Tire Discounters Inc. continues to expand its presence in Virginia with the acquisition of Leete Tire and Auto, which has four retail outlets in Richmond, one in Petersburg and another in Emporia. The deal gives Tire Discounters 20 locations in the state.
Other Tire Discounters' properties in Virginia include Tire Outfitters in Winchester; Dellinger's in Chesapeake; Bobby's Tire in Franklin; Thompson Tire, which has seven retail stores along Interstate 81, stretching from Wytheville to Roanoke; and Eavers.
Leete Tire is one of the oldest tire and service businesses in Virginia, having opened its doors 80 years ago.
Jamie Ward, president and CEO of Tire Discounters, which is based in Cincinnati, Ohio, says Leete Tire's commitment to the communities where it operates was a driving force behind the acquisition.
“When we consider new companies to partner with, we look for those that align with our values. At Tire Discounters, we are always focused on providing an unparalleled customer experience - something that Leete Tire and Auto has been doing for eight decades. This as an opportunity to use the resources at our disposal to preserve and improve on that customer experience across the communities that Leete operates in today.”
According to Jerry Tatum, owner of Leete Tire and Auto, joining Tire Discounters was a natural next step.
“We are very excited for the opportunity to join the Tire Discounters family to ensure that Leete Tire and Auto is positioned for success in the years to come," he says. "My son, Wes Tatum, will now take the reins and help lead this business. I’m looking forward to watching Wes shine and for this business to continue to flourish as a part of Tire Discounters.”
Tire Discounters is one of the 10 largest tire dealerships in the U.S with more than 170 locations., according to the MTD 100, and has outlets in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia.
The company, which was founded by 2020 MTD Tire Dealer of the Year Award recipient Chip Wood, "is looking to work with smaller, family-owned and operated automotive businesses."
“Companies want to protect their legacies, but the marketplace is not the same today as it was 30 years ago,” says Ward.
“When we partner with companies like Leete Tire and Auto, we don’t come in and take away everything that made the original business special to the communities they serve. Our goal is to preserve and ideally improve the overall operation and continue to serve customers as we always have.”
