Tire Pros to Acquire St Louis-Based Autotire

(Akron/Tire Review) Tire Pros/Am-Pac Tire Distributors Inc has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Latham Tire Co and its Autotire Car Care Centers business for an undisclosed amount. The agreement, expected to close shortly, brings the number of Tire Pros’ national retail stores to 300.

Am-Pac Tire Distr, Inc. is one of the largest tyre distributors in the US and franchiser of Tire Pros. Autotire is a distributor member of American Car Care Centers (ACCC) located in St Louis.

Founded in 1981 by partners Gene Latham, Ray Latham and John Ronsick, Autotire consists of 23 St Louis locations, a wholesale operation and a parts division.

“By uniting with Tire Pros and leveraging its many years of leadership in the tyre and auto service industry, Autotire becomes an instant heavyweight in the area,” said John Ronsick, president of Autotire. “Combining our strength and presence with the marketing muscle and buying clout of Tire Pros is a formula that competitors simply cannot match.”

“Autotire now has all the tools for future market growth and successes in the St. Louis area,” added Dennis Mangola, president and CEO of Am-Pac.

Am-Pac is the owned by the US arm of Japanese investment conglomerate, Itochu Corporation. Itochu owned distributor, Stapletons, recently announced that its Japanese backers are planning to spend a minimum of $25 million on expanding the UK operation.