FLAT TYRE RIGHT NOW?
FOLLOW THESE 5 STEPS.

Step 1: Get Safe — Immediately

The moment you realise you have a flat tyre, your only priority is getting safe. Nothing else matters yet — not the tyre, not the damage, not who you need to call. Safety first.

If you're driving, slow down gradually. Don't brake hard. Indicate left and pull over to the safest place available — a lay-by, car park, side street, or wide verge. On a motorway, get onto the hard shoulder as far left as possible. Switch on your hazard lights immediately.

If it's dark, turn on your interior light too. You want to be visible. If you're on a fast road, get all passengers out through the left-side doors (away from traffic) and move behind the barrier if there is one. Never stand behind or beside the vehicle on a motorway.

Step 2: Assess the Situation

Once you're safe, take a breath and assess what you're dealing with. Look at the flat tyre:

• Can you see the cause? Nail, screw, piece of glass, or metal in the tread? Leave it in — it's plugging the hole.
• Is the sidewall damaged? Bulges, cuts, or chunks missing from the sidewall mean the tyre is definitely finished.
• Is the rim touching the ground? If you drove any distance on the flat, check for rim damage.
• Is it safe to change here? Flat ground? Away from traffic? Enough space to work? If not — don't try.

This information is useful when you call for help. But if you're in any doubt about safety — skip straight to Step 3.

Step 3: Call TyreBlitz — 0208 079 1031

This is the fastest way to get moving again. Call 0208 079 1031 and tell us:

• Your exact location (use What3Words or share a Google Maps pin)
• Your vehicle make, model, and year
• What happened — sudden flat, blowout, slow leak, drove over something
• Whether you can see the cause (nail, screw, etc.)

A real person answers. No automated menus. We dispatch a technician within 5 minutes of your call — they're already loaded with tyres for your vehicle type. Average arrival time: 30 minutes.

Step 4: Do NOT Do These Things

While you're waiting, avoid these common mistakes that make the situation worse:

• Don't drive on the flat. Even "just to the next garage." Driving on a flat destroys the tyre (repair now impossible), damages the rim (expensive), and can damage suspension components. Stop where you are.
• Don't use a can of tyre foam. It makes a proper repair much harder or impossible. It contaminates the inside of the tyre. It's a temporary bodge at best.
• Don't pull out a nail or screw. If there's an object in the tread, leave it. It's actually plugging the hole and slowing air loss.
• Don't attempt a change on a motorway. The hard shoulder is one of the most dangerous places in the UK. Hundreds of people are killed or seriously injured there every year. Stay behind the barrier and let professionals handle it.

Step 5: Stay Safe While Waiting

Our technician is on the way. While you wait:

• Stay in a safe position — behind the barrier on motorways, inside the vehicle on quiet roads
• Keep hazard lights on
• If you have a high-visibility jacket, put it on
• If you have a warning triangle, place it 45 metres behind your vehicle (but only if it's safe to do so)
• Stay warm — keep the engine running for heating if needed (but only if you're not near a fuel leak)

Our dispatch team can track your technician's location and give you an ETA update if you call back. Most callouts, the technician arrives within 30 minutes.

What Happens When TyreBlitz Arrives

Our technician will:

1. Set up safety equipment (cones, warning signs if on a road)
2. Inspect the damaged tyre
3. Determine if it's repairable or needs replacing
4. If repairable: professional mushroom plug repair to BS AU 159 standards
5. If not repairable: fit a replacement tyre from their stock
6. Torque wrench finish, pressure check, and you're back on the road

The whole process typically takes 20-30 minutes once the technician arrives. No call-out fee — you pay only for the repair or replacement tyre.

How To Prevent Flat Tyres

While you can't prevent every flat, you can reduce the risk significantly:

• Check tyre pressures monthly. Under-inflated tyres are more vulnerable to punctures and blowouts.
• Inspect tyres visually. Look for cuts, bulges, embedded objects, and low tread every time you wash the car.
• Replace tyres before they're worn out. The legal minimum is 1.6mm, but grip and puncture resistance drop significantly below 3mm.
• Avoid potholes and debris. Easier said than done, but hitting a pothole at speed is a leading cause of sudden tyre failure.
• Don't ignore TPMS warnings. That pressure light exists for a reason. Check it immediately.

Don't Have a Spare? You're Not Alone.

Over 90% of new cars sold in the UK no longer come with a spare tyre. Instead, they include a can of foam sealant and an inflator — which doesn't work for blowouts, sidewall damage, or large punctures. Many drivers don't realise this until they're stranded.

TyreBlitz exists precisely for this situation. No spare? No problem. We bring the tyre and fit it wherever you are. That's our entire business model — because the car industry stopped giving you spares, and someone needed to fill the gap.