The New Playbook for Independent Tire Dealers

Peter Greenberg — owner of City Tire Co., a business operating since 1927 with a long-standing presence in retail, commercial, and retread segments. With decades of industry experience, he brings a strong perspective on vendor relationships, buying group strategy, and the operational decisions shaping how independent tire dealers compete today.

David Zeller — owner of Zeller Tire & Auto Center, a multi-location operation established in 1952. His experience centers on integrating tire sales with automotive service, refining internal systems, and driving profitability for independent tire dealers in an increasingly competitive market.

Bob Amenta — President of Modern Tire, where he oversees a service-focused operation that complements tire sales with long-term maintenance and repair. His approach emphasizes operational structure, customer retention, and sustainable growth within the independent tire dealers segment.

EPISODE SPONSOR

This episode of the Gain Traction Podcast is sponsored by Cosmo Tires. Cosmo Tires offers a wide range of tire solutions designed for durability, reliability, and performance across multiple vehicle segments. Learn more at https://www.cosmotires.com

In this episode…

Independent tire dealers are losing margin in plain sight, and the root cause sits inside their own operations. Pricing no longer defines competitiveness. Buying power, service integration, and internal alignment now determine who grows and who gets left behind.

Peter Greenberg, David Zeller, and Bob Amenta expose a shift that many operators still overlook. Running a shop in isolation limits leverage with vendors, restricts access to best practices, and slows down operational evolution. Their collaboration through Tire Team Partners reveals a model where shared intelligence and complementary strengths unlock both cost advantages and revenue growth.

The pressure from consolidation and rising customer expectations continues to intensify. Shops that fail to modernize purchasing strategies and service mix face shrinking margins and weaker retention. Growth now depends on executing both sides of the business; tires and service, with precision, while building systems that scale beyond a single location mindset.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

[01:10] Overview of panel guests and their operations

[01:54] Formation of Tire Team Partners and collaboration model

[05:39] Strategic importance of balancing tire sales and service revenue

[07:23] Role of advisor recommendations in tire purchasing decisions

[08:08] Impact of internet-informed customers on the sales process

[10:13] Guest backgrounds and industry experience

[11:01] Leadership perspectives and operational philosophies

[15:09] Business outlook and collaboration strategy for 2026

[17:16] Leveraging buying power to improve pricing and margins

[19:44] Future direction and potential expansion of Tire Team Partners

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Peter Greenberg on LinkedIn
• City Tire Co. Website
• David Zeller on LinkedIn
• Zeller Tire & Auto Center
• Modern Tire
• Tread Partners
• Gain Traction Podcast on YouTube
• Gain Traction Podcast Website
• Mike Edge on LinkedIn

Quotable Moments:

• “70% are going on the recommendation of the advisor.”
• “The real diamond in the rough is doing both—tires and service—and doing both well.”
• “The price largely is determined by the market, not by my cost.”
• “We have to control our own destiny.”
• “Small tweaks can turn out to be incredibly profitable over the course of 12 or 24 months.”

Action Steps:

1. Audit purchasing strategy and consolidate vendor relationships to increase leverage and reduce cost per unit.
2. Rebalance operations to ensure tire sales consistently drive service opportunities and long-term customer retention.
3. Build peer-level partnerships or join collaborative groups to access shared best practices and scale advantages.
4. Standardize internal processes across locations to eliminate inefficiencies and improve profitability at scale.
5. Implement a dual-focus growth plan that strengthens both service operations and tire volume to position independent tire dealers for sustained expansion.