National Tyres and Autocare is not associated with National Tyres Network

National Tyres and Autocare has issued a statement clarifying that it is not associated with another business operating in the market called “National Tyres Network”. Writing in a statement issued 8 August, the company said: “Axle Group Holdings Limited (which owns National Tyres and Autocare and sister company Viking Wholesale Tyres) works closely with a network of over 3000 independent garages throughout the UK and believe raising awareness of this issue is in the interests of both the industry and our network. Any approach from National Tyres Network Limited is not in any way associated with National Tyre Service Limited or National Tyres and Autocare.”

The company in question National Tyres Network Limited (which is a wholly owned subsidiary company of Silkmoth Limited) previously named National Tyres Network and now trading as The Tyres Network. The Tyres Network is an online directory which, for a fee, offers independent garages a microsite to promote their business. Each microsite is then added as a listing into The Tyres Network’s online directory. Visitors to the website can find a garage by typing in a location.

Axle Group representatives became concerned that potential and current customers may see this as an endorsement by us or may be misled into believing that this site was in fact something created by National Tyres and Autocare. Axle Group reports that it then filed a dispute with Nominet UK (who manage all domain names in the UK) and its case was successful resulting in an order to transfer the offending domain name to National Tyres and Autocare.

“On closer inspection we became concerned that The Tyres Network’s business model ensures that Silkmoth Limited retain complete ownership and control of the microsite for each business.  We would recommend to all retailers currently using this business model that they have adequate safeguards in place to prevent Silkmoth Limited removing their microsite without warning or increasing the cost of the service. Currently, it would appear that all retailers are encouraged to promote a site that they ultimately do not own,” the statement added.