KEY TAKEAWAYS
- We take off the flat and fit your own spare where you're parked.
- We don't repair, patch or sell tires.
- No spare, or a flat spare, means a tow to a tire shop.
- Keep your lug nut key somewhere you can find it.
- A temporary spare is for short, slower trips to a shop.
What does a mobile tire change include?
A mobile tire change is a simple roadside service: we come to your car day or night, lift it safely, take off the wheel with the flat and fit your spare. We tighten the nuts in the right pattern, lower the car and put the flat wheel in your trunk or cargo area. Then you can drive to a tire shop to have the flat looked at.
That's the full scope. We don't plug or patch punctures, we don't mount new tires on rims, and we don't sell tires. Keeping to the spare swap means the job is done where you are and you choose the shop that repairs or replaces your tire.
| Job | Zip Towing | Tire shop |
|---|---|---|
| Remove the flat and fit your spare | Yes | Yes |
| Tow to a tire shop when there's no spare | Yes | No |
| Patch or plug a puncture | No | Yes |
| Sell or mount a new tire | No | Yes |
| Balance wheels or swap seasonal tires | No | Yes |
What if I don't have a spare tire?
Many newer cars come with a repair kit or run-flat tires instead of a spare. If you don't have a usable spare, or the spare is flat too, we'll tow your car to a tire shop or your mechanic in Richmond or nearby. Tell us when you call, so we send the right truck the first time.
Run-flat tires are designed to let you drive a limited distance after a puncture. Check your owner's manual for the limits. If a run-flat has been driven too far or the sidewall is damaged, a tow is the safer choice.
How do I prepare for a mobile tire change in Bridgeport, Richmond?
A few minutes of looking saves time once we arrive. Find out where your spare lives, usually under the trunk floor or beneath the vehicle on pickups and some SUVs. Look for the lug nut key, a special socket that some cars need to remove one locking nut per wheel. It is often in the glovebox, console or with the jack.
If you're on a busy road, don't try to change the tire yourself next to moving traffic. Put your hazards on, get out on the side away from the lane and wait somewhere safe.
- Where the spare is and whether it looks inflated
- The lug nut key, if your wheels have locking nuts
- Which tire is flat, and whether the rim looks bent
- Whether you're on a shoulder, in a lot or in a parkade
How far can I drive on a spare tire?
A full-size spare can usually be driven like a normal tire, though it's worth having a shop check it soon. A compact temporary spare, often called a donut, is different: it's made for short distances at reduced speed. The limits are printed on the tire's sidewall or listed in your owner's manual.
Plan to go straight to a tire shop rather than carrying on with your day. If the shop is far away or you need to take a highway, towing the car may be more sensible, and we can arrange that instead of the swap.
When is a mobile tire change not safe?
Some flats can't be fixed with a spare. A bent rim, a wheel that has come loose, damage to the suspension after hitting a curb or debris, or a car resting at an awkward angle all call for a tow. The same goes for a car stopped on a narrow shoulder where there's no safe room to work.
Our crew will look at the situation on arrival and tell you honestly which option fits. If it's a tow, the price is confirmed before we hook up.
Flat tires on River Rd, Van Horne Way and Hwy 99 near Bridgeport
Many of our flat tire calls around Bridgeport, Richmond start on River Rd, where warehouses and yards bring industrial traffic and yard debris onto the road. A screw or scrap of metal picked up there can let a tire down slowly, and you may not notice until you're parked. Keep in mind that tire pressure drops in cool weather, so check your tires often in fall and winter. Industrial lots off Van Horne Way are similar, and a flat lot with room to work makes a mobile tire change easy.
Hwy 99, just west of Bridgeport toward the Oak St Bridge, is a different story. The shoulders are narrow and traffic is fast, so changing a tire there is risky for everyone. If you can roll safely to an exit or a lot, do that; if not, stay well away from the lane and we may suggest a tow off the highway to a tire shop in Richmond, BC, instead.
Questions drivers ask
Can you fix my flat tire on the spot?
No, we don't patch or repair tires. We put your spare on, and a tire shop can repair or replace the flat.
Do you bring a spare tire?
No, we fit the spare that came with your car. If you don't have one, we can tow your vehicle to a tire shop.
I can't find my lug nut key. What now?
Check the glovebox, console and spare tire area. If it's missing, the wheel likely can't come off, and a tow to a shop is the next step.
Can you change a tire in an underground parkade?
Often, yes, if there's room to lift the car safely. Tell us the parkade level and stall so we can plan.
Will you put the flat tire in my car?
Yes, we put the flat wheel in your trunk or cargo area so you can take it to a shop.