A tyre gone flat near the M42 or outside your Solihull home
Solihull drivers cover a lot of ground at awkward hours. There are early runs to Birmingham Airport, late finishes at the NEC, and commutes that join the M42 at Monkspath or Copt Hill before most people are awake. A tyre that gives way on any of those trips leaves you stuck at exactly the moment the garages are closed. Ring us whatever the time. The phone is answered day and night, all week, and we send the closest available fitter out with a tyre and the equipment to change it wherever your car has stopped.
We aim to get someone to you within 60 minutes in most cases. How long it takes depends on where you are and what the roads are doing, so we'll give you a realistic time on the phone rather than a hopeful one.
Safe places to stop between Shirley and the NEC
Before thinking about the tyre, think about where the car is sitting and who is passing it.
- On the M42: if you lose a tyre between junction 4 (A34 Shirley), junction 5 (A41 Solihull) and junction 6 (A45, the airport and the NEC), aim for the hard shoulder or an emergency area. Turn the hazard warning lights on, get everyone out through the left-hand doors and stand behind the safety barrier. If you've stopped in an emergency area, or the car is stranded in a live lane, call National Highways on 0300 123 5000. Stuck in a running lane with no safe way out? Stay in your seat with the belt on and the hazards flashing, and dial 999. There's more in our motorway flat tyre guide.
- On the Stratford Road, Warwick Road or Coventry Road: these carry heavy traffic and buses. Slow down gradually, then turn into a side road or a car park rather than stopping in the carriageway.
- On a lane towards Hockley Heath or Hampton-in-Arden: unlit stretches and narrow verges make a stopped car hard to see. Find a gateway, a wide verge or a lay-by, keep the hazards on and wait well away from the road.
Heading to the airport with a tyre warning
A pressure warning on the way to a flight is a nasty decision. Pressing on at motorway speed with a soft tyre can turn a repairable puncture into a shredded sidewall, and possibly a damaged wheel. If the light comes on, pull in somewhere safe and have a look. If one tyre is obviously low, stop driving and call us. If you aren't sure what the light is telling you, our guide to the tyre pressure warning light explains the difference between a gradual leak and a sensor fault. Tell us if you're up against a check-in time, and we'll be straight with you about whether a fitter can get there first.
What the fitter brings and decides on the spot
The fitter inspects the tyre before anything else. A puncture in the central three-quarters of the tread, smaller than 6 mm and on a tyre that hasn't been run flat, can usually be repaired in line with British Standard guidance. If the damage is on the shoulder or sidewall, or the tyre has been driven on while deflated, a new one goes on there and then. We carry premium, mid-range and budget brands, all with the manufacturer's guarantee, and wheel balancing and disposal of the old tyre are free.
Some places aren't safe to work in, such as an emergency area on the M42 or a tight bend on a country lane. In that case our breakdown recovery takes the car somewhere the job can be done properly.
Wheel nut key: many newer cars have one locking nut on each wheel. Look in the glovebox, the boot floor or the tool tray while you wait, because the fitter can't remove the wheel without it.
Information that gets a fitter to you sooner
- Your position: a junction number and direction on the M42, a street and postcode, or a what3words reference.
- The tyre size from the sidewall (for example 235/55 R18), or the registration if you can't read it.
- Whether it's a run-flat, since many larger cars here use them.
- What happened: a sudden bang, a gradual loss of air, or just the warning light.
Solihull districts and roads we attend
We come out across the borough: the town centre, Shirley, Monkspath, Olton, Elmdon, Knowle, Dorridge, Marston Green and Chelmsley Wood, plus Balsall Common, Hampton-in-Arden and Hockley Heath. On the road network that means the M42 between junctions 4 and 6, the A34, the A41 and the A45. Over the borough boundary we also reach Birmingham, Coventry and Warwick.
Ring for an emergency fitter in Solihull
Call 07989 606060 at any hour, or send your location on WhatsApp. Prices are competitive with no hidden fees, and you'll know the cost before the fitter sets off. You can pay by card, cash or bank transfer. If it isn't urgent, see tyre fitting in Solihull or our mobile tyre fitting page to arrange a time that suits you.
