Should I open or buy a Tires Plus franchise in 2027?

Curated by Kory White · Fractional CRO, CRO Syndicate

👍 Yup or 👎 Nope — vote this up its category:

📅 Published Jun 26, 2026 · 9 min read

Direct Answer

Probably not as a new franchise — Tires Plus is a Bridgestone-owned corporate brand that runs its ~470 stores company-operated and is not actively selling new franchises in 2027, so the realistic moves are buying a comparable tire-and-auto franchise, acquiring an existing independent tire shop, or building one. Tires Plus (under Bridgestone Retail Operations, alongside Firestone Complete Auto Care) grows corporately, not through an open franchise program — there is no broadly available Tires Plus FDD.

The franchised tire-and-auto plays you can actually buy are Big O Tires, Tire Pros, Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers, Grease Monkey, and Midas — with total investments of $300,000 to $1.6M, royalties of 2%-5%, and store revenues of $900K-$2.5M. A franchised tire-and-service store typically nets the owner $120,000-$280,000 depending on service-bay mix and tire-vs-service revenue split.

The Real Numbers

Tires Plus is not an independent franchisor — it is a retail banner of Bridgestone Americas, the tire manufacturer, operated alongside Firestone Complete Auto Care under Bridgestone Retail Operations (BSRO). Bridgestone uses these stores to sell its own tires and capture service revenue, which is exactly why it keeps them company-owned rather than franchising.

Whatever legacy franchise units exist are not part of an open, public new-unit program.

What a Tires Plus / Firestone store represents: a $2M+ tire-and-service retail unit whose economics flow to Bridgestone, the manufacturer. You cannot buy into this as a franchisee in any straightforward 2027 path.

What the comparable franchised plays cost you (per their 2026 FDDs):

Concept	Total Investment	Franchise Fee	Royalty	Ad Fee	Typical Store Revenue
Tires Plus (Bridgestone corporate)	Not open to franchise	N/A	N/A	N/A	$2M+
Big O Tires	$464,000-$1,600,000	$35,000	2% (escalating to 5%)	~4%	$1.5M-$2.5M
Tire Pros (program)	$200,000-$700,000 (conversion)	Low/none	Program fee	Co-op	$1.2M-$2.2M
Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers	$1,400,000-$2,600,000	$35,000	5%	~3%	$1.4M-$2.0M
Grease Monkey (quick lube + tires)	$300,000-$500,000	$40,000	5%	3%	$900K-$1.4M

Revenue reality: a franchised tire-and-auto store doing $1.6M revenue runs gross margins of 40%-48% (tires are lower-margin, service is higher-margin) and owner cash flow of 10%-14%, or $160,000-$224,000 before debt service. The service-bay mix is the key lever — stores that push alignments, brakes, and maintenance alongside tire sales clear meaningfully higher margins than tire-only stores, which is the model Tires Plus/Firestone perfected.

flowchart TD A[Want a Tires Plus business?] --> B{Does Tires Plus sell new franchises?} B -->|No - Bridgestone corporate| C[New Tires Plus franchise unlikely] C --> D{What do you actually want?} D -->|Tire-and-auto franchise + ownership| E[Big O Tires / Express Oil / Tire Pros] D -->|Convert my existing tire shop| F[Tire Pros / Big O conversion] D -->|Quick service + tires| G[Grease Monkey / Midas] D -->|Max equity, no royalty| H[Build independent tire-and-service store] E --> I[Validate revenue + supplier terms] F --> I G --> I H --> I I --> J{Owner cash flow > $150K?} J -->|Yes| K[Proceed] J -->|No| L[Walk away]

Who Wins With This Business

The winning tire-and-auto operator is a hands-on owner who can balance low-margin tire sales against high-margin service work and keep service bays full.

