In a sleepy Hampshire town sits the world’s busiest tyre fitter. Micheldever’s claim to fame comes from the 2,200 tyres it fits every week at its flagship tyre centre.

The business is a phenomenon: on Saturdays, for instance, the queues can be 100 metres long or more, while one tyre is fitted – put on the car, balanced, paid for and out the door – every 45 seconds.

While the main catchment area is from Basingstoke to Southampton, people travel from Scotland, the Isle of Wight and even the south of France on recommendation. 

During AM’s visit, a customer sidled up to chief executive Paul Fox and asked whether he was part of the Micheldever management team.

“I just want to thank you for the excellent service you’ve given me over the years,” he said.

He’d driven from Swansea in south Wales that morning in an aged Proton Persona – a round trip of more than 300 miles. 

“It’s the only place that does the job properly,” he added.

Company facts

Turnover: £223.9m (year ended March 2008)
Pre-tax profits: £8.07m
No of retail: sites 32
No of tyres fitted per year: one million
No of wholesale sites: 10
No of tyres supplied per year: six million

• Read this story in full in the 23 Jan 09 issue of AM. To subscribe to AM magazine click here or call 01733 468659.