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Founded in 1999 by Scott Mueller, Dean Mueller, and Walter Mueller, Dealer Tire is a Cleveland, Ohio, family business that supplies replacement tires exclusively to new vehicle auto dealerships. The privately owned distributor serves a primary customer base of approximately 10,000 domestic dealerships representing 24 global automakers, providing them with training and support. To accommodate this market, the enterprise operates a vast logistics network of 39 distribution centers across the United States and international markets like China. Scaling significantly over two decades of operations, the organization grew to generate over two and a half billion dollars in annual revenue while maintaining a global workforce of nearly 6,000 employees. To expand its direct consumer reach, the firm launched the RightTurn online platform, a tire purchasing website that coordinates installation at original equipment manufacturer locations in cities including Dallas.
Key people at Dealer Tire.
Dealer Tire was founded in 1918 by Dean Mueller (Co-Founder & President).
Dealer Tire was founded in 1918 by Dean Mueller (Co-Founder & President).
Key people at Dealer Tire.
Dealer Tire is a family-owned automotive distributor specializing in tires, parts, and related services for automotive dealerships. It manages replacement tire and parts programs for over 20-23 OEMs in the US, China, and Canada, serving more than 8,000-10,000 dealerships through nearly 40-43 distribution centers across North America.[1][3][5][6] The company also operates in automotive reconditioning, ecommerce, and vehicle protection via its family of businesses, employing nearly 6,000 people and growing from $3 million to $2.5 billion in revenue over 20 years by capturing market share in dealer tire sales from 2% to over 10%.[1][4][5]
Dealer Tire traces its roots to the Mueller family's Mueller Tire & Brake retail chain, founded in Cleveland in 1918 as a single store.[1][3][4][5] In 1999-2000, brothers Scott Mueller (CEO), Dean Mueller (President), and their father Walter D. Mueller spun off Dealer Tire from the retail business after identifying an opportunity: car dealers were a key referral source but lacked expertise in tire sales.[2][5][6][7] They sold the retail operations to focus exclusively on the dealer channel, leveraging retail know-how to train dealers, provide inventory systems, and capitalize on OEM-specific tires that independents couldn't stock efficiently.[1][2][4]
Dealer Tire rides the wave of automotive digitization and data analytics, transforming from tires to "tires to tech" by integrating sensors, ecommerce, and AI-driven inventory for predictive maintenance and personalized service.[4][6] Timing aligns with EV proliferation, sustainability demands (e.g., efficient tire tech), and OEM pushes for aftermarket control amid supply chain disruptions.[4] It influences the ecosystem by empowering dealers—specializing in vehicle makes—to capture replacement tire market share, reducing reliance on independents and fostering data-rich service models that boost customer retention.[2][4]
Dealer Tire's tech acquisitions and Bain Capital backing position it for accelerated growth in connected vehicles, with trends like telematics, sustainable materials, and autonomous fleets amplifying demand for smart tire solutions.[4][6] Expect further M&A in data platforms and international expansion, evolving its role from distributor to ecosystem enabler. As a century-old family innovator, it remains anchored in Cleveland loyalty while steering the industry's shift to tech-enabled, dealer-centric aftersales.[3][5] This bet on the dealer channel, born from retail insight, continues to redefine automotive maintenance.