Capital required: $120,000-$350,000 liquid plus SBA-backed debt of $300,000-$800,000 depending on the brand and whether you build or convert.
Time commitment: 50-60 hours per week for the first two years. Tire retail is inventory-heavy and labor-dependent, and service throughput drives the profit.
Skills: service-bay management and inventory turns. The two profit levers are converting tire customers into service customers and managing tire inventory turns so capital isn't trapped on the shelf.
Geographic fit: high-traffic automotive corridors with strong vehicle density and aging fleets (avg US vehicle age 12.6 years in 2025).
Multi-unit ambition: tire-and-auto rewards scale — multi-store operators get better tire-distributor pricing and management leverage, the same advantage Bridgestone exploits across hundreds of corporate stores.

The typical operator who succeeds is 38-58, has automotive retail or service-management experience, $250,000+ liquid, and a plan to maximize the high-margin service-bay mix.

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Who Loses With This Business

Anyone expecting to open a new Tires Plus franchise loses time — the Bridgestone corporate model has effectively closed that door. Other failure modes:

The Tires-Plus-franchise seeker. Tires Plus is a Bridgestone-owned corporate banner, not an open franchisor. There is no realistic new-unit franchise path.
The tire-only operator. A store that sells tires without pushing alignments, brakes, batteries, and maintenance runs on thin tire margins and nets far less than a service-heavy store.
The inventory-trapped operator. Tire retail ties up $150,000-$400,000 in inventory; poor turns and overstocking strangle cash flow.
The undercapitalized service buildout. Without alignment racks, lifts, and diagnostic equipment, the high-margin service revenue never materializes.
High-online-competition markets. Online tire sellers (Tire Rack, Amazon, Discount Tire Direct) pressure tire margins; operators who don't lean into installation and service as the value-add lose the price war.

2027 Market Conditions

Tire-and-auto services is a stable, defensive, recurring-demand market entering 2027 — and Bridgestone's corporate-retail strategy with Tires Plus/Firestone shapes the competitive field.

Demand: US tire and auto-service market $35B+, growing 2%-3% annually, anchored by an aging fleet (avg 12.6 years) that drives steady replacement-tire and maintenance demand regardless of the economy.
Manufacturer-owned retail: Bridgestone (Tires Plus/Firestone) and Goodyear run large company-owned store networks to capture service margin and control tire distribution, leaving the franchised opportunity to Big O, Express Oil, and conversion programs like Tire Pros.
Online disruption: e-commerce tire sales (Tire Rack, Amazon, SimpleTire) continue to compress tire margins, pushing physical stores toward installation and service revenue as the defensible moat.
EV impact: EVs need tires more often (heavier vehicles, instant torque wear) but less traditional maintenance (no oil changes, fewer brake jobs due to regen braking). The 2027 service model is shifting toward tires, alignment, batteries, and ADAS and away from oil/exhaust.
Labor: technician wages up 6%-8% in 2025; ASE-certified technician shortage affects service throughput.
Competitive: Discount Tire (corporate), Big O (franchised), Bridgestone/Goodyear retail, and Express Oil lead the organized market; the franchised path is the independent operator's route to distributor pricing and brand pull.

flowchart LR D1[Day 1-30: Confirm Tires Plus is corporate + shortlist franchised brands] --> D2[Day 31-60: Pull Big O/Express Oil/Tire Pros FDDs + validate Item 19] D2 --> D3[Day 61-90: Secure tire-distributor terms + site-select] D3 --> D4[FDD legal review with franchise attorney] D4 --> D5[Secure SBA financing + equipment leasing] D5 --> D6[Sign franchise agreement] D6 --> D7[Build/convert store + certify technicians] D7 --> D8[Open + maximize service-bay mix] D8 --> D9[Hit revenue target then add Store 2]

