If you break down on M‑139, I‑94, US‑31 or a side street in Benton Harbor, you need clear steps and a trusted local towing company you can call right away. This guide explains exactly what to do in an emergency and how Zielke Towing & Tires can help you get safely back on the road in and around ZIP code 49022.
Who We Are: Zielke Towing & Tires on M‑139 in Benton Harbor
Zielke Towing & Tires is a locally owned towing, roadside assistance, auto repair and tire shop based at 1303 M‑139 in Benton Harbor, MI 49022, serving drivers throughout southwest Michigan. Our team provides 24‑hour towing and roadside assistance across Benton Harbor, St. Joseph and much of Berrien and Van Buren counties.
Founded by Jason Arndt, the business grew out of Arndt’s Auto Service in the late 1990s, expanding from light auto and truck repair into a full towing operation with multiple wreckers and a rollback. In January 2005, Jason purchased Zielke Towing & Tires from Kenn Zielke and later consolidated operations into the former Star Stamping building at 1303 M‑139, creating a facility with a full machine shop and fabrication capabilities for specialized towing equipment.
Today, Zielke Towing & Tires offers car and truck towing, light‑, medium‑ and heavy‑duty towing, winch‑outs, slide‑off recovery, automobile unlocks, flat tire assistance, battery help, auto and truck repairs, and tire services from its Benton Harbor base. Our location on M‑139 makes it easy to reach I‑94, the I‑94 Business Loop (Main Street), US‑31 and neighborhoods throughout ZIP code 49022 quickly.
For a full overview of all the areas we cover, you can also browse our dedicated locations page.
Service Area: Where We Help Stranded Drivers
Key Roads and Highways We Cover
Benton Harbor sits at a critical crossroads for drivers in southwest Michigan, with several busy highways and local routes converging around town. Zielke Towing & Tires regularly responds to calls on:
- M‑139 between Fairplain and downtown Benton Harbor, including the stretch past Fairplain Plaza and up toward Main Street (BL I‑94).
- I‑94 near the Benton Harbor / St. Joseph exits, where heavy interstate traffic and winter weather often lead to breakdowns and slide‑offs.
- US‑31 / St. Joseph Valley Parkway, which carries regional traffic toward South Bend and north toward other lake communities.
- Major local roads such as Napier Avenue, Pipestone Road, Britain Avenue and Colfax Avenue connecting Benton Harbor with nearby communities.
Because we are based directly on M‑139, our tow trucks can reach these corridors and nearby neighborhoods quickly when you call for help, whether you need car towing or specialized heavy‑duty towing.
For broader driving conditions on I‑94 and US‑31, Michigan’s Department of Transportation publishes current statewide travel and traffic information.
Neighborhoods, Towns and ZIP Codes We Serve
While our shop address is in Benton Harbor (ZIP code 49022), Zielke Towing & Tires serves a wide swath of southwest Michigan lake and inland communities. Our regular service area includes:
- Benton Harbor, MI 49022, including the Fairplain area, downtown, the Benton Harbor Arts District and neighborhoods near the St. Joseph River. Learn more on our Benton Harbor service page.
- St. Joseph, MI 49085, across the river and along the lakefront, often accessed via I‑94, Main Street and local bridges. See our St. Joseph towing and roadside page.
- Coloma, MI 49038 and surrounding areas such as Paw Paw Lake, Watervliet, Hagar Shores and Lake Michigan beach communities. Drivers in these areas can reference our dedicated Coloma location page.
- Other towns listed in our company history, including Stevensville, Lakeshore, South Haven, Covert, Sister Lakes, Keeler and Magician Lake, across Berrien and Van Buren counties.
If you are unsure whether you are within our coverage, you can usually assume we can help if you are near Benton Harbor, St. Joseph or the nearby lake and resort areas in southwestern Michigan—and our contact page is always available if you want to confirm by phone or email.
What to Do If Your Car Breaks Down in Benton Harbor
When something goes wrong on M‑139, I‑94, US‑31 or a local road in Benton Harbor, staying calm and following a simple plan can keep everyone safer.
Step 1: Get to a Safe Spot
If your vehicle still moves:
- Turn on your hazard lights immediately.
- Steer to the right shoulder, a nearby parking lot or a wide side street away from fast‑moving traffic.
- On M‑139 near Fairplain Plaza or downtown, try to pull into a business lot or side street if possible, rather than stopping in a live lane.
If your car will not move:
- Turn on hazard lights and keep your seat belt on while you assess the situation.
