In nearly every industry, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology have created opportunities for workload balance, automation and experimentation — combined with an equal amount of confusion and caution. 

What opportunities exist for independent tire dealers to leverage AI to improve efficiencies and increase profitability? And where should they start?  

Joaquin Gonzalez, president of Tire Group International Inc. (TGI), says AI can be “a valuable tool for improving customer service and operational efficiency. 

“AI can automate order confirmations, shipment updates and customer communications through email, text or phone while providing dealers with real-time inventory availability and product recommendations. It also can help forecast demand, optimize inventory levels and identify purchasing trends to reduce stock shortages and excess inventory.  

“On the sales side, AI can assist inside sales teams by prioritizing customer opportunities, generating quotes and providing product recommendations based on a dealer's buying history, allowing wholesalers to deliver faster service and build stronger customer relationships,” he says. 

While some people across a variety of industries fear that AI programs have the potential to take away jobs, that’s not the case in the world of tire distribution and retailing, according to Gonzalez. 

“From speaking with a number of tire retailers, AI is not replacing people. It’s helping them become more efficient. Dealers are using AI to automate appointment scheduling, customer follow-ups, service reminders and routine phone and text communications, allowing their staff to focus on serving customers.”

Point S USA, which has more than 400 locations within its network, is growing its Training Academy and Master Shop program to educate its members on the growing presence of AI in the industry and help them operate more effectively. 

Jack Baker, associate director of marketing at Point S USA, says many Point S dealers are leveraging AI through their existing vendor partnerships.  

“We encourage our independent owners to use whatever tools work best for their shop, and we supplement that with industry-specific resources and support so they can stay focused on running their business rather than evaluating software. 

“AI is changing how tire shops show up online, from how search engines and AI chat tools surface dealer locations to how customers approach tire buying and appointment scheduling. Our members benefit from those shifts without needing to become technology or marketing experts themselves.” 

Opportunities for tire dealers

Simon Brooks, chief product officer at Anyline, says AI has the ability to take on “fairly ordinary, repetitive work” that may keep tire dealers from focusing on more important tasks, such as engaging with customers and completing technical services. 

Possibly the most useful way tire dealers and shop owners can take advantage of AI-powered equipment is by using digital tools that are trained to see, capture and measure objects directly in the service bay or workshop, says Brooks. 

For example, he notes, operators and technicians can conduct an AI-powered inspection on vehicles with a phone or tablet that can measure the specifications of a tire, such as tread depth and sidewall information, in seconds.  

This could streamline the diagnostic process, Brooks explains. 

“For tire dealers, that means full confidence that every vehicle that enters the shop has its tires thoroughly checked and the condition digitally recorded. Ensuring that worn tires are identified correctly at the time of inspection converts directly into tire sales and related services like alignments.  

“For customers, it means they see a measurement from an inspection they can trust, not an opinion, which makes the tire replacement conversation easier and more honest.” 

Steve Womer, senior vice president of product and engineering at Interface Systems, says some tire dealers are using AI to validate service transactions and monitor service time and quality.

“Computer vision detects each vehicle and automatically correlates that to point-of-sale data,” says Womer, who adds that “time stamps can be layered on to build datasets around wait time, service time, customer engagement and more.” 

Improving customer communication, overall operational efficiency and sales performance are all possible by strategically incorporating AI, according to James Channer, chief revenue officer at In Motion Brands. 

He says call automation platforms offer the ability to answer calls, qualify leads, schedule appointments and provide store information after business hours. AI agents can also handle routine inquiries, reduce inbound call volumes, automate dispatching, support call center operations and provide employees with instant information to help keep stores from feeling weighed down by administrative tasks. 

Efficiency across the industry

Channer says these tools can be especially valuable for commercial tire dealerships that provide emergency roadside service. 

“Fleet operators expect immediate responses when a vehicle is down because every hour a truck, van or service vehicle is off the road impacts productivity and revenue. Dealers are under constant pressure to respond quickly, dispatch service efficiently and keep customers informed.  

“AI-powered dispatch and communication tools have proven to be a practical solution by reducing response times, automating call handling and connecting fleet customers with the right person faster — whether during business hours or after hours.”   

Tire dealers also can use AI programs to help improve conversion rates, customer experience and profitability by transcribing and analyzing customer calls, identifying missed sales opportunities, evaluating service advisor performance and providing coaching insights based on actual customer interactions, says Channer.  

Allowing tire dealerships to remain competitive and available 24 hours a day, even when they aren’t physically open, is possible because of new AI technology, according to Jack Reynolds, product marketing manager at LeadVenture. 

By interacting with potential customers over the phone or through text messages, AI assistants can help diagnose basic customer needs and vehicle concerns, collect important information and book appointments before human staff members can take over. 

“On Net Driven customer websites, we see that 54% of website traffic comes in after hours, when shops can't answer the phone,” says Reynolds. 

AI does not only have the ability to improve communication with customers. Independent tire dealers are now finding ways to improve efficiencies directly in their service bays, says Ryan Chacon, chief revenue officer at Leverege.

“AI-powered computer vision tools now automatically track vehicle flow through bays, generate real-time performance dashboards that technicians can see on wall-mounted displays and surface objective data on service durations, delayed services and labor activity — without requiring any manual input,” says Chacon.  

“The results from early adopters are concrete: Operators have seen service times reduced by 13%, customer wait times cut by 18% and throughput increase by up to eight additional vehicles per day per store — without adding staff.”

