ATLANTA — Tire Discounters Inc. and Butler Tires & Wheels of Atlanta have forged a partnership that will boost the profile of Butler Tires' "signature" high-performance tire and wheel services, both within Tire Discounters' growing retail network and on their own accord.
Founded in 1959 by Joe and L.D. Butler as a family-owned and -operated business, Butler Tires has focused in recent years on ultra-high-performance tires, custom wheels and vehicle customization under the market moniker "Butlerized."
The agreement with Tire Discounters, the Cincinnati-based dealership with 170-plus retail points-of-sale, will increase Butler's profile beyond Georgia, allowing customers around the nation to get "Butlerized," the partners said.
Butler Tires will continue to serve the greater Atlanta metro area through its four locations there, but the dealership's signature service offerings will be extended throughout Tire Discounters' growing network. Tire Discounters has set a goal of having 200 retail stores in operation by year-end throughout its seven-state footprint.
"This partnership opens an incredible number of possibilities for what we can do together," Jamie Ward, Tire Discounters president and CEO, said. "We are looking forward to bringing the Butler experience to our customers and others across the nation."
Anna Wood, Tire Discounters' managing director, said Butler "is a natural alignment."
Craig Dobrin, vice president of operations for Butler, said finding a "like-minded company with the same values and unwavering commitment to quality and service was no easy task."
Dobrin is part of the Butler ownership group, alongside Dani Freedman, vice president of marketing, and Gary Port, vice president of sales.
"Atlanta has been our home for more than 40 years and will continue to be, but our team felt it was time to share our offering with the nation," Dobrin said. "This partnership with an industry leader like Tire Discounters builds on our ambition to become a leading source to fuel America's demand for high-performance tires, wheels and accessories."
Butler Tires' four locations are in the northern Atlanta suburbs of Alpharetta, Austell, Buckhead and Marietta.
Tire Discounters and Butler Tires declined to offer specifics about the ownership alignment under the partnership, although both referred to Butler Tires as being "part of Tire Discounters and the Wood family of brands."