When a tyre blows on the A34 south of Oxford there is no hard shoulder to use. Steer straight, slow gently and aim for the next interchange; the replacement is fitted once you have stopped somewhere safe.
The Oxfordshire A34 carries a steady stream of heavy lorries, and a burst at that pace, perhaps approaching Botley or passing the Chilton turn, can snatch at the steering wheel. Hold it firmly, ease off without stamping on the brake and, only while you can steer safely, signal for the next exit: Milton for Didcot, Marcham for Abingdon, Hinksey Hill for Kennington. In Birmingham, a blowout on the Walsall Road towards the Scott Arms happens at lower speed but is still dangerous among the buses.
Once off the road, make sure nobody is standing near passing traffic, then photograph the damaged tyre and send it with the size. Stranded in a live lane with the car immobile? Leave by the passenger side if it is safe, stand well back and ring 999, adding National Highways on 0300 123 5000 on the Oxfordshire section. We fit the replacement wherever you parked or were taken, and inspect the rim and the opposite tyre.
Need something else? Our pages on emergency mobile tyre fitting on the A34 and flat tyre help on the A34 explain those jobs.
Chieveley services at M4 J13, Peartree services, Perry Barr's One Stop centre or Crown Wharf retail park in Walsall all give room. The M6 J7 roundabout and any A34 lane or verge never do.
| Road | A34 Oxford to Chieveley and Birmingham Stratford Road |
|---|---|
| Operator | National Highways (Oxfordshire section); local councils (Birmingham section) |
What to do after a burst tyre →Burst tyre replacement on the A34 page
West of Oxford, a burst tyre means getting off the A34 at the next exit if the car still steers. The Northern By-pass Road toward Cutteslowe, or Banbury Road into Summertown, leads to residential streets where the car can stop clear of traffic. If it cannot move, call 999. Otherwise ring us with the road, the street and a nearby landmark.
On the Oxfordshire trunk road a blowout leaves no hard shoulder to coast onto, so switch the hazard lights on at once and, assuming it still steers, head for Milton, Marcham or whichever exit comes first. Stranded before it? Passengers exit towards the Oxfordshire verge and cross the barrier, never walking back along the carriageway. On Birchfield Road in Birmingham, get them onto the pavement. Driving on a shredded tyre wrecks the rim, which the fitter inspects along with the other tyres.
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Tyre blown on the A34? Reach an interchange, stop safely, then phone us.
