Belle Tire: A Local Company Since 1922

In 1922, Sam Waze opened up the first Belle Tire location, on Grand River between Schaefer and Meyers in Detroit. He named his business for his wife, Belle. The growing company eventually had five locations, but when the Great Depression hit, all but the original had to close.

Sam and Belle's son, Herb Waze, worked with his father and later took over the company. Herb got some help in the 1960s when Don Barnes, a Kelly Tire salesman, decided to stop selling tires to Belle Tire and work for the company instead.

Waze and Barnes became partners and by 1979 had opened locations in Roseville, West Bloomfield and Troy. In the late 70's a tornado destroyed the West Bloomfield store. It was rebuilt and Belle Tire continued to grow, opening stores in Grand Rapids and Traverse City.

In the early 1980's more than 10 new locations opened through expansion and acquisition of American Tire, Delta Tire, Great Lakes Tire, and Eklin Tire. The 80's also saw the purchase of Waze's share of the company by Barnes. Belle Tire remains a family run business with Don Barnes Jr. as Belle Tire's president, and his brother Bob as CEO.

 

With the acquisitions of Tireman and Metro 25, and the opening of even more Belle Tire stores, the last two decades have seen huge growth for the company. With more than 80 stores in southeast Michigan, Belle Tire remains Metro Detroit's hometown tire dealer – as it has been for the past 85 years.