Conlan Tire buys BestDrive locations in Ark., Okla., Texas from Continental

FORT MILL, S.C. — Continental Tire the Americas, via its BestDrive L.L.C. subsidiary, has sold six company-owned BestDrive commercial service shops to Conlan Tire of Mulberry, Fla., a ContiLifeCycle-licensed dealer.

Conti said the sale aligns with its strategy of supporting the growth of its independent ContiLifeCycle dealers and ensuring maximum support of fleet customers across the U.S., while positioning BestDrive for continued growth in other regions.

The sale includes one retread plant, in Grand Prairie, Texas, as well as commercial centers in San Antonio, Houston, and Longview, Texas; Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Little Rock, Ark.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

"This sale is not indicative of any plan to exit the retail business," Tom Fanning, head of U.S. market, Continental Truck Tires, said.

"This decision strengthens Continental's presence in a key region and gives BestDrive the flexibility to expand into other areas of the country. Continental fleet customers across the U.S. will benefit from this move. We are excited about our growth and expansion with Conlan Tire."

The deal expands Conlan Tire's network to 25 locations in five states — Arkansas, Florida, Michigan, Ohio and Oklahoma. Among the locations are ContiLifeCycle retread plants in Mulberry and Grand Prairie.

Conlan Tire employs both precure and mold-cure retreading processes at its plant in Mulberry and Romulus, Mich.

Owner Alex Conlan — formerly president of GLT Tread Co. in Romulus, Mich. — established the Mulberry-based company in 2017.

After the sale, BestDrive continues to operate 30 servicing locations in 14 states. Conti opened the locations in Arkansas and Texas in late 2018.