Micky Franklin’s is more than tires
With a big-name tire shop right next door, you might think that a locally owned, family shop would have trouble competing.
That’s not the case at Micky Franklin’s at 300 Pondella Road, where the owner is not only just fine with their neighbors, but says the competition brings out the best in him.
It’s a business philosophy that has stood the test of time – almost 50 years at least.
Micky’s father built his first tire store in 1967 on Business 41 before building his own store at the current location in 1970.
Micky’s dad soon left the business and kept the property, renting the space out before Micky rented the place in 1987 after father and son tried their hand at powerboat racing and became very successful, winning several national championships.
Eventually, they bought the property from their mother, put a new building up and made the place their own. Still family owned and operated, the youngest son serves as store manager.
Today, Micky’s is a Michelin T3 certified center, which the company takes seriously as the tiremaker doesn’t make everyone certified.
“I’ve been selling tires since I was in diapers. I believe I have forgotten what most people know about the business. I’m very good at it,” Franklin said matter of factly. “Michelin’s game is second to none. There’s nobody better than them. I’ve sold them all. I’ve driven them all. They are my go-to tire.”
Franklin’s will sell you any type of tire for any situation. There really isn’t a tire Franklin can’t get, he said. Prices compete with the big boys and the service surpasses them, as they do all the services and work most other shops do, he said.
Micky Franklin, whose company is a member of the Christian Chamber of Commerce, runs his shop according to those values, with clean dependable service from mechanics that don’t use foul language around the shop.
“The rest rooms will be clean. We will respect you and treat you like kings and queens. That’s my goal. I want my customers to feel important,” Franklin said. “When they have to spend up to $1,000 on a set of tires, they aren’t happy people. We try to turn that around.”
Franklin has always had a competitive streak, which has served him well against some of the bigger chains that have popped up. He coached football at the high school level for many years and is also a competitive angler.
It is that streak, along with great people, that has allowed him to thrive on a competitive corner.
“We complement each other. I learned at an early age that competition makes me better. If they do something, I’m going to do it better,” Franklin said. “When the price is the same, my people are the difference. I have a great staff.”
Micky Franklin’s is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Saturday until 2 p.m. For more information, call 995-TIRE or find them at