The 90-Day Decision Tree

Day 1-15: Confirm the Tires Plus reality. Verify that Tires Plus is a Bridgestone-owned corporate brand without an open new-unit franchise program. Refocus on the franchised alternatives.
Day 16-30: Shortlist the real franchised plays. Request FDDs from Big O Tires, Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers, and the Tire Pros program. Read Items 5, 6, 7, and 19.
Day 31-45: Validate revenue with operators. Call 5+ franchisees from each Item 20 list. Ask: "What is your tire-vs-service revenue split, gross margin, and owner take-home?"
Day 46-60: Secure distributor terms and site. Confirm tire-distributor pricing and select a high-traffic automotive corridor with room for multiple service bays.
Day 61-75: Secure financing. Tire-and-auto underwrites at 20%-25% equity, 1.3x DSCR, SBA 7(a), plus equipment leasing for lifts and alignment racks.
Day 76-85: FDD legal review. Budget $5,000-$8,000. Flag royalty escalation (Big O steps from 2% to 5%), territory, and supplier-purchase requirements.
Day 86-90: Decide build vs. Convert. If you own a tire shop, a Tire Pros or Big O conversion is cheaper than building. If starting fresh, choose the brand with the best distributor pricing and service-bay model in your market.

Alternative Plays

Since Tires Plus isn't an open franchise, these are the real tire-and-auto ownership paths:

Big O Tires — $464K-$1.6M, 2%-5% royalty, $1.5M-$2.5M store revenue. Largest franchised tire chain with strong brand pull.
Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers — $1.4M-$2.6M, 5% royalty, combining quick-lube traffic with tire-and-service revenue.
Tire Pros — conversion program, low fee, ideal for existing independents wanting distributor pricing and a brand.
Grease Monkey / Midas — $300K-$700K, quick-service plus tires/brakes with recurring maintenance revenue.
Independent tire-and-service store — $400K-$1.0M buildout, 12%-18% EBITDA, full equity, and a 3.5-5x EBITDA exit in the 2027 automotive-services transaction market per Franchise Times.

FAQ

Can I open a new Tires Plus franchise in 2027?

Almost certainly not. Tires Plus is a retail banner of Bridgestone Americas, operated under Bridgestone Retail Operations alongside Firestone Complete Auto Care. Bridgestone runs these stores company-owned to sell its own tires and capture service revenue. There is no broadly available public Tires Plus Franchise Disclosure Document offering new single-unit franchises.

The realistic paths are a comparable franchise brand or an independent shop.

Why does Bridgestone keep Tires Plus corporate-owned?

Because the stores serve Bridgestone's manufacturing business. As a tire maker, Bridgestone uses Tires Plus and Firestone to sell its own tires directly and capture the high-margin service revenue that comes with them. Franchising would give that margin and distribution control to operators.

Keeping the stores company-owned lets Bridgestone control pricing, branding, and product mix end-to-end.

What is the closest franchise to Tires Plus I can actually buy?

Big O Tires is the closest franchised equivalent — a large tire-and-auto chain ($1.5M-$2.5M store revenue, escalating 2%-5% royalty) with strong brand recognition and distributor pricing. Tire Pros is the best fit if you already own a tire shop and want distributor terms plus a brand without a full buildout.

Express Oil is the best high-traffic combo model.

How profitable is a tire-and-auto franchise?

$160,000-$224,000 per store in owner cash flow at a $1.6M revenue level, before debt service. The decisive lever is the service-bay mix — stores that convert tire buyers into alignment, brake, and maintenance customers clear 40%-48% gross margins, while tire-only stores run thin.

Online tire competition makes installation and service the defensible profit center.

How do EVs change the tire-and-auto business?

They shift the revenue mix. EVs wear tires faster (heavier vehicles, instant torque), increasing replacement-tire and alignment demand, but need less traditional maintenance (no oil changes, less brake wear from regen braking). The 2027 winning model leans into tires, alignment, batteries, suspension, and ADAS calibration rather than oil and exhaust.

Operators who adapt their service mix capture EV demand; those anchored to oil-change revenue lose it.

