Auto tire aggregator models explained by Ray
Sun Auto's purchase of Highland Tire pushes the network past 575 locations. I break down what this aggregator model means for your shop's future.
Ray Donnelly
13 min readAuto
Ray Donnelly
13 min read
Perfect Stop Sweepstakes: My Take on the 2026 Brake Push
Ray breaks down the Perfect Stop sweepstakes where six techs win vehicles. See why the June 1 start date matters for your shop's brake strategy.
Ray Donnelly
15 min read
Don't Compete on Price: A Parts Buyer's Margin Read
Don't compete on price: a parts buyer's margin math on missed calls ($3,000-$8,000/week), the talent squeeze, and what cheapness really costs auto shops.
Priya Raman
10 min read
Straightaway Auto Scales Without Buyout Pain
Straightaway adds 18 locations since June 2025 while keeping founders leading daily ops, a shift I see working for long-term margin.
Priya Raman
15 min read
Plaza Tire Collinsville Opening: A Catalog Test, Not a Real-Estate Win
Plaza Tire's 17th Illinois store opens in Collinsville. Why network expansion is a fitment-data and assortment test, not a real-estate win.
Priya Raman
11 min read
Left Lane Auto Buys Champs Tire: Why the Back Office Decides It
Left Lane Auto bought Champs Tire and kept the name. The real test of this tire-shop roll-up is back-office integration, not store count.
Ray Donnelly
11 min read
Sun Auto Network's 575-Location Shift
Sun Auto now runs 575 locations. I analyze how their acquisition strategy pressures independent shops on tire pricing and service standards.
Priya Raman
16 min read
Sun Auto's 37-Store Year: The Sourcing Bet Behind the Footprint
Sun Auto Network acquisitions read as sourcing events: what 575 shops and a tech shortage mean for parts buyers, coverage, and demand.
Priya Raman
9 min read
Plaza Tire Expansion: Sun Auto's Bottleneck Is Catalog Integration
Sun Auto crossed 575 stores by buying chains, not building them. The hard part is not real estate — it is merging dirty catalogs and finding crews.
Priya Raman
9 min read
Plaza Tire Network Acquisition: What an Owner Trades for Fill Rate
Plaza Tire Service acquired Main Street Tire in Virden. The real story for an owner: pooled fill rate bought with surrendered control of the shelf and margin.
Priya Raman
10 min read
Victory Tire's 29th Shop: What a Roll-Up Means for Parts Buyers
Victory Tire's 29th Minnesota shop (Service Garage, Blaine) is a PE roll-up. A parts buyer's read on procurement, the EV-cost myth, and the sell decision.
Ray Donnelly
11 min read
GreatWater Buys Holly Tire: What 154 Shops Mean for Parts Buyers
GreatWater bought Holly Tire and kept the local name, but the parts decision moved to a corporate desk. A supply-chain read on what consolidation does to covera
Priya Raman
11 min read
Tire Shop Acquisitions: What 575 Locations Hide From a Seller
Tire shop acquisitions transfer procurement control, not just the sign. A supply-chain read on Sun Auto's Service Street Tire deal and the sell-or-hold math.
Priya Raman
11 min read