Dealer Profile: Tom Lyons Tire and Auto Service
Full Disclosure:I am beginning a series of profiles on various independent tire dealers with articles on several dealers in my local area that I know very well. I know these dealerships well because in my previous incarnation as a wheel repair technician, I did quite a bit of business with these dealerships. Since my small business did not keep tires in stock, when we needed to replace a customer's damaged tires we went to local dealers to get them. Many local dealers gave our business wholesale rates and often referred their customers with damaged wheels to us. On the one hand, it means that I know the businesses and the people involved personally. On the other hand, this could be considered a conflict of interest. I will attempt to be as honest in these profiles as I will be when profiling dealers I have not had personal relationships with, but I believe that my readers should know when I could be biased.
Tom Lyons Tire and Auto Service has been an institution in Waltham, Massachusetts for 60 years now, since opening in 1953. Independently owned and operated by Jack Kelley and his family, Tom Lyons has a reputation for friendly, knowledgeable service and excellent prices. Although a small business with only one location, Tom Lyons has big shoulders, providing fast, excellent and honest services in a clean and well appointed shop. I have honestly and wholeheartedly recommended them to customers and friends alike for years.
Services:
Tom Lyons offers the usual services offered by an independent tire dealer, such as mounting, balancing,TPMS services and alignment, in fact they have been doing the alignments on my Prius Nerdmobile for many years. They also offer auto repair services like brakes, oil and filter service, exhaust, AC, axle and driveshaft work, suspension, steering repairs and vehicle inspections.
Customer Service:
I can say from personal experience that Jack Kelley is one of the nicest guys in the tire industry, and the people who work for him are both extremely friendly and deeply knowledgeable about tires.
In fact, these are the people I call even now when I'm stumped about something tire-related. The technicians are ASE certified and they both enjoy and take pride in their work.
Tom Lyons' waiting room is open and comfortable, featuring free coffee, open wi-fi, plenty of reading material and if you prefer, excellent conversation with the staff. I've had to wait there myself on a number of occasions, and I have never been bored. They give accurate repair times and do their very best to keep their word once given. I admire that greatly.
Inventory:
Tom Lyons carries 15 major tire brands, and stocks about 15,000 tires at any one time in their warehouse behind the store. They are an exclusive dealer of Nokian tires, and are not just knowledgeable but incredibly enthusiastic about the best snow tires in the world. When I was selling tires, Tom Lyons was always my first call for tires such as the Hakkapeliitta R or the WRG2, and their prices were generally the best available.
Tom Lyons also sells aftermarket wheels, carrying such brands as BBS, American Racing, and Motegi Racing, among others.
Website:
While Tom Lyon's website is perhaps not the best in the business, it is certainly much better than most. The site is clean, cheery and easy to navigate and use. The site features an excellent tire search function, although price quotes are available only by email. It also features a coupons page listing the many special offers available.
Tom Lyons Tire and Auto Service has been an institution in Waltham, Massachusetts for 60 years now, since opening in 1953. Independently owned and operated by Jack Kelley and his family, Tom Lyons has a reputation for friendly, knowledgeable service and excellent prices. Although a small business with only one location, Tom Lyons has big shoulders, providing fast, excellent and honest services in a clean and well appointed shop. I have honestly and wholeheartedly recommended them to customers and friends alike for years.
Services:
Tom Lyons offers the usual services offered by an independent tire dealer, such as mounting, balancing,TPMS services and alignment, in fact they have been doing the alignments on my Prius Nerdmobile for many years. They also offer auto repair services like brakes, oil and filter service, exhaust, AC, axle and driveshaft work, suspension, steering repairs and vehicle inspections.
Customer Service:
I can say from personal experience that Jack Kelley is one of the nicest guys in the tire industry, and the people who work for him are both extremely friendly and deeply knowledgeable about tires.
In fact, these are the people I call even now when I'm stumped about something tire-related. The technicians are ASE certified and they both enjoy and take pride in their work.
Tom Lyons' waiting room is open and comfortable, featuring free coffee, open wi-fi, plenty of reading material and if you prefer, excellent conversation with the staff. I've had to wait there myself on a number of occasions, and I have never been bored. They give accurate repair times and do their very best to keep their word once given. I admire that greatly.
Inventory:
Tom Lyons carries 15 major tire brands, and stocks about 15,000 tires at any one time in their warehouse behind the store. They are an exclusive dealer of Nokian tires, and are not just knowledgeable but incredibly enthusiastic about the best snow tires in the world. When I was selling tires, Tom Lyons was always my first call for tires such as the Hakkapeliitta R or the WRG2, and their prices were generally the best available.
Tom Lyons also sells aftermarket wheels, carrying such brands as BBS, American Racing, and Motegi Racing, among others.
Website:
While Tom Lyon's website is perhaps not the best in the business, it is certainly much better than most. The site is clean, cheery and easy to navigate and use. The site features an excellent tire search function, although price quotes are available only by email. It also features a coupons page listing the many special offers available.
Source...