Yes, someone can come to you to change a tire. Axl Roadside Assistance is a mobile emergency roadside assistance service based in Mountain View, California, that comes to your car for jump starts, battery replacement, flat tires, lockouts and fuel delivery, 7am to 8pm daily. We come to your home, your work, a parking lot or garage, or the roadside, and we put on your spare with our own jack and tools. If the tire has a repairable puncture, we plug it where the car is parked, and if it can’t be repaired and you have no spare, we can install a new tire on site.
Can someone come out to change a tire?
Yes. Call or text us, tell us where the car is, and we head your way fast. Our average response time is about 18 minutes, depending on where you are and where we are when you call. We are open from 7am to 8pm, seven days a week, including weekends.
We serve Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Redwood City, Atherton, Woodside and Portola Valley. You do not need a membership or a subscription to call us, and you pay for the job you need. If you have a flat, our flat tire service page has the details.
Can someone change my tire at home?
Yes. If you find a flat in your driveway or garage, you do not have to drive anywhere first, because we come to you. What we do depends on the tire:
- If the puncture is repairable, we plug it where the car is parked.
- If you have a spare, we put it on with our own jack and tools.
- If the tire can’t be repaired and you have no spare, we can install a new tire on site.
Whether a puncture can be plugged depends on where the damage is and how bad it is, and our guide to what to do with a flat tire and when it can be plugged explains the difference.
What if my tire can’t be repaired and I have no spare?
We can install a new tire on site. When you call, tell us your tire size, which is printed on the sidewall, for example 235/45R18.
Many Teslas and other EVs don’t carry a spare, so a flat on one of them means a plug or a new tire rather than a spare swap. If you are not sure whether your car has a spare, your owner’s manual says whether it came with one and where it is kept.
We don’t tow. If a car truly needs a tow, we tell you so you can arrange one. Our tire change page has more on spare swaps and new tires.
What about a tire pressure (TPMS) warning?
TPMS is your car’s tire pressure monitoring system, and its dashboard light comes on when a tire is low on air. We help with TPMS (low tire pressure) warnings on many vehicles. The light can point to a slow leak, a puncture or simply low pressure, so if a tire looks low, call us rather than driving far on it.
How much does a mobile tire service charge?
We don’t post prices online because every call is different. We quote on the phone, and we tell you about any extra cost before we do the work. Our rates are fair and affordable, with no hidden fees. If you find a lower quote from another provider for the same service, we’ll match it.
What changes the cost is the job itself. Plugging a puncture, putting on a spare and installing a new tire are different jobs, and a new tire depends on the size your car takes. We ask for your vehicle, your location and what happened when you call.
Should I call AAA for a flat tire?
It depends on what you already have. If you already have an AAA membership or a roadside add-on through your car insurance, check what it covers for a flat tire and use it if it does, since you are already paying for it. If you have neither, you do not need to join anything to call us.
You do not have to be a member to call AAA, but a non-member pays a fee plus the cost of a membership. AAA says that if you join by phone the help can start right away, but if you buy a membership online the roadside benefits begin 48 hours later. AAA’s own article says its fees vary by AAA club, so check the terms for yours.
Some car insurers sell roadside assistance as an add-on to your policy. Progressive calls it an extra coverage you can add, and State Farm says it may be added to an existing policy. Progressive says added coverage may not take effect the same day, so check before you need it. Some credit cards may include roadside help, so check your card’s own terms.
If you are on a Bay Area freeway on a weekday between 5:30am and 7:30pm, the free Freeway Service Patrol may be the better first call. Dial 511 and say “Freeway Assist.”
What should I have ready when I call?
Here is what we ask for when you call:
- Your name.
- Where you are, such as a street address, cross streets or the name of the parking lot.
- Your vehicle’s year, make and model.
- What happened, for example a flat, a slow leak or a warning light, whether you can see a nail or screw, and whether you have a spare.
- Your tire size, printed on the sidewall, for example 235/45R18.
If your wheels have locking lug nuts, the wheel cannot come off without the special key, so it helps to know where yours is.
What should I do while I wait?
Your safety comes first. If you can, pull into a parking lot or onto a wide shoulder, turn on your hazard lights and set the parking brake. Stay well clear of moving traffic, and do not try to change the tire yourself beside fast traffic. Drive on a flat only as far as you need to reach a safe place, because it can damage the tire and the wheel. If anyone is hurt or you feel in danger, call 911.
Call or text Axl Roadside at (415) 712-4161, 7am to 8pm daily.