For more on developing and implementing an AI strategy, listen to "How to Use AI at Your Tire Dealership," a recent episode of The Modern Tire Dealer Show with Leverege's chief operating officer, Calum McClelland.

Tire dealers are also beginning to use AI-powered tools for “proactive service management,” such as monitoring “at-risk” service opportunities and drive-off rates, as well as security tools that offer more expansive coverage, according to Chacon. 

Ryan Louis, CEO at Revmo AI, says the biggest opportunities for tire dealers to incorporate AI systems into their operation include targeting “simple, repetitive, time-consuming work first,” like phone calls, some paperwork and customer follow-ups. 

“That is the lowest-hanging fruit,” he explains, adding that when a dealership’s employee can’t come to the phone, AI agents can gather customer information, take tire orders and even confirm tire fitments in the same call. AI software can also be used to write estimates, invoices and service records and can also assist in stocking inventory and ordering products. 

“The common thread is that none of this is about replacing the people who make a tire shop work, says Louis. “It is about taking the repetitive load off them so they can spend time with customers and jobs that genuinely need” personal, human interaction. 

Investing in ways to simplify customer experiences and monitor daily shop operations can be key focus areas where AI can help, says Jonah Toch, senior project developer at Tire//SMART ERP, which is powered by JMK Computerized TDIS Inc. 

Toch says AI has a growing presence in dealer management software for functions like streamlining appointments, improving communication with customers, documenting orders and sales and keeping track of inventories. 

Though AI implementation at independent tire dealerships is still in its infancy, the most effective use cases are focused on after-hours lead capture, reducing administrative work and focusing on areas where shops are feeling overwhelmed, according to Carson Cornelius, general manager at Tireweb. 

“The success stories share a common pattern: focused applications — particularly customer communication — that deliver immediate, measurable impact without requiring major operational change. Customer expectations have shifted toward immediate response, and AI is how independent dealers are meeting that expectation without adding headcount.” 

Brad Kokesh, president and CEO at TraXtion, believes the use of AI should enhance customer relationships and simplify the search and buying process through streamlining inbound calls and chats and refining tire identification and inspection methods.  

The rise of consumers shopping for tires on their mobile devices opens an opportunity for shops to take advantage of digital tools that allow them to scan tires for instant information on tire size, brand and more.  

This technology can also be used in the service bay to improve the consistency of inspections and ensure accurate tread depth measurements, uneven wear checks and alignment indicators to boost customer confidence, says Kokesh.  

“Rather than replacing technician expertise, AI creates consistency while helping ensure opportunities aren't missed. Tools like this will not sell the tires for the retailer but will uncover every opportunity that presents itself.” 

Overcoming hesitation 

With numerous AI-powered programs and software now in the market, it can become easy for independent tire dealers to be unsure of how to add AI technologies to their operations. 

Beginning with one high-value workflow that needs improvement and developing a plan to implement and measure results is a good start, says Anyline’s Brooks. 

“AI in the shop should feel like an assistant, not a replacement for expertise. The technician still makes the call. AI just makes sure the call is based on consistent, accurate data. Winning with AI is less about technical skill than approach. The dealers who get results treat it like any other shop tool.” 

Focusing on one or two targeted areas of business that need improvement can be the most helpful if a dealer is curious about exploring new technology, says Womer of Interface Systems. “Businesses are better served identifying a pain point or two meaningful enough to justify a solution — deploying AI in a focused effort, putting it to use and expanding from there. 

“Start with one application, measure the results and build from there,” says Channer of In Montion Brands. “Whether it's an AI service advisor, dispatch automation, call analysis or a knowledge assistant that helps employees access information more quickly, the goal should always be the same: improve customer experience, increase productivity and create capacity for growth.” 

“The biggest barrier holding most shops back is that AI feels broad and overwhelming,” according to LeadVenture’s Reynolds. “Our advice is to think less about ‘How do I incorporate AI?’ and more about what problems need solving in your business.” 

Once tire dealers identify a specific area where their dealership may be struggling or underperforming, the next best course of action is to implement a solid plan for measuring AI’s effectiveness and openly communicate with staff, says Leverage’s Chacon. 

Louis of Revmo AI also believes that starting small, specific and choosing tools that work well with your current shop management system will keep you in control of your operations when trying an AI platform for the first time. 

You do not have to be technical and you do not have to go all-in,” he says. “Start with one painful, countable problem, prove it out and grow from there. The dealers who get the most out of this treat it like a dependable new team member, not a science project.” 

The trick is to always keep operational efficiency and management top of mind, says Toch of Tire//SMART ERP.  

“The secret to success is cementing customer relationships, providing employees with the right information tools to allow for the highest efficiency with (the) lowest frustration, realizing that improvements are possible and then taking action.” 

Pinpointing a solvable issue at your dealership and filling gaps where your employees are challenged will help dealers build an effective AI strategy, says Tireweb’s Cornelius. 

“The dealers who get this right treat AI like any other hire: give it a clear job, check its work and expand its responsibilities once it proves itself. Start small, measure honestly and let the results — not hype — drive the next step.” 

AI can help dealerships amplify service, customer relationships and trust.  

“If AI helps a customer get a faster answer, schedule an appointment more easily, identify the right tire with a single photo or better understand why a repair is needed, it's doing exactly what it should,” says Kokesh of TraXtion. “The future of independent tire retail won't be defined by the shops with the most AI. It will be defined by the shops that use AI to make doing business simpler, faster and more transparent.”