Motorists who go to Midas for vehicle service now can have Michelin tires installed on their cars at more than 1,000 franchised locations in the U.S., thanks to a new partnership between the two brands. Midas, which began as a muffler specialist in the mid-1950s, blazed a trail as the first nationwide brake-service outlet in the 1970s and morphed into a multi-service provider in recent years, is working to create a new role for itself as a tire and total care destination, installing premier brands such as Michelin and its BFGoodrich line, as well as Goodyear and Cooper.
Midas’ expansion into tires is part of a multi-faceted makeover orchestrated by its parent company, Florida-based TBC Corp., a significant player in the tire industry.
“Michelin is a perfect fit for Midas,” said Bill Birkins, senior vice president of franchise leadership for TBC Corp. “Midas is one of the most powerful and iconic brands in auto service and Michelin one of the premium tire brands. Together, we deliver a compelling package that the research reveals customers want – quality, name-brand tires from a well-known car-care provider that they trust.”
“Midas has been a trusted service provider for 60 years, and we are very excited to begin offering our tire lines to their customers,” said Scott Clark, chief operating officer of Michelin North America
Since joining TBC in spring 2012, Midas has driven significant tire sales increases. When related services such as rotations are factored in, Midas shops today rack up as much revenue through tires as they do from exhaust, the service with which many people associate the brand, the company says. Building on these gains, plans are underway to accelerate Midas’ tire-service expansion significantly in the next two years, with upgrades in distribution, computer support, shop signage and more.
“We are hopeful that the increased emphasis on tires will transform Midas over the next two years and position us for more cars, customers, sales and profits,” said Mike Gould, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Midas. “The big brands matter to consumers, and Midas has them,” said Birkins. “We are building the capabilities to be a world-class tire marketer and a significant player in the business, offering customers competitive prices, convenient locations and the quality brands they want.”
In addition to expanding its service offering with tires, Midas is focusing on expanding its retail footprint and in the most recent fiscal year opened 22 new franchised locations.
