Lowe’s, the world’s second-largest home improvement retailer, has officially entered the online tyre retail market with the launch of Lowestires.com, a new venture created in partnership with tyre industry entrepreneur Mike Welch and his company Treadsy.
The platform, which has been three and a half years in the making, aims to provide a seamless tyre-buying experience for Lowe’s Pro customer base, which includes contractors, tradespeople, and small fleet operators across the United States.
Mike Welch, founder and CEO of Treadsy, brings extensive experience to the collaboration. The Liverpool-born entrepreneur began his tyre industry journey at the age of 15 as a tyre installer. In 1995, he founded his first online tyre business before launching Blackcircles.com in 2002—the world’s first "click-to-fit" online tyre retailer—eventually selling it to Michelin in 2015.
Welch has remained active in both the tyre and e-commerce sectors. He established Tirescanner.com in 2019, a US-based tyre retail marketplace known for its concierge-style installation services. In 2021, he took the reins as President and CEO of Tirebuyer.com, one of the largest online tyre retailers in the US, with a network of over 18,000 installers nationwide.
The creation of Lowestires.com marks a notable expansion for Lowe’s, leveraging Welch’s deep expertise in digital tyre retail to support its growing professional customer segment. By combining Lowe’s reach in the home improvement market with Treadsy’s online tyre knowledge, the platform seeks to simplify how professionals source, schedule, and install tyres—streamlining a process that has traditionally lacked digital integration.
This new collaboration signals further digital innovation in the tyre industry, with more partnerships between retailers and tyre technology platforms likely on the horizon.
What is Lowestires.com?
A new nationwide online tyre retail platform aimed at Lowe’s Pro customers - https://lowestires.com/
Who’s behind it?
Lowe’s and Treadsy, founded by Mike Welch—known for Blackcircles.com and Tirebuyer.com.
Who is it for?
Contractors, tradespeople, and small fleet operators looking for efficient tyre solutions.
How long has it been in development?
The platform has been under collaborative development for over three years.
Why does it matter to the tyre industry?
It brings a major home improvement retailer into the digital tyre sales space, backed by an industry veteran with a track record of online success.
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