Johnson Tire Service, a member of American Tire Distributors Inc.’s Tire Pros organization, celebrated its 100th anniversary this past June.
Founded by C. Edwin Johnson in Springville, Utah, in 1924, the company is now led by fourth-generation owners and cousins, Riley and Jeff Johnson.
Johnson Tire Service marked the milestone with its annual Johnson Tire Day event on June 7, a tradition that has been around for as long as Riley Johnson says he can remember.
The event brought community members and customers together for lunch, special discounts on major tire brands and various giveaways and drawings. Last year, the celebration drew over 600 attendees.
Johnson Tire Service offers a wide range of products and services, including passenger and light truck tires, as well as automotive repair services, such as brake repairs and front-end work like timing belts, tune-ups, and computer diagnostics.
Challenges and opportunities
Riley Johnson cites Johnson Tire Service's willingness to adapt to industry changes as the dealership's biggest challenge over the years. "With cars and tires becoming more specific in repairs and applications, we have had to adapt to stay in business. This has been the most challenging, but also the most fun.
“Sometimes when you have a successful business, you think everything is well and you aren’t thinking of the next new thing or changes in the industry,” explains Johnson.
The greatest achievement is maintaining a true family business, according to Johnson.
Generational business
With Riley and Jeff being fourth-generation owners, there are also multiple Johnson family members still working in the company.
Johnson Tire Service also services a lot of multi-generation customers, as well.
“There is not a day that goes by that someone doesn’t say they remember me when I was a boy and coming to my grandpa or dad’s shop or something along those lines,” Riley explains.
“We live in a great place with great people around us. This community has been really good to our family.”
Rikey says he and his family are planning on celebrating the company's 100th anniversary all year and he hopes for another 100 years in business – plus a new generation of owners.
“Me and Jeff both have boys, the fifth generation, working in the business,” he says.
“My hope is that they will love it enough to keep it going.”
