A tyre letting go at speed on the E40, E19 or E411 is unnerving, but what you do in the first minute matters most. Keep a firm grip, ease off the accelerator gently — don't brake hard — and let the car slow while you steer for the hard shoulder or the nearest emergency lane.
Get everyone to safety first
Stop as far to the right as you can, put the hazard lights on, and get everyone out through the doors away from traffic. In Belgium you must wear a reflective jacket before stepping out, and place the warning triangle at least 30 metres behind the car (100 metres on a motorway). Then wait behind the crash barrier, never in the car and never on the carriageway.
Who to call
The Belgian emergency number is 112. On the motorway there are orange emergency phones roughly every two kilometres that connect you straight to the operator and pinpoint your location. If you're a member of a roadside organisation, they can attend too.
Why a mobile fitter can't meet you on the hard shoulder
For safety and legal reasons, a mobile tyre service cannot work on a live motorway hard shoulder. Once you're safely behind the barrier and the situation is under control, we meet you at the next exit or service area — not on the running lane. We repair and replace on the spot there; we don't tow.
Should you change it yourself?
Only if you can do it completely off the carriageway, on firm level ground, well away from traffic — which is rarely the case on the E40 or E19. If there's any doubt, leave it and wait for help. Many cars now carry a sealant kit rather than a spare, and a kit won't fix a blowout or a split sidewall.
The honest bit
A clean puncture in the tread can usually be repaired. Motorway blowouts and sidewall damage generally can't, so the tyre is replaced — and tyres are fitted in pairs so the axle stays balanced. We'll always give you a clear quote before any work.