Left Lane Auto Gears Up for More Expansion

Champaign, Ill.-based Left Lane Auto LLC, which today has 77 outlets, will hit the 100-store mark by mid-2026, says Parham Parastaran, its CEO.

Bertram Capital, a private equity firm that recently secured an ownership stake in Left Lane Auto, will help accelerate that growth, Parastaran tells MTD in this exclusive interview.

Left Lane Auto - one of the 25 largest tire dealerships in the United States, according to the 2025 MTD 100 - 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, Modica Bros Tire & Wheel, Logan Tire Service and others.

MTD: Left Lane Auto LLC is a relatively new player in the tire dealership arena. How did the company start and how is it structured from an ownership perspective? 

Parastaran: This company was founded by myself, Jeff Beasley and Derek Dimke in 2021. We did our first acquisition in April 2021, with three locations in Montgomery Ala. I had previously owned and operated 17 Car-x locations that I sold to Monro in 2017. Then in late- 2020, I had a vision to go back into the business with a different model than I had previously. Jeff, who had been with me during the Car-x days and eventually became an owner in that, as well, was my first call when I decided to go back into the business. I also called Kim Price, who was with me from the Car-x days, to handle the back office. Finally, we brought on Derek, who I knew from a previous tech project I was working on, to join the leadership team. 

MTD: Tell us about Left Lane's growth over the last few years. Has most of that growth come from acquisitions, greenfields or a combination both? If so, why? Do you have a store count target? 

Parastaran: Our growth, 77 locations at the moment, has predominantly been (from) acquisitions. We currently operate two greenfields and have several due to open in the first quarter of 2026. I like the acquisition model the most as it’s more predictable. I also like the greenfield model, but at a slower pace. We do not have a store count goal, but we absolutely intend to grow responsibly.

MTD: What's Left Lane Auto's expansion strategy? Are there certain geographic areas and/or types of tire dealerships that the company's focused on? What metrics does Left Lane Auto examine when considering a tire dealership for potential acquisition? Why are tire dealerships attractive?

Parastaran: Our strategy is to find strong local brands and shops and carry that legacy forward. We will grow where it makes sense, but much is predicated by the opportunities that come our way and make the most sense, both geographically and in relation to our current footprint.

Our metrics are high-performing locations. We don’t chase turnaround opportunities at this point from a strategic standpoint. Tire dealerships are attractive for two reasons. The first reason is that it’s a space I know the best, as I’ve been doing this for 34 years. The other is the amount of opportunity in a very fragmented field.

MTD: Bertram Capital, a private equity firm, recently acquired an ownership stake in Left Lane Auto. What will Bertram's investment help Left Lane Auto achieve? 

Parastaran: We are very excited about our partnership and the many complimentary benefits that they will add to our current operation. They have deep knowledge and experience in scaling, operational know-how and leveraging technology through Bertram Labs. We jointly share a vision to be one of the premier platforms in this space.

Looking forward, Parastaran foresees no slowdown in tire dealership mergers and acquisitions during 2026. “There are still many small shops looking for exits. As long as that supply exits, M&A activity will exist."