Malbay Tyre Centre is a leading tyre depot based in Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare. The family-run business covers all aspects of the tyre industry, including a wide range of brands to suit every budget for cars, vans, 4x4s, trucks and agri.
Founded in 1981 by the late John Griffin, Malbay Tyres has been run by his son Darren since 2015. Darren employs three staff, including the long-serving Eoin ‘Tayto’ O’Brien who has a wealth of knowledge in the industry, and is also supported by his brother Jason and mother Susan. Over the past four decades, the company has established itself as the number one name for tyres, 3D wheel alignment, 4-wheel alignment, vulcanising, fast puncture repairs and tracking in the region.
In addition, Malbay Tyres provides a fast and reliable 24-hour breakdown service for all vehicles. It has two fully-kitted vans dedicated to this which are able to carry out repairs onsite or on the roadside. Other services offered include lock nut removal, alloy repair, alloys, batteries, brakes, bulbs, camber adjustment, screen wash, balancing and wipers.
The Ennis Road depot has everything Darren and his team need to repair and replace tyres, including a new Pitzone 3D alignment system. Pitzone was able to adapt Darren’s flatbed four-post lift into a state-of-the-art wheel alignment with the aid of Bock rubber ramps, rear slip plates and front turntables.
“We cater for every type of vehicle and all the major tyre brands. It’s all about giving customers the service they want,” Darren says.
“We have tyres for quads, cars, vans, 4x4s, trucks, tractors, earthmovers and everything else in between. We’re constantly investing in our equipment to ensure our customers get the best possible service. In our workshop, we have three car tyre changing machines as well as a truck and agri tyre changer which we upgraded from a smaller one two years ago, this was supplied from Mick in Tyrebay Direct. It’s an M&B which was brought in from Italy and is as big as you’ll find anywhere. It was actually the first of its kind in Ireland.
“The Pitzone 3D alignment system is our latest piece of kit which we’re very happy with.”
The West Clare company offers free and impartial advice on the best quality tyres to suit your needs and budgets. It represents all the leading brands, including Firestone, Bridgestone, Dunlop, Hankook, Good Year, Continental, Michelin, Pirelli, Starmaxx, Toyo Tires, Nordexx, Federal, Maxxis and Nankang. It is also an agent for Ampac batteries, which come with a two-year warranty.
“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,” Darren explains.
“For cars and light commercials, Bridgestone, Michelin, Firestone and Hankook are the most popular premium brands. Nordexx and Austone make a good mid-range car tyre, while Three-A, Yeada and Farroad are our best-selling budget brands.”
When it comes to agricultural machinery, BKT Agrimax and MRL are the big sellers. Agrimax Force, the high-end product of BKT, is a radial tyre specially designed for soil tillage, haulage and harvesting applications with high-power tractors and harvesters, ensuring top performance and efficiency. Thanks to its IF technology, this tyre can carry heavy loads with a lower inflation pressure compared to the standard tyre, thus reducing soil compaction.
MRL is another Indian brand that has established a strong foothold in the tyre industry. Its robust tyres have a rim size range between eight and 54 inches.
“With new tyres being crucial to vehicle safety, we concentrate on offering only the highest calibre tyres from prestigious manufacturers,” adds Darren, whose customer-base includes local agri contractors.
“We had a busy summer attending to the needs of farmers and agri contractors who were making silage and bringing in the harvest. They are among our best and most loyal customers. We do vulcanising and powder coating which is especially popular with farmers who live near the sea,” Darren says.
“We send wheels and alloys to Agrigear in Cavan to have them restored to their original factory finish. We have plans to invest in our own powder coating machine in the future and to provide this service ourselves.”
Malbay Tyres’ mobile tyre repair service is also second to none.
“Recognising the frustration and distress that a punctured or damaged tyre can cause, we are available to our customers around the clock. Our highly-skilled tyre fitters have the tools and expertise to handle everything from cars and vans to trucks and tractors. We never leave anyone stuck.”
As Malbay Tyres continues to go from strength to strength, Darren would like to take this opportunity to thank his customers and suppliers for their continued support as well as his small but dedicated team of tyre fitters for their hard work and skill.
Opening hours are 9am to 6pm Monday-Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.
Malbay Tyre Centre
Ennis Road,
Miltown Malbay,
Co. Clare.
Telephone: 065 708 4042 / 086 030 2897
Email: [email protected]
First published in Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 11 No 6, December 2023/January 2024
