Tire Discounters buys two Virginia dealerships

CINCINNATI, Ohio — Tire Discounters has extended its footprint in Virginia, acquiring two more dealerships in the state with a combined seven locations.

The Cincinnati-based family-owned dealership said it is acquiring Thompson Tire and its six retail stores and Bobby's Tires & Auto Care, with two locations.

Radford, Va.-based Thompson Tire has locations in Christiansburg, Pulaski, Radford, Roanoke, Salem and Wytheville, while Bobby's Tires' locations are both in Franklin.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

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Late last year, Tire Discounters acquired Tire Outfitters Inc., a single-outlet dealership in Winchester.

The recent flurry of activity boosts Tire Discounters to 170-plus locations in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia. Tire Discounters now operates a dozen retail stores and one commercial center in Virginia.

Tire Discounters President and CEO Jamie Ward called Thompson Tire a perfect match for the company.

"Virginia is a terrific market where we have an incredible opportunity to grow," he said. "Adding Thompson Tire is a great fit for us because they are family-run stores, which are the heart and soul of the tire business and the heart and soul of Tire Discounters.

Ward noted that Thompson Tire is a Goodyear dealer, just as Tire Discounters is. In addition, Thompson Tires, founded in 1968, aspires to the same family values and dedication to its community as Tire Discounters.

"Family has been the centerpiece of our company since my father, Chip Wood, first opened the business in 1976," Anna Wood, Tire Discounters' managing director, said.

"We have a strong commitment to maintain our family legacy and welcome the opportunity to help businesses continue to thrive in popular markets such as Virginia."

The acquisitions are one more step in Tire Discounters' quest to add 60 locations in 2022, either through acquisition or organic growth.

Tire Discounters recently acquired K&G Tire Pros in Louisville, Ky., and Kedron Tire & Automotive in Peachtree City, Ga. Both are located in "priority markets" for Tire Discounters, where it has a strong presence.

Tire Discounters also recently opened stores in metro Atlanta. The dealership said it anticipates opening 25 stores in Georgia by the end of 2022, focusing specifically on the Atlanta area.

Tire Discounters said it also has integrated with several businesses throughout Georgia and the Atlanta area over the last two years, including Bulldog Tire (Covington, Monroe, and Snellville), Porterfield Tire (Watkinsville and Athens), and North Georgia Tire.

Tire Discounters also acquired an auto glass company, Lightning Auto Glass in Chamblee, Ga., late last year.

In addition, Tire Discounters has added Insight Calibrations in Chamblee, which specializes in the recalibration of vehicles having issues with its Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS).

These stores joined other locations in Perimeter Pointe, Ft. Oglethorpe, Lawrenceville and Dalton.

Tire Discounters will be opening a 72,000-sq.-ft. warehouse, distribution, and training facility near the Atlanta airport this fall.

Tire Discounters operates four distribution centers, located in Sharonville, Ohio; La Vergne, Tenn.; Athens, Ga, and Monroe, Ga.

Tire Discounters recently moved into a new office building in downtown Cincinnati.

It also announced last year that it is branching into franchising to help it broaden its footprint beyond the states in which it operates now.