National Tyres and Autocare
Encyclopedia
National Tyres and Autocare is an independent tyre and automotive parts retailer based in Stockport
in Greater Manchester
, England
. The company is now part of Axle Group Holdings Ltd. They are commonly referred to as just 'National Tyres' although the limited company is still National Tyre Service Ltd (trading as National Tyres and Autocare).
In 1985 National Tyre Service Ltd was purchased by BTR plc.
In May 1991, National Tyre Service Ltd was bought from BTR plc by German tyre manufacturer Continental AG
. At the same time Continental AG also purchased Smiley Tyres & Exhausts (who subsequently merged with National Tyre Service) and tyre wholsalers Birkenshaw International and Viking Tyres. Birkenshaw International and Viking Tyres later merged to form Viking International.
In December 2001, under a management buyout
, National Tyre Service Ltd was transferred to their current parent company, Axle Group Holdings Ltd for £24m.
In August 2006 the Leicester branch of National Tyres was almost completely destroyed in a large fire. The branch was subsequently rebuilt and still trades today.
In April 2010, National Tyres announced it would sell a selection of popular tyre makes and models via an eBay
outlet store.
. They are also full members of Tyre Safe, an organisation committed to promoting important tyre safety messages to the public. As full members they offer free tyre health checks to motorists as well as participating in promotional work.
In October 2004 National Tyres were awarded the Tyre Industry Council's 'Tyre Safety Industry Award' for pioneering tyre safety clinics at major supermarkets.
National Tyres are an approved assessment centre for The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) NVQ qualifications as well as a City & Guilds approved training centre. In January 2010 their Foundation Modern Apprenticeship
(FMA) scheme was inspected by OFSTED
and rated as 'Good'.
National Tyres work in partnership with the cross-Government initiative, ACT ON CO2 which aims to communicate the seriousness of climate change
. They promote the campaign by distributing leaflets through their network of branches.
They currently operate an ISO9001:2000 approved quality system.
superbike team in the 2000 British Superbike Championship. Their main rider, Chris Walker
, came close to winning the Championship that year, only engine failure with three laps remaining allowed Ducati rider Neil Hodgson
to pass him and take the title.
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The company is now part of Axle Group Holdings Ltd. They are commonly referred to as just 'National Tyres' although the limited company is still National Tyre Service Ltd (trading as National Tyres and Autocare).
History
National Tyres and Autocare was formed in August 1970 under the name National Tyre Service Ltd. It brought together a number of regional independent companies to form the UK's first national network of tyre fitting centres.In 1985 National Tyre Service Ltd was purchased by BTR plc.
In May 1991, National Tyre Service Ltd was bought from BTR plc by German tyre manufacturer Continental AG
Continental AG
Continental AG, internally often called Conti for short, is a worldwide leading German manufacturer of tires, brake systems, vehicle stability control systems, engine injection systems, tachographs and other parts for the automotive and transport industries. The company is based in Hanover, Germany...
. At the same time Continental AG also purchased Smiley Tyres & Exhausts (who subsequently merged with National Tyre Service) and tyre wholsalers Birkenshaw International and Viking Tyres. Birkenshaw International and Viking Tyres later merged to form Viking International.
In December 2001, under a management buyout
Management buyout
A management buyout is a form of acquisition where a company's existing managers acquire a large part or all of the company.- Overview :Management buyouts are similar in all major legal aspects to any other acquisition of a company...
, National Tyre Service Ltd was transferred to their current parent company, Axle Group Holdings Ltd for £24m.
In August 2006 the Leicester branch of National Tyres was almost completely destroyed in a large fire. The branch was subsequently rebuilt and still trades today.
In April 2010, National Tyres announced it would sell a selection of popular tyre makes and models via an eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
outlet store.
Memberships & Partnerships
National Tyres are members of the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA), the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) and the British Safety CouncilBritish Safety Council
The British Safety Council is a global health and safety charity. Founded in 1957, the charity helps businesses with their health, safety and environmental management; campaigns and influences; and is a champion of young workers' safety. Its vision is that no-one should be killed, injured or made...
. They are also full members of Tyre Safe, an organisation committed to promoting important tyre safety messages to the public. As full members they offer free tyre health checks to motorists as well as participating in promotional work.
In October 2004 National Tyres were awarded the Tyre Industry Council's 'Tyre Safety Industry Award' for pioneering tyre safety clinics at major supermarkets.
National Tyres are an approved assessment centre for The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) NVQ qualifications as well as a City & Guilds approved training centre. In January 2010 their Foundation Modern Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
(FMA) scheme was inspected by OFSTED
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
and rated as 'Good'.
National Tyres work in partnership with the cross-Government initiative, ACT ON CO2 which aims to communicate the seriousness of climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
. They promote the campaign by distributing leaflets through their network of branches.
They currently operate an ISO9001:2000 approved quality system.
British Superbike Sponsorship
National Tyres sponsored the SuzukiSuzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
superbike team in the 2000 British Superbike Championship. Their main rider, Chris Walker
Chris Walker
Chris Walker may refer to:*Chris Walker , English motorcycle racer*Chris Walker , Australian rugby league footballer*Chris Walker , English squash player...
, came close to winning the Championship that year, only engine failure with three laps remaining allowed Ducati rider Neil Hodgson
Neil Hodgson
Neil Stuart Hodgson is a former British motorcycle racer who won the 2000 British Superbike Championship, and the 2003 Superbike World Championship titles. Neil then went on to have a moderately successful 4 years in the American Superbike Championship, with a best 5th place championship finish...
to pass him and take the title.