Bottom Line

Don't plan on a new Tires Plus franchise — it is a Bridgestone-owned corporate brand built to sell the manufacturer's own tires, and there is no open franchise program. If you want that tire-and-auto economic profile with real ownership, Big O Tires (best brand pull), Tire Pros (best conversion), or an independent store are the correct plays.

The entire profit game is the service-bay mix — convert tire buyers into alignment, brake, and maintenance customers, because tire-only economics are too thin to thrive against online sellers. In the EV-shifting 2027 market, build your service mix around tires, alignment, batteries, and ADAS, not oil changes, and you have a defensive, recurring-demand business worth owning.

Sources

Bridgestone Americas / Bridgestone Retail Operations corporate profile — Tires Plus and Firestone company-owned model, store count
Big O Tires Franchise Disclosure Document (2026 filing) — Items 5, 6, 7, 19
Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers FDD summary (franchisedirect.com)
Tire Pros / American Tire Distributors program overview (Items 7 and revenue)
Modern Tire Dealer — US tire retail and service market size, 2025-2026
S&P Global Mobility — average US vehicle age (12.6 years), 2025
Tire Business — EV tire wear and service-mix trends, 2026
Franchise Times — automotive services transaction multiples 2026-2027
International Franchise Association (IFA) — 2027 Franchise Economic Outlook
IBISWorld — Tire Dealers and Auto Repair in the US, 2026 industry report

→ Best franchises to buy under $100,000 in 2027 — every franchise on PULSE, ranked.

Keep reading

![Tires Plus logo](https://logo.clearbit.com/tiresplus.com)

## Direct Answer

**Probably not as a new franchise — Tires Plus is a Bridgestone-owned corporate brand that runs its ~470 stores company-operated and is not actively selling new franchises in 2027, so the realistic moves are buying a comparable tire-and-auto franchise, acquiring an existing independent tire shop, or building one.** Tires Plus (under **Bridgestone Retail Operations**, alongside Firestone Complete Auto Care) grows **corporately, not through an open franchise program** — there is **no broadly available Tires Plus FDD**. The franchised tire-and-auto plays you can actually buy are **Big O Tires, Tire Pros, Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers, Grease Monkey, and Midas** — with **total investments of $300,000 to $1.6M, royalties of 2%-5%, and store revenues of $900K-$2.5M**. A franchised tire-and-service store typically nets the owner **$120,000-$280,000** depending on service-bay mix and tire-vs-service revenue split.

## The Real Numbers

Tires Plus is **not an independent franchisor** — it is a **retail banner of Bridgestone Americas**, the tire manufacturer, operated alongside **Firestone Complete Auto Care** under **Bridgestone Retail Operations (BSRO)**. Bridgestone uses these stores to **sell its own tires and capture service revenue**, which is exactly why it keeps them **company-owned** rather than franchising. Whatever legacy franchise units exist are **not part of an open, public new-unit program**.

**What a Tires Plus / Firestone store represents:** a **$2M+ tire-and-service retail unit** whose economics flow to Bridgestone, the manufacturer. You **cannot buy into this** as a franchisee in any straightforward 2027 path.

**What the comparable franchised plays cost you (per their 2026 FDDs):**

| **Concept** | **Total Investment** | **Franchise Fee** | **Royalty** | **Ad Fee** | **Typical Store Revenue** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Tires Plus (Bridgestone corporate)** | **Not open to franchise** | **N/A** | **N/A** | **N/A** | **$2M+** |
| **Big O Tires** | **$464,000-$1,600,000** | **$35,000** | **2% (escalating to 5%)** | **~4%** | **$1.5M-$2.5M** |
| **Tire Pros (program)** | **$200,000-$700,000 (conversion)** | **Low/none** | **Program fee** | **Co-op** | **$1.2M-$2.2M** |
| **Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers** | **$1,400,000-$2,600,000** | **$35,000** | **5%** | **~3%** | **$1.4M-$2.0M** |
| **Grease Monkey (quick lube + tires)** | **$300,000-$500,000** | **$40,000** | **5%** | **3%** | **$900K-$1.4M** |

