Private Equity Firm Invests in Left Lane Auto

Private equity firm Bertram Capital Management LLC has made an investment for an ownership stake in Champaign, Ill.-based Left Lane Auto LLC.

Left Lane Auto, which has more than 75 tire store locations, marks Bertram's fourth platform investment in Fund V. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

"The partnership with Bertram Capital comes at a pivotal time for Left Lane," says Parham Parastaran, CEO and Founder of Left Lane Auto, one of the 50 largest tire dealerships in the United States, according to the 2025 MTD 100.

"Our strategy is rooted in preserving each acquired brand's identity, heritage and people, while providing the capital, technology and operational support intended to help drive growth. Bertram shares our vision and the combination of their commitment to scaling our business and the capabilities of Bertram Labs make them the ideal partner to help us scale."

According to a recent statement, Left Lane Auto "is focused on building a national platform by partnering with high-quality regional operators and delivering differentiated service to its customers."

"Left Lane has established a compelling foundation in the tire and automotive-service market," says Tom Beerle, a partner at Bertram Capital. "The company embodies the characteristics we seek in a Bertram investment: a large and attractive market opportunity, strong customer loyalty, an experienced management team and a culture centered on operational excellence.

"We are excited to partner with Parham Parastaran, Jeff Beasley, Derek Dimke, Bob Schimmel and the broader Left Lane team and seek to accelerate growth, invest in technology and continue building a differentiated national platform."

Left Lane Auto does business under a wide variety of names, including University Tire, Mike Smith Tire & Auto, Big G Tire & Auto, Clay Dooley Tire & Auto Service, Don Duncan's All American Tire, Gipson's Tire Pros, Jim Grizzle Tire & Auto, Logan Tire Service and others.

Based in Foster City, Calif., Bertram Capital was founded in 2006 and has raised more than $4 billion in capital commitments.