Posted on 01/04/2018 5:27:48 PM PST by Elderberry
Bruce T. Halle, who founded Discount Tire in Michigan with an inventory of only six tires in 1960 and grew the company into the largest independent tire dealer in North America, died Thursday. He was 87.
Officials at the company headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona, said Halle died in his sleep but didn't immediately release the cause of death.
"I speak on behalf of all who knew Bruce in that he will be dearly missed," Discount Tire's CEO Michael Zuieback said in a statement.
Halle was Discount Tire's chairman of the board and was ranked by Forbes magazine as the richest person in Arizona with a net worth of more than $5 billion.
Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, Halle started his first tire store in Ann Arbor, Michigan, four years after he graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in business administration.
He started the business as a way to support his wife and three young children and chose the name because it implied customers could get a deal on a tire.
Halle rented an old plumbing supply building, built countertops, repainted the sign outside and was the store's only employee — serving as the tire technician, cleaning crew, salesman and accountant.
It was three days before Halle had his first customer and a week before he made a sale. His original inventory consisted of two new tires and four retreads.
(Excerpt) Read more at wacotrib.com ...
I have Discount Tire treads on all my vehicles, including vintage trucks. They will deal and dicker, I always get the lowest price on the internet and go in and bargain with them. They always come around. I stay with them because they have always treated me fairly.
I bought a set of tires from Discount - good service and fair price. They rotate tires for free and check your tire pressure any time you stop by. Months later, I had my car serviced at the dealer and, while it was there, I had the tires rotated. A week later, I stopped at Discount to have tire pressures checked and casually mentioned that I had the tires rotated at the dealer. He asked “how much” then opened the cash register and gave me the $15 that the rotation cost. With that attitude, I would buy from Discount again!
Seriously?
You obviously don’t know that they price match.
He founded DT about the same time McDonalds was founded. Both created to be highly efficient and low cost. I enjoyed the Ray Kroc movie “The Founder” a couple weeks ago. Fascinating dive into the psyche of a seriously driven businessman.
“You obviously don’t know that they price match.”
Really? The last set of Michelins I bought were nearly 20% less at the dealer than at Discount.
I hear her saying, "Go on honey, you can do it!"
We do a lot of work building new discount tires....just last week we heard he was retiring when the built the 1000 store.....they are finishing the 1000 store this month
I always got the best price and service on the T/As my Vette used from Discount. They even raised it by the jack points by hand instead of using the rack, as Chevy prescribed.
Nice thing about DT is you can get anything you want.
I put BF Goodrich T/A on my truck about 6 years ago. Got 4 for 3. I don’t drive it much but thats what my Aero Rubber Care takes care of.
Those tires will be fixed anywhere in the USA if need be.
Discount Tire is the best one going.
Always have had good dealings with discount tire.I will buy from them only.RIP Mr Halle.
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