HGV Breakdown Recovery vs. Mobile Tyre Fitting: Know the Difference

When Mobile Tyre Fitting Is the Right Call

Mobile tyre fitting is the appropriate response to any situation where the vehicle can be safely positioned off the carriageway and the sole issue is one or more tyres requiring replacement or repair. If your HGV has experienced a tyre blowout or puncture and is safely on the hard shoulder or in a lay-by with no other vehicle damage, a mobile tyre service is almost always the fastest and cheapest solution. A mobile tyre technician carries all the equipment needed to change even large HGV tyres at roadside and will typically have your vehicle back on the road within 90 minutes of the initial call.

When Breakdown Recovery Is Required

Heavy recovery is required when the tyre failure has been accompanied by wheel or hub damage (which mobile fitting cannot remedy), when the vehicle cannot be safely steered to the hard shoulder and is in a dangerous position on an active carriageway, when the tyre failure has caused chassis or suspension damage, when multiple tyre failures have rendered the vehicle unsafe to remain stationary in the breakdown position, or when the vehicle is loaded with time-critical or hazardous cargo requiring specialist handling. In these cases, calling heavy recovery first and mobile tyre fitting second is the correct approach.

The Cost of Getting It Wrong

Calling heavy recovery when you need mobile tyre fitting adds unnecessary cost and delay. Heavy recovery operators charge callout fees and per-hour rates that significantly exceed mobile tyre service costs, and the process of loading and transporting an HGV to a tyre bay and then returning it to the route adds hours to total downtime. Conversely, calling a mobile tyre fitter to a situation that actually requires recovery wastes the fitter's time, ties up a mobile unit, and means the vehicle still needs recovery afterwards — adding cost and delay to both services. When in doubt, call your mobile tyre service first — our dispatch team can quickly assess the situation and recommend the appropriate resource.