Tire companies have been busy eliminating underperforming locations in their portfolios over the last two years to reduce costs and expenses and improve profits.
Companies have blamed the lingering effects of the Covid pandemic, a decline in consumer demand, supply chain disruption, and increased operating costs driven by inflation as the reasons for taking action to improve their financial situation.
Consumers are surprised and disappointed whenever they seek out their favorite service center only to find it dark and unoccupied, but it’s a necessary process for businesses.
Monro closed 145 underperforming locations
Major tire services and repair chain Monro Inc. closed 145 underperforming stores in its first quarter of 2026, which began March 30, 2025, as part of its company improvement plan, after reporting a 4.9% decrease in sales in the 2025 fiscal year.
The company did not reveal the number of employees who were terminated.
After the first quarter store closings, Monro had 1,115 company operated stores and 48 franchise locations, according to the statement.
“While our improvement plan will take time to implement, I believe that we will drive enhanced profitability and increase operating income and total shareholder returns in fiscal 2026,” Monro CEO Peter Fitzsimmons said in the May 2025 statement.
Monro, however, is not the 91-year-old tire distributor that is currently shutting down locations.
Community Wholesale Tire Distributors is closing down two of its distribution facilities.
Shutterstock
Community Wholesale Tire closes facilities
Major wholesale tire dealer Community Wholesale Tire Distributors Inc. will permanently close its facilities in Hazelwood, Mo., and lay off about 143 employees, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification notice that the company filed with the state of Missouri on Feb. 9.
Community Wholesale Tire Distributors’ 60-day WARN notice, sent to the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, sets the layoff date for April 10, 2026.
The company, which was founded in 1935, indicated it would close its facilities located at 9124 Pershall Road and 6034 Aviator Drive, according to the St. Louis Business Journal, as KSDK-TV 5 reported.
While the company will close two facilities, it plans to remain a family operation.
“Community Wholesale Tire is committed to remaining a family-owned and operated tire distributor and is focused on bringing you a full range of quality tires and the latest technology to improve your business,” the company said on its website.
Community Wholesale Tire Distributors, one of the largest family-owned and operated tire distributors in the Midwest, will continue operating its distribution facilities in Kansas City and Springfield, Mo., Peoria, Ill., and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Distributor serves 9 Midwest states
The company distributes tires to dealers in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Nebraska, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, according to its website.
The tire distributor sells top brands, including Bridgestone, Firestone, Goodyear, Dunlop, Toyo Tires, Continental, General Tire, Cooper Tires, Hankook, Pirelli, Kumho Tire, and many more.
Other tire distributors file for bankruptcy
In 2024, two huge tire distributors had serious economic issues as Wheel Pros, which operates as auto parts distributor and retailer Hoonigan, filed for a prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Sept. 9, 2024, that would eliminate $1.2 billion in debt and provide about $570 million in new capital through an exit facility.
Also, giant tire and wheel replacement company American Tire Distributors on Oct. 22, 2024, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, seeking a sale of its assets, burdened with over $1.9 billion in funded debt.
Community Wholesale Tire’ s locations
- 9124 Pershall Road, Hazelwood, Mo.
- 6034 Aviator Drive, Hazelwood, Mo.
- 4700 North Arlington, Kansas City, Mo.
- 2925 E. St. Jean St., Springfield, Mo.
- 8512 N. Allen Road, Suite 200, Peoria, Ill.
- 1145 Capital Drive SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Source: Website