Bridgestone Americas Inc. has sold six GCR Tires & Service locations to Wilkes-Barre, Pa.-based McCarthy Tire Service Inc.
The transaction was effective Aug. 7.
The GCR stores included in the sale are located in the following markets: Baltimore, Md.; Mount Joy, Pa.; Albany, N.Y.; Binghamton, N.Y.; and Horseheads, N.Y.
In response to Modern Tire Dealer’s inquiry, Bridgestone said the sale will strengthen its overall commercial tire and service distribution network. The text of the company’s statement follows:
“We are continually evaluating the commercial tire business and our market strategy to ensure we are effectively meeting the needs of our customers. As part of this process, we made a strategic business decision to sell six GCR Tires & Service (GCR) store locations to McCarthy Tire & Service, effective Aug. 7, 2017. This will allow Bridgestone Americas to strengthen our overall commercial tire and service distribution network, which includes company-owned store locations and authorized dealers and distributors.
“We have a strong relationship with McCarthy Tire & Service, and we are confident our customers will experience no disruption in service as a result of this sale. Additionally, we are working with store employees at each of these locations to fully support them as they transition into their new roles with McCarthy Tire & Service.”
GCR operates more than 200 locations in North America. For recent news on the company, see “Bridgestone Picks Steve Hoeft as COO of GCR Tires & Service.”
The acquistion brings McCarthy Tire's store count to 54 outlets. McCarthy Tire has been in business since 1926, and is No. 22 on the Modern Tire Dealer 100, and holds the No. 6 spot on MTD's list of the Top Commercial Dealers in the U.S. For recent news on McCarthy Tire, see “McCarthy Tire Buys P.J. Dooling Tire” and “McCarthy's Commercial Business Is Growing Again, by Acquisition.”