- If you are on I‑94 or US‑31 and your vehicle is stuck in a lane, it may be safer to remain inside with your seat belt fastened until help arrives unless there is an immediate danger such as fire.
- If it is safe and you can exit to a barrier, ditch or far shoulder, move everyone there and wait away from traffic.
These simple steps reduce the risk of secondary crashes, which are a serious concern on busy highways.
For more detailed preparation tips—especially for longer drives—review our checklist on how to prepare your car for towing.
Step 2: Decide Whether to Call 911 or a Towing Company
In Michigan, call 911 first if:
- There are injuries.
- Your vehicle is blocking a lane on I‑94, US‑31 or another high‑speed road.
- There is smoke, fire, leaking fuel or debris across the roadway.
Police and other responders can secure the scene, and under Michigan State Police procedures they may request a tow truck when a vehicle must be removed from the roadway or impounded as part of a custodial arrest.
If everyone is safe, and your disabled vehicle is off to the side or in a parking lot, you can usually call a towing company directly for a regular tow or roadside service. In those situations, you are not required to wait for law enforcement to choose a towing provider, and calling directly often gives you more control over where your vehicle goes and what it costs.
Michigan’s Attorney General provides additional consumer guidance on state towing laws and your rights.
Step 3: Call Zielke Towing & Tires with the Right Details
When you call Zielke Towing & Tires at our Benton Harbor dispatch number, giving clear information helps our driver find you faster.
Provide:
- Your name and phone number.
- Exact location: for example, “northbound M‑139 just past Fairplain Plaza,” “I‑94 eastbound near the Benton Harbor exit,” or “parking lot in downtown Benton Harbor near the Arts District.”
- Vehicle make, model, color and whether it is loaded with passengers, a trailer or cargo.
- The problem: flat tire, no start, stuck in snow, off the road, accident damage, locked out, or out of fuel.
If you want to know what information is most useful before you call, our Q&A article on what to have ready before a tow call walks through the details step by step.
From there, our dispatcher will confirm whether you need towing, a winch‑out or vehicle recovery service, or on‑the‑spot roadside help like a tire replacement or jump start.
Services We Offer When You Are Stranded
Light‑Duty and Flatbed Towing Near 49022
Zielke Towing & Tires provides light‑duty towing and flatbed towing for cars, SUVs, minivans and many light trucks in and around Benton Harbor. Our fleet includes wreckers and a rollback that can safely transport disabled vehicles from:
- M‑139, including construction or lane‑closure areas.
- I‑94 ramps and shoulders near Benton Harbor and St. Joseph.
- US‑31 segments close to the city.
- Neighborhood streets and parking areas throughout 49022 and nearby ZIP codes.
We can tow vehicles to our shop on M‑139 for diagnostics and repair, to another local repair shop of your choice, or to your home or storage location within our service area. For larger commercial trucks or equipment, our heavy‑duty towing service is available throughout southwest Michigan.
If you are comparing options, our educational guide on flatbed vs. wheel‑lift towing explains when each method is best for your vehicle.
Roadside Assistance on M‑139, I‑94 and US‑31
Not every call requires a full tow. Zielke Towing & Tires offers a range of roadside assistance services to help you continue your trip if it is safe to do so.
Common roadside calls include:
- Flat tire help: installing your spare or towing you to our shop for tire repair or replacement via our tire replacement service.
- Jump starts and battery assistance: getting you going again through our battery service or jump start service if a weak battery is the main problem.
- Lockout service: unlocking vehicles when keys are locked inside using our specialized lockout service.
- Fuel delivery: bringing enough fuel to reach the nearest station with our fuel and gas service.
- Winch‑outs and off‑road recovery: pulling vehicles from ditches, snowbanks or soft shoulders through our winch‑out service and vehicle recovery service.
We routinely assist drivers at rest areas, gas stations, grocery store lots and residential addresses throughout Benton Harbor, St. Joseph and surrounding communities. For a complete list of what we can fix on the roadside, explore our full roadside assistance hub.
Tire Services at Our M‑139 Shop
In addition to towing and roadside help, Zielke Towing & Tires operates as a tire shop where drivers can have new tires installed and balanced. Many customers choose to have their vehicles towed or driven to 1303 M‑139 for:
- Replacement of worn or damaged tires ordered through tire retailers that ship directly to our shop profile on SimpleTire.
- Mounting and balancing of new sets for year‑round driving in southwest Michigan.
- Tire repairs when punctures are safely repairable.
Being able to handle both your emergency tow and your follow‑up tire work at the same location saves time and extra trips.
