Changing rims and tires on a Scania truck trailer at Abbenrode next to the A36 autobahn

Early in the morning at 6.00 a German freight forwarder called our service hotline and told us about a situation with which our help was required. Right on the road in the town of Abbenrode, a truck with a trailer stopped with a blown tire. The driver needed help to deliver a new tire, and help with the replacement.

Our operator recorded all the data and quickly contacted one of our tire service partners. In theory, the problem should have been solved quickly, but something went wrong. Below, we’ll explain what the problem was, and share useful recommendations.

Mobile tire fitting - why is this service so in-demand?

Even an experienced driver can face an emergency situation. Imagine this: before leaving for the route, your car has passed the MOT and everything was fine, but for some reason the tire bursts in the most inappropriate place. In this scenario, it is not always possible to get to the nearest tire service on your own, and calling a tow truck will cost much more than using technical assistance on the roads.

Also, not all drivers know German well enough to freely communicate with the specialists at the service station. Misunderstandings arise, very often the service simply refuses to help the driver, reasons being that he does not have a client card. 

Our specialists take care of all these problems: we will find a specialist from a partner service station, organize a trip to the specified location, buy spare parts or tires if needed, and deliver them to the client. We can also act as intermediaries if the client has difficulties paying for the services of a German workshop.

Why did the solution of the problem drag on, and how did we solve the problem?

When our operator recorded all the data, he checked with the client whether the rim was intact. The driver assured him that everything was in order. But when our locksmith came to the place in an hour and a half, he immediately discovered that the rim was broken. It was not possible to install a new tire, which the master brought, on a broken rim. The situation was unpleasant, but it was necessary to find a way out. Everything was further complicated by the fact that within a radius of 130 km from this town there was no store where one could buy a suitable new rim.

Here's what we did:

1. We quickly began to look for other options and found one company who had the last rim. It was located 200 km from the place where our client's truck was parked. We immediately bought the rim and sent it to the client with another driver.
2. We agreed with our mobile tire fitting partner that he would wait until the rim arrived to fit the new rim and new tire.
3. Furthermore, we managed to solve the client's problem, but it took a total of 6 hours.
4. If our client had informed in advance about the actual condition of the wheels ( if he sent a photo or video), the specialist would immediately take both a new rim and a new tire with him. This would save a lot of time and the driver would be able to continue moving along the route much quicker.

As a result, the problem was solved, the client was very grateful. We can assume that if he had solved the situation on his own, the story would have dragged on. Probably, the car would have to be towed, and this is a completely different level of expenses.

Why was the rim damaged?

Perhaps due to stress or haste, the driver did not notice that the rim was damaged, but the master saw it right away. Practice shows that often mechanical damage to the tire beads and the bead flanges of the rims can occur due to violation of the rules for mounting or dismounting. Deformed rims gradually fray the tire beads, burrs on the rims lead to rupture or cut of the chambers.

It is also worth paying attention to the interactions between tires and rims; even the slightest discrepancies that are virtually invisible can cause deformation over time. If you force a tire on a rim that is already deformed or rusted, the tire will most likely not last long. That is why our mechanic refused to install a new tire on a damaged rim.

Why transport companies choose MT Onroad

We provide professional technical assistance on German roads. We are approached by drivers from different countries when they need mobile tire fitting, urgent repairs, towing, assistance in communicating with the police or BAG inspectors.

An english-speaking operator is available for you; we are in touch 24/7. In most cases, the repair team arrives at the site of the breakdown in 30–90 minutes. We do our best to shorten your downtime and get you back on track as quickly as possible. We carry out truck tire fitting for all car models!

Services we offer:

• Diagnostics. Checking pressure, defects, tread wear.
• Installation or dismantling of the wheel on any truck, trailer, and special equipment.
• Delivery of new, welded or used truck tires for replacement.
• Balancing truck and bus tires.

We are within easy reach as we have framework agreements with 600 partners (workshops all over Germany). We will always strive for fast service as well as fair prices for each of our clients.

Have a breakdown, a punctured tire or need other technical assistance on German roads? Call 49 977 5376 9999.