AA profits punctured by soaring costs of roadside tyre changes

Changing a tyre used to be a rite of passage for many drivers but a surge in call-outs to the AA to fix blown-out tyres helped keep earnings at the breakdown group flat this year.

The resurgent firm, known for its distinctive yellow vans, said there were an extra 100,000 call-outs during the six months ending July against last year, which kept trading earnings flat at £192 million.

This was despite AA members spending £3 more on average to £157, and sales rising 2% to £467 million.

Investment in IT systems also pressed down on earnings.

Chief financial officer Martin Clarke said tyre-related incidents have now overtaken battery failure as the most common emergency call-out, which he blamed on hi-tech cars.

“Changing a tyre on a modern car is pretty bloody difficult,” he said, adding more potholes and drivers scared of changing tyres on the hard shoulder was also behind the change.