If you own an RV, our article on RV maintenance tips to avoid breakdowns offers additional advice for keeping tires and systems road‑ready.
Why Local Drivers Trust Zielke Towing & Tires
Decades of Experience in Southwest Michigan
Owner Jason Arndt has been repairing vehicles and providing towing services in southwest Michigan since the late 1990s, starting with Arndt’s Auto Service in Hartford and expanding into towing in 1999 and 2001 with his first wreckers. After acquiring Zielke Towing & Tires in 2005 and moving to 1303 M‑139 in 2008, he continued to grow the company’s capabilities, adding machine shop and fabrication equipment to build and maintain specialized tow trucks.
This background means our team is not just moving vehicles from point A to point B—many of our technicians and drivers have hands‑on experience diagnosing and repairing the problems that caused the breakdown in the first place. You can learn more about our story and philosophy on our detailed About page.
Broad Service Area with a Local Focus
Although we serve a large region including Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, Coloma, Watervliet, Stevensville, Lakeshore, South Haven, Covert, Hagar Shores, Lake Michigan Beach, Sister Lakes, Keeler and Paw Paw Lake, we remain very much a local company rooted in Berrien County. Our location and experience give us a strong understanding of how traffic, weather and tourism affect roads in ZIP codes 49022, 49085 and 49038.
Online listings and customer reviews highlight that Zielke Towing & Tires is recognized for fast response, communication and a wide range of towing and roadside services in the Benton Harbor area. Real‑world stories include technicians suggesting a jump start instead of an unnecessary tow, quick responses to stranded families and professional handling of shop‑to‑home tows.
For more examples of how we help different vehicle types, see our resources on motorcycle towing, emergency truck towing in Michigan and a complete car towing guide for drivers.
Full‑Service Capabilities Under One Roof
Because we combine towing, roadside assistance, auto and truck repair, tire services and fabrication at our M‑139 facility, many customers can have their entire problem handled in one place. Our machine shop can perform metal shearing, press work, shaft straightening, milling and multiple types of welding, which supports the maintenance of specialized equipment and custom repairs.
For you as a driver, that means:
- One call for towing and roadside services.
- One destination for follow‑up repairs, tire work or diagnostics.
- A consistent team that knows your vehicle’s history and can answer common questions like “how fast can a tow truck get to me?” or “will towing damage my car?”.
When to Call Zielke vs. Insurance or Motor Clubs
Using Your Roadside Assistance Benefits
If you have roadside coverage through your auto insurance or a motor club, you may be able to request reimbursement or have a third‑party provider dispatched. Many national networks send calls to local towing companies near Benton Harbor, including along I‑94 and US‑31.
However, these services:
- May have longer wait times during peak weather or holiday periods.
- Often decide which towing provider to send, giving you less control.
- Might limit where your vehicle is towed without paying extra.
By contrast, calling Zielke Towing & Tires directly lets you choose your destination—our shop on M‑139, a trusted mechanic in St. Joseph or your home in Coloma or another nearby community. For a deeper breakdown of what affects your bill, read our article on car towing costs explained or our FAQ on car towing costs in Benton Harbor.
Paying Out of Pocket and Seeking Reimbursement
In many cases, you can call us first, pay for the tow or roadside service, and then submit the invoice to your insurer or motor club for reimbursement if your policy allows it. Michigan’s consumer protection guidance encourages drivers to understand their towing coverage and keep documentation of charges.
If you are unsure how your benefits work, ask your insurance agent or motor club in advance so you know your options before an emergency, and keep a copy of our contact details in your glove box or phone.
Quick Checklist: What to Do Right Now If You Are Stranded Near Benton Harbor
Emergency Steps for Drivers on M‑139, I‑94 or US‑31
Safety and Contact Checklist
- Turn on hazard lights and move to a safe location if possible.
- If anyone is injured or your vehicle is blocking a travel lane, call 911 immediately.
- If it is a non‑injury breakdown and your vehicle is safely off to the side, call Zielke Towing & Tires at our Benton Harbor number for 24/7 towing or roadside assistance.
- Share your exact location (road name, mile marker, nearby business or landmark), vehicle details and what went wrong.
- Follow dispatcher instructions and wait in a safe area until our tow truck arrives.
Whether you are stuck on M‑139 near Fairplain Plaza, stranded along I‑94 by the Benton Harbor / St. Joseph exits, or dealing with a flat tire in a 49022 neighborhood, Zielke Towing & Tires is here around the clock to help you get home safely.
