KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Most River Drive flats are found in the parkade, beside a pillar or a wall.
- We need about a metre of space on the flat side to work safely.
- Find the spare and the locking wheel nut key before the driver arrives.
- Check the spare's pressure afterwards; it has its own number on the label.
- No spare or a damaged wheel means a short tow to a tire shop instead.
Mobile tire change on River Drive: can it be done in your parkade stall?
Yes, a mobile tire change on River Drive can usually be done right in your stall, as long as there is room on the flat side. Parkade floors in the River Drive condo buildings are level concrete, which suits a jack well. The tight part is space. Stalls beside a pillar, a storage locker or a wall can leave less than a metre to kneel and swing a wrench. If that is your stall, the driver may ask you to roll the car slowly forward or back a short way so the flat wheel lines up with open space. That is usually safe at walking pace on a flat tire for a few metres. For cars that cannot move at all, underground towing on River Drive is the fallback, and our Bridgeport tire page explains the basics.
The truck itself stays at street level near your building's garage gate, so it does not block the ramp. Meet the driver at the gate with your fob and lead the way to the car. If the visitor area is open, you can also drive slowly to a wider visitor stall. Tell us the building number, the garage entrance and the level when you contact us, and the same goes for a battery boost on River Drive if the car has also been sitting.
Finding the spare before a mobile tire change on River Drive
Before a mobile tire change on River Drive, find the spare, because that is what goes on the car. Sedans usually keep it under the trunk floor, many SUVs and minivans hang it under the rear of the car on a cable, and some newer cars have no spare at all, only a sealant kit. In a parkade, clear the trunk of shopping, strollers and sports gear so we can reach the floor panel, and keep it on the floor of your stall rather than the drive aisle. If you find no spare, tell us before we come, so we can plan a flatbed from River Drive instead of a wasted trip. Our light duty towing on River Drive also moves SUVs and vans with no spare.
Look for these items while you wait, and if the car also will not start, ask for 24 hour roadside assistance on River Drive to cover both. Our blog on flatbed versus wheel-lift towing is worth a read if your car ends up needing a tow instead.
- The spare wheel, and whether it is full size or a compact temporary spare
- The locking wheel nut key, often in the glovebox or a small bag with the jack
- Your owner's manual, for the jacking points on unusual cars
- The fob, so the driver can get back through the gate if they need a tool
Mobile tire change on River Drive at the curb by the riverfront parks
A mobile tire change on River Drive at the curb is quick, but the curb near the parks is busy. The City opened Tait Riverfront Community Park on River Drive in August 2022, with a basketball court, a playground and skateboard elements, and families now park along the street beside it. Our driver parks behind your car with warning lights on and works from the curb side where possible. If the flat is on the traffic side, we keep the work short and stay aware of cars passing. Read our post on the slow down, move over law to see why passing drivers have to ease off, and see car towing on River Drive if the car cannot be fixed on the spot.
While you wait, keep children and dogs on the park side, away from the jack. If the flat happened on the way in along No. 4 Rd or Shell Rd, it is better to roll slowly onto River Drive or into a building's visitor area than to stop in a traffic lane. Our Tait tire change page covers driveway jobs nearby, and the Number 5 Road page covers business lots.
After a mobile tire change on River Drive: checking the spare's pressure
After a mobile tire change on River Drive, check the spare's air before you rely on it. A spare that has sat untouched in a trunk for years is often low. Transport Canada advises checking the pressure of all tires, including the spare, at least once a month, when they are cold, using the number on the tire label rather than the sidewall. A compact spare usually has its own higher pressure listed. If the spare looks low when it goes on, tell the driver, and drive gently to the nearest air pump or tire shop. Our 24 hour roadside assistance on River Drive can come back if it does not hold, and our contact page takes non-urgent requests.
A compact spare is for getting to a shop, not for weeks of driving. Book a repair or a new tire soon, and keep speed down on the way. Head out via No. 4 Rd to Bridgeport Rd rather than straight onto the Hwy 99 approaches near Bridgeport. If the flat was caused by a nail from a nearby construction site, check the other tires too. Drivers who work across the river can also call us for a mobile tire change on Mitchell Island.
When a mobile tire change on River Drive turns into a tow
A mobile tire change on River Drive is not possible when there is no good spare, two tires are flat, or the wheel itself is bent. Hitting a parkade kerb or a ramp edge hard can crack a rim or damage the suspension, and a fresh spare will not fix that. In those cases the car goes to a tire shop on a truck. If the car is low or in a tight underground stall, our underground towing setup brings it up first. The table below shows the usual outcome, and the accident towing page for River Drive covers damage from a collision in the parkade.
Whatever the outcome, we confirm the price on the phone before we start, and you choose where the car goes. If you also have trouble getting into the car, ask about a car lockout unlock on River Drive on the same visit. More on how we price work is in our post on tow truck costs in Bridgeport.
| Situation | Usual fix |
|---|---|
| One flat, good spare, room in the stall | Spare fitted at the stall |
| One flat, no spare or sealant kit only | Tow to a tire shop |
| Two flats or a bent rim | Tow to a tire shop |
| Flat on the curb by the park | Spare fitted at the curb |
Mobile Tire Change on River Drive: questions drivers ask
Do I have to move my car out of the parkade?
Usually not. If there is about a metre of room on the flat side, we change it in the stall. If not, roll it slowly a short way to open space.
Do you bring a new tire?
No. We fit your own spare. If you have no spare, we tow the car to a tire shop of your choice.
I cannot find my locking wheel nut key. Can you still help?
Look in the glovebox, the trunk side pockets and the jack bag first. If it is missing, tell us when you call, because it changes the plan.
Is the price confirmed first?
Yes. We confirm the price on the phone before the driver starts work.