Belle Tire
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive retail |
| Founded | January 1, 1922 in Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Founder | Sam Waze |
| Headquarters | Southfield, Michigan , United States |
Area served | Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois |
Key people | Don Barnes III (President) |
| Products | Tires, wheels, automotive services |
| Website | www |
Belle Tire is a U.S.-based retailer specializing in tire, wheel, and automotive services, with its main office located in Southfield, Michigan. Established in 1922 by Sam Waze in Detroit, Michigan, the company now operates more than 180 outlets across Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois.
Retail History
During the 1960s, Don Barnes Sr., who worked as a salesperson for The Kelly Springfield Tire Company—a supplier to Belle Tire—joined forces with Herb Waze, the then-owner of the business. This collaboration spurred growth throughout the Metro Detroit region. In the 1980s, the Barnes family gained complete control by purchasing the Waze family’s shares and expanded the company through acquisitions including American Tire, Capital Tire, Delta Tire, and Great Lakes Tire. The 1990s brought additional expansion by acquiring the Tireman and Metro 25 chains, and in the early 2000s, Belle Tire took over Sears National Tire and Battery outlets within Michigan.
From the mid-2000s onward, Belle Tire broadened its footprint within Michigan by launching stores in areas such as Metro Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Lansing. In 2013, the company began remodeling its retail locations to improve customer service. Belle Tire entered the Indiana market in 2015 by opening five stores—in Mishawaka, Elkhart, Terre Haute, and two in South Bend—marking its first expansion beyond Michigan and Ohio in over thirty years. That same year, Don Barnes III was appointed president.
Sponsorships
Belle Tire serves as a sponsor for several prominent sports franchises:
- Detroit Tigers – Official Partner
- Detroit Red Wings – Official Sponsor
- Indiana Pacers – Official Partner
- Indianapolis Colts – Official Partner
- Chicago Blackhawks – Official Tire Retailer