**Revenue reality:** a franchised tire-and-auto store doing **$1.6M revenue** runs **gross margins of 40%-48%** (tires are lower-margin, service is higher-margin) and **owner cash flow of 10%-14%, or $160,000-$224,000** before debt service. The **service-bay mix is the key lever** — stores that push **alignments, brakes, and maintenance** alongside tire sales clear meaningfully higher margins than tire-only stores, which is the model Tires Plus/Firestone perfected.

```mermaid
flowchart TD
    A[Want a Tires Plus business?] --> B{Does Tires Plus sell new franchises?}
    B -->|No - Bridgestone corporate| C[New Tires Plus franchise unlikely]
    C --> D{What do you actually want?}
    D -->|Tire-and-auto franchise + ownership| E[Big O Tires / Express Oil / Tire Pros]
    D -->|Convert my existing tire shop| F[Tire Pros / Big O conversion]
    D -->|Quick service + tires| G[Grease Monkey / Midas]
    D -->|Max equity, no royalty| H[Build independent tire-and-service store]
    E --> I[Validate revenue + supplier terms]
    F --> I
    G --> I
    H --> I
    I --> J{Owner cash flow > $150K?}
    J -->|Yes| K[Proceed]
    J -->|No| L[Walk away]
```

## Who Wins With This Business

The **winning tire-and-auto operator** is a **hands-on owner who can balance low-margin tire sales against high-margin service work and keep service bays full**.

- **Capital required: $120,000-$350,000 liquid** plus **SBA-backed debt of $300,000-$800,000** depending on the brand and whether you build or convert.
- **Time commitment: 50-60 hours per week** for the first two years. Tire retail is **inventory-heavy and labor-dependent**, and service throughput drives the profit.
- **Skills: service-bay management and inventory turns.** The two profit levers are **converting tire customers into service customers** and **managing tire inventory turns** so capital isn't trapped on the shelf.
- **Geographic fit: high-traffic automotive corridors** with **strong vehicle density and aging fleets** (avg US vehicle age **12.6 years** in 2025).
- **Multi-unit ambition: tire-and-auto rewards scale** — multi-store operators get **better tire-distributor pricing and management leverage**, the same advantage Bridgestone exploits across hundreds of corporate stores.

The typical operator who succeeds is **38-58, has automotive retail or service-management experience, $250,000+ liquid, and a plan to maximize the high-margin service-bay mix**.


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## Who Loses With This Business

**Anyone expecting to open a new Tires Plus franchise loses time — the Bridgestone corporate model has effectively closed that door.** Other failure modes:

- **The Tires-Plus-franchise seeker.** Tires Plus is a **Bridgestone-owned corporate banner**, not an open franchisor. There is **no realistic new-unit franchise path**.
- **The tire-only operator.** A store that sells tires without **pushing alignments, brakes, batteries, and maintenance** runs on **thin tire margins** and nets far less than a service-heavy store.
- **The inventory-trapped operator.** Tire retail ties up **$150,000-$400,000 in inventory**; poor turns and overstocking strangle cash flow.
- **The undercapitalized service buildout.** Without **alignment racks, lifts, and diagnostic equipment**, the high-margin service revenue never materializes.
- **High-online-competition markets.** Online tire sellers (**Tire Rack, Amazon, Discount Tire Direct**) pressure tire margins; operators who don't lean into **installation and service** as the value-add lose the price war.

## 2027 Market Conditions

Tire-and-auto services is a **stable, defensive, recurring-demand market** entering 2027 — and Bridgestone's corporate-retail strategy with Tires Plus/Firestone shapes the competitive field.

