A flat tyre in Exeter, at any hour
Exeter is where the M5 runs out and the roads split for Cornwall, Torbay and north Devon, so a lot of tyre trouble here happens on the move: a blowout near Exeter services at junction 29, a sudden loss of pressure on the long climb over Haldon Hill, or a soft tyre discovered in a Heavitree side street the morning after a long drive down from the Midlands. Ring us whenever it happens. The phone is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and we send the nearest free fitter with a tyre and the equipment to fit it on the spot.
We aim to be with you within 60 minutes in most cases, though the real time depends on where you've stopped, the traffic and the time of day. You'll get a straight estimate on the phone before anyone sets off.
Staying safe on the M5, the A30 and the A38
Before thinking about the wheel, think about where you are standing. The right move changes with the road:
- M5, junctions 29 to 31: get onto the hard shoulder or into an emergency area, put the hazard lights on and climb out through the left-hand doors. Stand behind the safety barrier, away from the traffic, and leave the wheel alone. If you've had to stop in an emergency area, or the car is stuck in a live lane, call National Highways on 0300 123 5000; if anyone is in danger, call 999 first. Our guide to a flat tyre on the motorway walks through it.
- The Devon Expressway and the A30: these are fast dual carriageways carrying holiday traffic for much of the year. Ease off and make for a lay-by or the next slip road at low speed if the car will let you, rather than halting in lane one.
- Lanes outside the city: on narrow roads towards the Exe estuary or the Haldon side, stop where oncoming drivers can see you from a distance, ideally a gateway or a wider verge, not on a blind bend.
Fixing it where the car stands
In the usual case the fitter brings a new tyre to match and fits it beside the car. A small nail or screw in the central three-quarters of the tread can often be repaired instead, under British Standard guidance, provided the tyre hasn't been run flat; our article on whether a tyre with a nail or screw can be repaired explains the limits. When the spot is too dangerous to work in, such as a hard shoulder or a narrow bend, breakdown recovery can take the car somewhere safer first.
You can choose premium, mid-range or budget tyres, all with the manufacturer's guarantee, and balancing plus disposal of the old tyre come free with the fitting.
Before the fitter arrives: find the locking wheel nut key if your wheels use one. It tends to live in the glovebox, the door pocket or under the boot floor with the jack, and the wheel cannot be removed without it.
Holiday traffic, heavy loads and long runs
Plenty of cars reaching Exeter have already done hundreds of miles, often fully loaded or towing a caravan towards the coast. A tyre that has been slightly under-inflated all the way down the M5 runs hot, and that's when a weak spot finally gives. Locally, the short hop to Exmouth along the A376 or the run up to Pinhoe on a winter evening can bring out a slow leak picked up days earlier. If the warning light came on but the tyre looks fine, don't ignore it; stop, check, and ring us if the pressure keeps dropping.
Districts and routes we cover around Exeter
We come out across the city, from St Thomas and Alphington west of the river to Heavitree, Pinhoe and Topsham on the east side, and to the main roads around them: the M5 between junctions 29 and 31, the A30 towards Honiton and Okehampton, the A38 and A380 heading for Haldon, and the A376 down to Exmouth. Nearby towns include Exmouth, Tiverton and Newton Abbot.
Questions you'll be asked on the line
- Your location: junction number and direction, road name, a nearby postcode or a what3words reference.
- Whether it's a puncture, a blowout, sidewall damage or just a warning light.
- The size printed on the tyre wall, such as 205/55 R16, or the registration if you can't see it.
- Whether you and any passengers are somewhere safe.
Get emergency tyre help in Exeter now
Call 07989 606060 day or night, or send us a WhatsApp message. Our prices are competitive with no hidden fees, and you'll know the cost before the fitter leaves. If it isn't urgent and you would rather book a time, see mobile tyre fitting in Exeter.
