- What has happened to the tyre and which corner of the car it is on.
- The size from the tyre's sidewall, for instance 195/65 R15, or the registration number.
- Anything that might make access tricky, such as tight parking, a barrier or a height limit.
Phone our emergency line for Cambridge
Call 07989 606060 any time, or send your location on WhatsApp. Prices are competitive with no hidden fees, the cost is confirmed before the fitter sets out, and you can pay by card, cash or bank transfer.
