New Milton Tyres acquired by Micheldever

LONG-ESTABLISHED specialist New Milton Tyres is under new ownership following the retirement of founder Bob Bates after 51 years.

The Old Milton Road business, started by Bob and his dad Geoff in 1967, has been bought by Hampshire-based Micheldever Tyres group, whose subsidiary Protyre is the UK’s fastest-growing supplier and fitter of tyres and automotive services.

But New Milton Tyres manager Mark Williamson, who will have worked at the former Metisse motorcycle factory site for 21 years in April, promised that their traditional customer care will continue with the same team of nine and no change to the company name.

He said: “Micheldever Tyres shares the same ethos of family values, providing customers with what they need.

“We have a brilliant clientele who know that we are here to help – we have one older lady driver who brings her car in every month just to have the tyre tread and pressures checked.”

Mr Williamson continued: “With Micheldever behind us, there will be investment in new equipment in the workshop floor area that hasn’t changed much since Don and Derek Rickman built motorcycles here before moving to Stem Lane.

“We are getting new ramps, new tyre fitting machines suitable for modern cars’ much bigger wheels, and the new laser wheel alignment tooling I have wanted to put in for ages, including castor and camber measurement.

“There’s a new computer system too, and it will be a much better environment for the lads.”

Protyre fits more than two-million tyres each year through 149 fast fit garages, as well as offering exclusive online prices. Other services include MOTs, vehicle servicing, brakes, wheel alignment and air-con. It won the title TyreSafe retailer of the year 2013-2018.

Stocking tyres from leading manufacturers including Pirelli, Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, Michelin, Falken, GT Radial and Dunlop, Protyre offers same day fitting via its website.

It also provides motorbike tyres fitting.