A flat tyre in Crawley at any hour
Crawley never really sleeps. Gatwick runs flights from early morning to late at night, Manor Royal has people arriving and leaving on shifts, and the M23 carries traffic past the town round the clock. That means tyres fail at awkward times here: a blowout on the motorway heading home after a late landing, a flat discovered in a staff car park at 3am, or a soft tyre on the drive in Maidenbower just before the school run. Ring us whenever it happens. The phone is answered day and night, weekends included, and we send the nearest available fitter with a tyre and the equipment to fit it on the spot.
In most cases we aim to reach you within 60 minutes. Airport traffic and roadworks can affect that, so we'll tell you honestly what to expect when you call.
The M23 past Crawley has no hard shoulder
Between junction 8 at the M25 and junction 10 at Crawley, the M23 is an all lane running motorway: the old hard shoulder is now lane 1, and emergency areas with orange surfaces are spaced along it instead. If a tyre goes on that stretch:
- Keep going if you safely can to the next exit, such as junction 9 for Gatwick or junction 10 for the A264, or to an emergency area.
- In an emergency area, switch the hazard lights on, get everyone out through the left-hand doors and stand behind the barrier. Call National Highways on 0300 123 5000 or use the SOS phone there, then call us.
- If you stop in a live lane, leave your seat belt on and the hazards flashing, and dial 999 straight away. Only get out if you are sure you can reach a safe place.
- Where there is a hard shoulder, pull onto it, use your hazards, leave by the left-hand doors and wait up the bank behind the barrier.
Never try to change a wheel yourself on the motorway. Our guide to a motorway flat tyre goes through the steps in more detail.
Roundabouts, Crawley Avenue and the A23
Most of the town is linked by the A2011 Crawley Avenue and a chain of roundabouts, with the A23 running north past Gatwick towards Horley and south towards Pease Pottage. These roads are fast enough that stopping in a lane is risky. If a tyre lets go, ease off gently, signal and turn off into the next neighbourhood road, service road or lay-by, even if that means rolling slowly for a short distance. Stop clear of junctions and bus stops, and wait away from the traffic side of the car. Once you've stopped, don't drive any further on the flat, as the sidewall and rim are quickly damaged.
Fixed where it stands, or moved if it can't be
When the fitter arrives, they check the tyre first. A nail or screw in the main part of the tread, under 6 mm across, can usually be repaired to British Standard guidance as long as the tyre hasn't been run flat. Sidewall cuts, bulges and blowouts mean a replacement, fitted there and then from premium, mid-range or budget ranges, all with the manufacturer's guarantee. Balancing and disposal of the old tyre are free. If the car is somewhere it can't be worked on safely, our breakdown recovery can take it somewhere that can.
Coming back to a flat at the airport? Note the car park name, level or zone and row before you call, and find your locking wheel nut key, usually in the glovebox or under the boot floor. The fitter can't remove the wheel without it.
Neighbourhoods and roads around Crawley we attend
We come out to every part of the town: Three Bridges, Pound Hill, Forge Wood, Langley Green, Ifield, Northgate, West Green, Gossops Green, Bewbush, Broadfield, Southgate, Tilgate, Furnace Green and Maidenbower, along with the Manor Royal business district and the Gatwick car parks. On the roads, we cover the M23 between junctions 9 and 11, the A23, the A264 towards Copthorne and East Grinstead, and Crawley Avenue. We also cover Horley to the north and Horsham to the south-west.
Before you ring: the details that help
- Exactly where you are: the junction number and direction, the emergency area number, or the street and neighbourhood.
- What happened, whether it was a sudden bang, a slow loss of air or a pressure warning light.
- The tyre size printed on the sidewall, such as 205/55 R16, or your registration if you can't see it.
- Whether the car has run-flat tyres or a spare wheel, and whether you have the locking nut key.
Get a Crawley fitter on the way
Call 07989 606060 at any time, or send us a WhatsApp message with your location pin. Prices are competitive with no hidden fees, and you'll know the cost before the fitter sets off. For tyre fitting booked ahead rather than an emergency, see our Crawley mobile tyre fitting page.