- **Demand: US tire and auto-service market $35B+**, growing **2%-3% annually**, anchored by an **aging fleet (avg 12.6 years)** that drives steady replacement-tire and maintenance demand regardless of the economy.
- **Manufacturer-owned retail: Bridgestone (Tires Plus/Firestone) and Goodyear** run large company-owned store networks to **capture service margin and control tire distribution**, leaving the franchised opportunity to **Big O, Express Oil, and conversion programs like Tire Pros**.
- **Online disruption: e-commerce tire sales** (Tire Rack, Amazon, SimpleTire) continue to **compress tire margins**, pushing physical stores toward **installation and service revenue** as the defensible moat.
- **EV impact: EVs need tires more often** (heavier vehicles, instant torque wear) but **less traditional maintenance** (no oil changes, fewer brake jobs due to regen braking). The 2027 service model is shifting toward **tires, alignment, batteries, and ADAS** and away from oil/exhaust.
- **Labor: technician wages up 6%-8% in 2025**; **ASE-certified technician shortage** affects service throughput.
- **Competitive: Discount Tire (corporate), Big O (franchised), Bridgestone/Goodyear retail, and Express Oil** lead the organized market; the franchised path is the **independent operator's route to distributor pricing and brand pull**.

```mermaid
flowchart LR
    D1[Day 1-30: Confirm Tires Plus is corporate + shortlist franchised brands] --> D2[Day 31-60: Pull Big O/Express Oil/Tire Pros FDDs + validate Item 19]
    D2 --> D3[Day 61-90: Secure tire-distributor terms + site-select]
    D3 --> D4[FDD legal review with franchise attorney]
    D4 --> D5[Secure SBA financing + equipment leasing]
    D5 --> D6[Sign franchise agreement]
    D6 --> D7[Build/convert store + certify technicians]
    D7 --> D8[Open + maximize service-bay mix]
    D8 --> D9[Hit revenue target then add Store 2]
```

## The 90-Day Decision Tree

1. **Day 1-15: Confirm the Tires Plus reality.** Verify that **Tires Plus is a Bridgestone-owned corporate brand** without an open new-unit franchise program. Refocus on the franchised alternatives.
2. **Day 16-30: Shortlist the real franchised plays.** Request FDDs from **Big O Tires, Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers, and the Tire Pros program**. Read **Items 5, 6, 7, and 19**.
3. **Day 31-45: Validate revenue with operators.** Call **5+ franchisees** from each Item 20 list. **Ask: "What is your tire-vs-service revenue split, gross margin, and owner take-home?"**
4. **Day 46-60: Secure distributor terms and site.** Confirm **tire-distributor pricing** and select a **high-traffic automotive corridor** with room for multiple service bays.
5. **Day 61-75: Secure financing.** Tire-and-auto underwrites at **20%-25% equity, 1.3x DSCR, SBA 7(a)**, plus **equipment leasing** for lifts and alignment racks.
6. **Day 76-85: FDD legal review.** Budget **$5,000-$8,000**. Flag **royalty escalation (Big O steps from 2% to 5%), territory, and supplier-purchase requirements**.
7. **Day 86-90: Decide build vs. Convert.** If you own a tire shop, a **Tire Pros or Big O conversion** is cheaper than building. If starting fresh, choose the brand with the **best distributor pricing and service-bay model** in your market.

## Alternative Plays

Since Tires Plus isn't an open franchise, these are the real tire-and-auto ownership paths:

- **Big O Tires** — **$464K-$1.6M, 2%-5% royalty, $1.5M-$2.5M store revenue**. Largest franchised tire chain with strong brand pull.
- **Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers** — **$1.4M-$2.6M, 5% royalty**, combining quick-lube traffic with tire-and-service revenue.
- **Tire Pros** — **conversion program**, low fee, ideal for **existing independents** wanting distributor pricing and a brand.
- **Grease Monkey / Midas** — **$300K-$700K**, quick-service plus tires/brakes with recurring maintenance revenue.
- **Independent tire-and-service store** — **$400K-$1.0M buildout**, **12%-18% EBITDA**, full equity, and a **3.5-5x EBITDA exit** in the 2027 automotive-services transaction market per **Franchise Times**.

