A tyre has failed in Leicester and you need help now
Leicester traffic never really stops. Shift workers head home along the A47 at three in the morning, vans pull out of the estates near Beaumont Leys before dawn, and the M1 past junction 21 is busy at almost any hour. So when a tyre goes, it can just as easily be at midnight on a Sunday as at teatime on a Tuesday. Ring us whenever it happens. The phone is answered around the clock, and we send whichever fitter is closest and free, carrying a replacement tyre and the tools to fit it on the spot.
We aim to be with you within 60 minutes in most cases, though the hour, the traffic and exactly where you've stopped all make a difference. You'll get a straight answer about timing when you call.
The M1, the M69 and the A46: waiting it out safely
The short run of the M1 between junction 21 and junction 21A, where the A46 western bypass joins, is one of the most congested pieces of motorway in the region. If a tyre lets go there or anywhere nearby:
- On the M1 or M69: steer onto the hard shoulder, or into an emergency area if there isn't one. Put the hazard lights on, get everyone out through the doors on the left and stand behind the safety barrier, away from the traffic. From an emergency area, call National Highways on 0300 123 5000. If the car has stopped in a live lane and you can't get out safely, stay belted in with the hazards on and dial 999.
- On the A46 towards Syston: this is a fast dual carriageway with few places to stop. Ease off and aim for the next exit or lay-by rather than pulling up on the verge at speed.
- On the outer ring road or a radial route like the A6 or A50: turn off into the first quiet side road you reach and keep clear of bus stops and junctions.
There's a fuller checklist in our motorway flat tyre article.
Repair, replacement or a lift to safety
When the fitter arrives, the first job is to look at the damage. A clean puncture in the middle three-quarters of the tread, smaller than 6 mm, can often be repaired to British Standard guidance, as long as the tyre hasn't been run flat. Sidewall cuts, bulges and tyres chewed up by the rim are replaced with a new budget, mid-range or premium tyre, each with the manufacturer's guarantee. Balancing the wheel and disposing of the old tyre are free.
Sometimes the car simply can't be worked on where it is, such as a tight spot on the motorway or a buckled wheel. In that case our breakdown recovery service moves it somewhere safe first.
Find the locking nut key now: many cars have one locking nut on each wheel. Look in the glovebox, door pockets or the spare wheel well while you wait, because the fitter needs that key to remove the wheel.
Why city driving catches tyres out
A lot of Leicester punctures start small. A screw picked up near a building site or a trade counter lets air out slowly for days, and the tyre finally gives up on the ring road when it is properly hot. Low-profile tyres on newer cars also take a beating from potholes and kerbs on terraced streets in places like Highfields and Westcotes. If your pressure warning light keeps coming back, our guide to slow puncture signs explains what to look for before it turns into a flat.
Where in and around Leicester we attend
We come out to the whole city, from Thurmaston and Rushey Mead in the north to Aylestone and Eyres Monsell in the south, and from New Parks and Braunstone across to Evington and Hamilton. Beyond the boundary we cover Oadby, Wigston, Birstall, Syston, Glenfield and Enderby, plus the M1 around junctions 21 to 22, the M69 and the A46. Neighbouring areas with their own pages include Loughborough, Hinckley and Market Harborough.
Information that helps us help you faster
- Your location: road name, motorway direction and nearest junction, a postcode or a what3words reference.
- What you can see: a flat, shredded tread, a bulge, or a dashboard warning.
- The tyre size printed on the sidewall, or the registration number so we can look it up.
- Whether you and any passengers are out of the way of traffic.
Phone for an emergency tyre fitter in Leicester
Call 07989 606060 day or night, or send us a WhatsApp message. Our prices are competitive, there are no hidden fees, and you'll know the cost before anyone sets off. You can pay by cash, card or bank transfer. If the job can wait for a booked slot, see mobile tyre fitting in Leicester.
