John Cummins Tyres Ltd in Tullaroan, Co. Kilkenny is celebrating 25 years as one of the leading tyre depots in the region.
While the agri sector accounts for 60% of his overall turnover, John Cummins supplies and fits tyres for all vehicle types, from passenger cars up to the largest earthmovers. He has a wide range of brands to suit every budget for cars, vans, 4x4s, trucks and agri. Over the past quarter of a century, his company has established itself as the number one name for tyres, 4-wheel alignment, vulcanising, fast puncture repairs and tracking in Kilkenny and beyond.
In addition, John Cummins Tyres provides a fast and reliable 24-hour breakdown service for all vehicles. The company has four fully-kitted vans dedicated to this which are able to carry out repairs onsite or on the roadside.
The affable Kilkenny man guarantees his customers professional, high-quality, cost-effective solutions and it’s the reason why his business continues to go from strength to strength. His aim at all times is to get you back on the road as quickly, stress-free and safely as possible.
Boasting a wealth of experience and knowledge in the industry, John started out with a single van and within 12 months, he had a second on the road.
“I set the business up in 1999, having worked in tyres before that,” he explains.
“There was nobody in this area mending tyres or giving a service like this. People were getting on to me and asking if I’d be able to help them out and eventually, I decided to give them what they wanted. It has worked out well and we’re still here today.”
John initially operated from a garage at the side of his house before renting a facility in an industrial estate near Urlingford. He moved to his current location after purchasing a half-acre site in 2005. The Tullaroan depot has everything John and his team need to repair and replace tyres, including Corgi, Snap-On and Mondolfo tyre changers, and Redmount and Corgi wheel balancers. John also stocks accessories such as batteries, bulbs and wipers.
“I do a lot of vulcanising / repair work on tractor and agri tyres that have been damaged,” he says.
“This is a very popular service as it can save farmers a lot of money. We attract customers from as far away as Galway, Nenagh, Clonmel and Dungarvan. We have a number of agri contractors on our books, including Leeson Stanley and S&L Agri.”
The power of positive word of mouth ensures a steady stream of new customers seeking to avail of John’s superb services. When it comes to large tyres on agricultural equipment, the difference in price between a repair and replacement can be eye-watering.
“It could cost on average as much as €2,500 for a new tyre and we can repair it for around €150-200 and it will be like new,” he notes.
The Co. Kilkenny operation offers free and impartial advice on the best quality tyres to suit your needs and budgets. It represents all the premium brands, including Firestone, Bridgestone and Michelin along with budget brands such as Cultor, Alliance and CEAT. In his opinion, Barkley makes the best agri tyre in the 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. Our primary concern, however, is the safety of our customers, hence the importance of choosing the right tyre to suit your vehicle and the way you drive it,” he adds.
“If someone wants a tyre fixed, then we will do it, no problem, and get them back up-and-running again. If they want tyres replaced, we will do that too. Whatever the customer wants or needs, that’s
what we are here to provide. We’ll also give them professional advice on the best course of action to take.
“It’s all down to service. We give a very good service and we stand over our work. We fit a quality tyre and make sure that everything is right before the customer drives off.”
John is supported in the business by a highly-skilled and friendly team of tyre fitters as well as his wife Valerie.
“You can get calls at any time of the day or night and you have to look after the customer. I never switch the mobile off,” he says.
John would like to take this opportunity to thank his customers and suppliers for their continued support as well as his small but dedicated team for their hard work and expertise.
Here’s to the next 25 years!
John Cummins Tyres Ltd,
Tullaroan,
Co Kilkenny.
Tel: 056 776 9855
Mobile: 087 2848140
First published in Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 11 No 6, December 2023/January 2024