## FAQ

### Can I open a new Tires Plus franchise in 2027?

**Almost certainly not.** Tires Plus is a **retail banner of Bridgestone Americas**, operated under **Bridgestone Retail Operations** alongside Firestone Complete Auto Care. Bridgestone runs these stores **company-owned** to sell its own tires and capture service revenue. There is **no broadly available public Tires Plus Franchise Disclosure Document** offering new single-unit franchises. The realistic paths are a **comparable franchise brand** or an **independent shop**.

### Why does Bridgestone keep Tires Plus corporate-owned?

**Because the stores serve Bridgestone's manufacturing business.** As a tire maker, Bridgestone uses Tires Plus and Firestone to **sell its own tires directly and capture the high-margin service revenue** that comes with them. Franchising would give that margin and distribution control to operators. Keeping the stores **company-owned** lets Bridgestone control pricing, branding, and product mix end-to-end.

### What is the closest franchise to Tires Plus I can actually buy?

**Big O Tires** is the closest franchised equivalent — a **large tire-and-auto chain ($1.5M-$2.5M store revenue, escalating 2%-5% royalty)** with strong brand recognition and distributor pricing. **Tire Pros** is the best fit if you **already own a tire shop** and want distributor terms plus a brand without a full buildout. **Express Oil** is the best high-traffic combo model.

### How profitable is a tire-and-auto franchise?

**$160,000-$224,000 per store** in owner cash flow at a **$1.6M revenue level**, before debt service. The decisive lever is the **service-bay mix** — stores that convert tire buyers into **alignment, brake, and maintenance customers** clear **40%-48% gross margins**, while tire-only stores run thin. Online tire competition makes **installation and service the defensible profit center**.

### How do EVs change the tire-and-auto business?

**They shift the revenue mix.** EVs **wear tires faster** (heavier vehicles, instant torque), increasing replacement-tire and alignment demand, but need **less traditional maintenance** (no oil changes, less brake wear from regen braking). The 2027 winning model leans into **tires, alignment, batteries, suspension, and ADAS calibration** rather than oil and exhaust. Operators who adapt their service mix capture EV demand; those anchored to oil-change revenue lose it.

## Bottom Line

**Don't plan on a new Tires Plus franchise — it is a Bridgestone-owned corporate brand built to sell the manufacturer's own tires, and there is no open franchise program.** If you want that tire-and-auto economic profile with real ownership, **Big O Tires (best brand pull), Tire Pros (best conversion), or an independent store** are the correct plays. The entire profit game is **the service-bay mix** — convert tire buyers into alignment, brake, and maintenance customers, because tire-only economics are too thin to thrive against online sellers. In the EV-shifting 2027 market, build your service mix around **tires, alignment, batteries, and ADAS**, not oil changes, and you have a defensive, recurring-demand business worth owning.

## Sources

- **Bridgestone Americas / Bridgestone Retail Operations corporate profile** — Tires Plus and Firestone company-owned model, store count
- **Big O Tires Franchise Disclosure Document (2026 filing)** — Items 5, 6, 7, 19
- **Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers FDD summary** (franchisedirect.com)
- **Tire Pros / American Tire Distributors program overview** (Items 7 and revenue)
- **Modern Tire Dealer — US tire retail and service market size, 2025-2026**
- **S&P Global Mobility — average US vehicle age (12.6 years), 2025**
- **Tire Business — EV tire wear and service-mix trends, 2026**
- **Franchise Times — automotive services transaction multiples 2026-2027**
- **International Franchise Association (IFA) — 2027 Franchise Economic Outlook**
- **IBISWorld — Tire Dealers and Auto Repair in the US, 2026 industry report**

## Related on PULSE

→ [Best franchises to buy under $100,000 in 2027](/knowledge/fr1114) — every franchise on PULSE, ranked.

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