How does one go about getting an apprenticeship as a Tire mechanic? (lease, tires)

[TireTech429]

So, this might be an odd question, but . . .I'm wondering, how does one go about getting a position as a tire mechanic?

Really, what I'm looking for is more of an apprenticeship type deal at a mom-and-pop used tire shop, where I can "learn the ropes," per se, of fixing & repairing tires.

Don't ask me why, but I've had an interest and passion for learning about and working with passenger car & truck tires ever since I was a kid.

I'm 28 now, and currently taking classes to get my Associate's Degree in Business Admin, and I'd like to open a used tire shop sometime in the future.

So, again, looking for any advice anyone might have on how I can go about securing a position as a tire mechanic, so that I can learn the ins & outs of running a tire shop. I guess I'm more or less looking for advice on how to approach the shop owner . . .I can be pretty outgoing when I want to be, but in this regard, I'm admittedly kinda shy & nervous, because I'm not really sure what to say . . .I mean, it's not like these shop owners get requests every day for people who really, truly WANT to be tire mechanics and learn how to run the business, lmao!

I know it's hard work, but again, I'd like to give it a try . . .before I'm too old to be doing such physical labor, lmao.

Anyhow, thanks in advance . . .

-Wes
"The Tire Dude"

[Brian_M]

You walk into a tire shop and ask if they have need for any help.

Repeat as necessary until someone hires you. It's not very complicated. You're just looking for an entry-level position, they Expect to train anyone they hire.

Maybe the other option is to looking into the franchise tire businesses and ask their corporate offices if they can help place you in a shop to see if it's a business you'd like to invest in. That way you can learn not only the ropes of the industry, but the business model of whatever franchise too.

[Flyover_Country]

Originally Posted by TireTech429

So, this might be an odd question, but . . .I'm wondering, how does one go about getting a position as a tire mechanic?

Really, what I'm looking for is more of an apprenticeship type deal at a mom-and-pop used tire shop, where I can "learn the ropes," per se, of fixing & repairing tires.

Don't ask me why, but I've had an interest and passion for learning about and working with passenger car & truck tires ever since I was a kid.

I'm 28 now, and currently taking classes to get my Associate's Degree in Business Admin, and I'd like to open a used tire shop sometime in the future.

So, again, looking for any advice anyone might have on how I can go about securing a position as a tire mechanic, so that I can learn the ins & outs of running a tire shop. I guess I'm more or less looking for advice on how to approach the shop owner . . .I can be pretty outgoing when I want to be, but in this regard, I'm admittedly kinda shy & nervous, because I'm not really sure what to say . . .I mean, it's not like these shop owners get requests every day for people who really, truly WANT to be tire mechanics and learn how to run the business, lmao!

I know it's hard work, but again, I'd like to give it a try . . .before I'm too old to be doing such physical labor, lmao.

Anyhow, thanks in advance . . .

-Wes
"The Tire Dude"

I am not a mechanic but generally if you want to learn how to do something you go to school to learn it or if it's an unlicensed or apprenticeship profession, go up and ask somebody in the business who looks like they may want to hire you afterwards if they will teach you. I'd go ask a guy at an independent tire shop. The independent shops tend to be small and more concerned with staying around and such would be more likely to look for an ambitious person such as yourself to work for them. Besides, what's the worst they do, tell you "no"? You would be surprised at how many people are "not hiring" but suddenly are when somebody who wants to work there talks with one of the brass about working there. You may have to sweep floors, clean up stuff, and do a bunch of crap nobody else wants to do to get the privilege of learning but if you are ambitious you can make it work.

Good luck!

[M3 Mitch]

Bustin' tires can be hard work, but if you like doing it more power to you.

I would say you want to find a shop that does used tires, as opposed to a chain tire shop, and as stated previously just ask around till you find someone who wants a hand. If you are good, they will be glad to have you.

If you do well with the business side of the equation, you could very well make good money owning your own business.

[crestliner]

Large trucking companies have tire mechanics because of the number of tires they are running. At one local school system there were over 1300 school buses and only one tire mechanic..Each tire and wheel weighed about 150lbs. He would often break down and mount 80 to over 100 a day. This is what a tire mechanic does

[exhdo1]

Originally Posted by crestliner

Large trucking companies have tire mechanics because of the number of tires they are running. At one local school system there were over 1300 school buses and only one tire mechanic..Each tire and wheel weighed about 150lbs. He would often break down and mount 80 to over 100 a day. This is what a tire mechanic does

I'll add checking with the local private or state transit bus company's. The local state garage services nearly 300 buses a day.

[whiteboyslo]

Apprenticeship? I walked into Sears, filled out an app, and was busting tires a week later with no formal training outside of watching a safety video. Kinda scary how fast these places will trust you to wrench on someone else's car, but that's a whole other story.

Mike

[StealthRabbit]

I like your style (get to know the business BEFORE buying one...)

I would do the following...
1) stay engaged in a business degree job during the day.
2) get an evening / weekend job at a USED tire shop (you learn the most from 'creative people' and they will be willing to teach +they will take you on AND you can be an asset to their company (eventually getting to know the profit center / cash flows). side benefit >>>it really intereesting to get to know MANY different types and varieties of tires YOU will be very surprised at how different they are on the INSIDE / patching / mounting

after a few months / shops...(some owners MAY be impossible to work for, they REALLY expect Grunts)

3)do 'informational interviews' with top knotch tire shops. (they are a PAIN to work for, BUT they can be a wealth of info) Find out their Profit centers (very different than used place). You MIGHT want to get into one of their training courses, BUT... it is all about 'upselling' and marketing, NOT about KNOWING TIRES.

Decide what tire shops you are interested in and do some serious investigative business research (cash flows, ROI, Margins, COGS, Marketing / Franchise costs...)

THEN target your opportunities. (hint) behind the sceen... you will want to SERIOUSLY look at how to buy commercial real estate that you could Triple Net LEASE to a tire shop (perhaps your own, but probably too high of overall risk exposure AT FIRST).

AFTER 20 yrs in the business you will probably be MUCH wealthier from the Real Estate side than the Tire side UNLESS you are really keen, in which case you may already be in Tahiti collecting your rents AND revenue.

Read the book, Amazon.com: Les Schwab Pride in Performance: Keep It Going (9780892881512): Les Schwab: Books

Good luck. (I was bustin tires 40+ yrs ago, and my dad and Grandpa before me... I also have my own tire machine Very handy for a $200 CL find.

[NHDave]

Originally Posted by whiteboyslo

Apprenticeship? I walked into Sears, filled out an app, and was busting tires a week later with no formal training outside of watching a safety video. Kinda scary how fast these places will trust you to wrench on someone else's car, but that's a whole other story.

Mike

Which is why it's never advised to take your car to one of those quick service shops.

[jambo101]

If you live in the snow belt business really starts picking up starting in October as people start shopping for winter tires.