Expansion driven by customer feedback, sustained demand in NKY
FT. THOMAS, KY. (April 14, 2026) — Tire Discounters, the country’s largest 100% family-owned and operated tire and service provider, has opened a new Ft. Thomas location, expanding service capacity in Northern Kentucky and responding to consistently growing demand from customers in the region.
The new store, located just off I-471 in the Ft. Thomas Plaza, officially opened January 17. The location took over a recently closed competitor site, continuing a companywide trend of reinvesting in existing retail spaces to better serve local communities.
“This new store is a direct response to what our customers have been asking for,” said Jamie Ward, CEO of Tire Discounters. “Our Newport store just down the road serves a high volume of customers, and this location allows us to add availability and reduce wait times while continuing to deliver the service standards our customers expect.”
“This opening is also especially meaningful to me personally,” said Ward. “I worked at this exact location when it was Michel Tire at the very start of my career many years ago, so to see it become part of the Tire Discounters family and continue serving this community feels incredibly special.”
The Ft. Thomas store, formerly Michel Tire, offers convenient access for Northern Kentucky drivers and commuters who work in downtown Cincinnati. The location is only minutes from the city, making it an easy stop before, during or after the workday.
This opening reflects a broader growth strategy for Tire Discounters, which has recently expanded by revitalizing former competitor locations across multiple markets. Several recent openings have followed a similar model, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to investing locally while expanding community access to tire and automotive services.
The Ft. Thomas store is now open and accepting appointments, as well as walk-in service.
About Tire Discounters
Tire Discounters was founded by Chip Wood in 1976 in a small gas station on Cincinnati's east side, and is still family-owned and operated. Chip remains the sole owner and company chairman, but over the past several years has been smoothly transitioning to the second generation of leadership. President Jamie Ward, a valued employee for 30 years, is now the driving force in the company day-to-day, working closely with Chip’s children, Anna, Steven, and Evan Wood, to help them learn the business from the ground up. Tire Discounters is the nation’s largest, 100% family-owned and operated independent tire provider and is growing rapidly.
The downtown Cincinnati-based company leads the way in providing unique and innovative customer benefits designed to make tires last longer and maximize the overall performance of a vehicle. Tire Discounters’ ASE-certified technicians provide routine automotive repair and factory scheduled maintenance. Tire Discounters is the industry leader in new vehicle technology, incorporating ASE EV safety trained technicians in their service centers.
Tire Discounters currently employs more than 2,400 people in more than 200 locations in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, and Virginia. Tire Discounters ranks 28th on the Courier 100, the Cincinnati Business Courier's list of the largest private companies in the region. It also operates distribution centers, located in Sharonville, Ohio; Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; Richmond, VA and Atlanta, GA. The Tire Discounters family of businesses includes Butler Tires of Atlanta, Chip's Auto Glass, Carriage House Car Wash, Performance Discounters, and TD/EV.
