PHILADELPHIA — Online retailer SimpleTire L.L.C. has become a Michelin Authorized Retailer, according to its website.
"SimpleTire has always offered the full assortment of Michelin tires, but now has the support from Michelin for purchase incentives and rebates on Michelin, BFGoodrich and Uniroyal passenger and light truck tires," the company's website said.
Michelin North America Inc. offers its own online retail tire sales portal, MichelinMan.com, which offers the Michelin and BFGoodrich brand tires.
The tire maker began offering online tire sales in limited markets last year. Website visitors can research, select and purchase tires, as well as schedule installation with a local Michelin service partner.
When an order is placed online, consumers schedule an installation appointment with a local service provider and the tires are shipped directly to the service provider, according to Michelin said.
Michelin could not be immediately reached for comment.
SimpleTire claims to have a unique "low-cost, high-volume business model" for its ability to ship tires to consumers' homes or preferred installer for free. Instead of buying and reselling tires like other retailers, SimpleTire said it uses data and technology to aggregate tire inventory, for every type of vehicle, from more than 500 suppliers across the country.
Simple Tire offers more than 5,000 SKUs of popular tire brands, including BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Falken, Firestone, Fuzion, General, Hankook, Goodyear, Kelly, Kumho, Michelin, Nitto, Pirelli, Toyo and Yokohama.