Burst tyreIf it bursts on the A1(M) or another busy road
Hold the steering wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator and let the car slow down before braking gently. On the A1(M), follow the Highway Code: if you can, leave at the next exit; if you cannot, stop on the hard shoulder or in an emergency area, get out on the side away from the traffic, stand behind the barrier and call your breakdown cover or National Highways on 0300 123 5000.
We never work on the carriageway of a motorway or main road, on a hard shoulder, in a smart motorway emergency area or on a slip road. Once the car has been recovered or moved somewhere safe, we can fit the new tyre there. On the A505 and other busy roads around the town, the car needs to be off the main road before the fitter can work.
What to do in the first moments after a blowout, and what the fitter checks on the wheel and on the tyre at the other end of the axle, is set out once on our main burst tyre replacement page, under Related pages below.