Express Tyre Centre is one of Munster’s leading tyre depot, providing the following services to the haulage, earthmoving, agri and car sectors: 24/7 callout, fast puncture repairs, vulcanising repairs, rims and rim refurbishment, puncture proofing, solid tyres and solid filling.
Based on the Ringaskiddy Road in Monkstown, Co. Cork and providing nationwide coverage, Express Tyre Centre is number one for tyres, tracking, fast puncture repair and balancing. Since 1994, when it was established by Wes Taylor, the company has earned an enviable reputation for supplying, fitting and repairing tyres for all machinery types.
Express Tyre Centre supplies tyres for cars, 4x4s, vans, trucks, agricultural, industrial and earthmoving equipment. Wes and his small but dedicated team offer free and impartial advice on the best quality tyres to suit your needs and budgets. They are authorised agents for all of the leading brands, including Michelin, Hankook, Pirelli and Continental for cars, BKT Agrimax, Michelin and Bridgestone for earthmoving equipment, BKT Agrimax for tractors and agri machinery, and Hankook for trucks. A huge selection of mid-range, budget and used tyres are also in stock, while forklift tyres are another speciality.
In addition, Express Tyre Centre is registered by the ITIA (Irish Tyre Industry Association). Formed in 1998, the ITIA represents a wide range of groups involved in the tyre industry, including manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and suppliers, and works to unite these groups in supporting best practices and safety in line with market guidelines and relevant legislation.
Wes was working as an agricultural contractor when he got the idea to set up his own tyre fitting and repair business.
“My background is in farming and, ironically, this was the sector that sustained us when the recession hit in 2007 and ’08. Farming never stops and I will always be grateful to the farmers who supported us during those tough times,” he says.
“We started off as a mobile repair unit and opened our first tyre centre two or three years later near Cork Airport. We’ve been in our current location in Portgate Business Park, which is about halfway between Carrigaline and Ringaskiddy, for the past 17 years.
“We’ve grown over the years to cater for all your agri, haulage, quarry and car tyre needs. We moved into the earthmoving sector early on and that, along with heavy haulage and agri, is really the backbone of our business.
“We pride ourselves on our quality products and unrivalled service. We will always go the extra mile for our customers. Customer satisfaction and value-for-money are very important to us. We don’t focus on one brand; we focus on quality and looking after our customers’ requirements. Our primary concern is the safety of our customers, hence the importance of choosing the right tyre to suit your vehicle and the way you drive it.”
Roadstone and Port of Cork are two of Express Tyre Centre’s biggest clients. Suppliers include Agrigear Tyre & Wheel Specialists (BTK), Tractamotors and TyreCall, which are all Cavan-based. Wes is joined in the business by his wife Lorraine, who looks after the bookkeeping, five full-time and two part-time staff.
“Our people are our greatest asset. I cannot praise them enough. They’re top-class at what they do and we wouldn’t be where we are today without their dedication, hard work and expertise. Most of our tyre fitters are long-time employees. Sam looks after the administration side of things and is also a key component. It’s a real team effort,” he explains.
The company’s state-of-the-art tyre fitting depot has everything Wes and his staff need to repair and replace tyres, including 3D wheel alignment equipment and hydraulic lifts. As well as providing a comprehensive range of tyres for different vehicles to suit all budgets, the depot stocks a full selection of batteries, wiper blades and other accessories.
Wes has three fully-kitted out vans and a custom-built DAF LF 12.5-tonne truck with a crane for lifting earthmoving equipment dedicated to his emergency tyre breakdown service. His suite of 24-hour tyre changing services include car tyre changing, truck tyre changing, bus tyre changing, tractor tyre changing and earthmover tyre changing. Day or night, Express Tyre Centre can respond to your tyre issues.
“We pride ourselves on our rapid response times, reliability and commitment to quality customer service. We never see anyone stuck,” he continues.
“Our emergency tyre breakdown service covers all of Munster for earthmoving equipment. For cars, trucks and tractors, it’s more localised.”
With his business continuing to go from strength to strength, Wes would like to take this opportunity to thank his customers and suppliers for their continued support.
Express Tyre Centre
Unit 10,
Portgate Business Park,
Ringaskiddy Road,
Monkstown,
Co. Cork,
T12 X653.
Telephone: 021 4919002 / 087 2655265 (24/7 callout service)
First published in Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 10 No 5, September/October 2022
