ALLEN PARK, Mich., Nov. 17, 2009 – Belle Tire is pleased to announce the grand opening of two new Michigan stores located in Battle Creek and Monroe.

The Battle Creek store, located at 2822 Capital Ave. S.W. just south of I-94 at the corner of Beckley and Capital, opened Sept. 30, 2009.

“This is the first Belle Tire store in the Battle Creek area and we are pleased and excited to be entering this new market,” said Don Barnes Jr., President of Belle Tire. Belle Tire currently has four locations in the Kalamazoo area. 

The Monroe location, at 1776 N. Telegraph Road, will open its doors Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009 and host a ribbon cutting ceremony on site at 11 a.m. Currently Belle Tire has locations in Toledo and Woodhaven to service the Monroe area; this is the first location in the Monroe market. Special Grand Opening savings postcards will be mailed to 53,000 area residents offering $20 off anything the Belle Tire location sells with no minimum purchase required.

"Belle Tire is absolutely thrilled to be in the Monroe area. We’ve worked for years to find the best building site in Monroe and we’re extremely happy with the outcome. We look forward to earning the business every day of our new neighbors and promise to always provide a great value and service. The Frenchtown township building officials and Fire Department were among the best to work with and we thank them" said Jeff Kruse Vice President of Retail Operations.

Belle Tire stocks over 250,000 tires ready for immediate installation. Customers at both stores will have access to top tire brands including:

• Goodyear
• Michelin
• Toyo Tires
• Kelly Tires
• BFGoodrich
• Bridgestone
• Continental
• Sumitomo Tire

Services offered at the Monroe and Battle Creek locations include, but are not limited to: wheel alignment–  which many other tire retailers don’t even offer,  brake systems, oil and lube, steering and suspension, windshield repair and replacement, air conditioning, batteries, starters and alternators, shocks and struts, cooling systems, and more.

Both the Battle Creek and Monroe stores will employee 15 people, which include manager, assistant manager, sales staff and Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified technicians.  The store hours at both locations are Monday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Both locations are new construction stores featuring 9800 square-feet and include 12 service bays to better serve the customer.

ALLEN PARK, Mich., Nov. 12, 2009 – Three years ago Collex Collision began its Wheels of HOPE program to give away restored used vehicles to families with transportation needs. This year, Belle Tire is donating tires, brake services, oil changes and windshield repair and replacement services in the restoration process of these vehicles.

In the first two years the Wheels of HOPE program gave away seven cars along with gas cards, gift cards and one year vehicle insurance, all totaling over $50,000, to families in Michigan and Florida. Through further donations and support of Collex's employees, vendors and area communities, this year's goal is six vehicles. 

Wheels of HOPE obtains the used vehicles through donations by Collex Collision, charitable organizations, including Charity Motors and Volunteers of America, and individual donors. Belle Tire then utilizes its Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified technicians in restoring the donated vehicles to a like-new condition to then be given to the deserving families.

"As a locally owned and operated company, Belle Tire is happy to be giving back to our communities through our partnership with Collex and Wheels of Hope" said Darren Mcgeachy, Belle Tire Auto Glass Sale/Operations Manager.

On December 19, 2009 the Collex Collision Clinton Township store will host an event to give away the restored vehicles. Both WDIV Channel 4 and WJBK FOX 2 News in Detroit will be covering the event night live. In addition, WDIV Channel 4 will be broadcasting the complete story as it follows around Collex Collision employees while they select and surprise the vehicles' recipients prior to the event.

Families and local non-profit organizations can find applications on Collex Collision's website to submit to be selected to receive a vehicle. Once applications are received, potential recipients are then narrowed down through a process that includes interviews and background checks. The recipients must have valid transportation needs, clean driving records and are actively trying to provide for their families.

Individuals and companies that are interested in helping with the Wheels of HOPE program can give a monetary donation, donate a vehicle, become a Support Partner and/or help with an event night ceremony. A Support Partner can give on five different tiers and will be acknowledged on corresponding levels. All donations, including vehicles, are tax deductible.

If you are interested in making a donation or donating a vehicle in Michigan please call: 586-493-9110.

About Wheels of HOPE
The mission of Collex Collision Experts’ Wheels of HOPE program is to create good will at the local level by uniting company staff, city officials and local businesses to help deserving families by giving them a “like-new” vehicle. Through the generosity and donations of Collex Collision business support partners and caring individuals and companies, “Wheels of HOPE” also provides vehicle insurance, prepaid gasoline cards, AAA road service, oil changes and more. For more information please visit: http://www.collexcollision.com/wheelshope.htm

ALLEN PARK, Mich., Nov. 5, 2009 — Belle Tire, the number one tire retailer in Michigan, continues to invest in the state and its local communities by offering advanced training to its current technicians and providing them with a new and exciting career opportunity as a certified technician. 

This training program, unlike any other offered by retailers in the area, is being conducted by Master Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Technician Larry Bluford. Mr. Bluford is highly qualified with over 30 years of experience in automotive service.  The 90 day training program is made up of five students whom are chosen based on their aptitude and motivation for a mechanical career.  The students are selected by Mr. Bluford from over 800 Belle Tire service employees. 

The training classes are conducted at The Belle Tire Auto Tech Development Center, located at the Belle Tire Headquarters and Distribution Center in Allen Park.  Classes are conducted five days a week and combine a rigorous curriculum of classroom training, testing and hands on training.

To provide quality hands on training to the students, Belle Tire is offering consumers a discount of up to 50% off the services performed on their vehicles at the Belle Tire Auto Tech Development Center in Allen Park during training. Belle Tire curriculum includes, but is not limited to, training in the following areas; Wheel Alignment and Balancing, Brake Systems, Steering & Suspension, Air Conditioning, Batteries, Starters and Alternators, Shocks and Struts, and Cooling Systems. To ensure every job is done to Belle Tire standards, Mr. Bluford oversees all repairs. In the past, city employees from Melvindale and Allen Park took advantage of the huge discounts by bringing their personal vehicles in to the Auto Tech Development Center for service. Most repairs take one day and require an appointment.

"Belle Tire has been in business for over 85 years and is invested in Michigan. By offering advanced training to our current employees, it gives them an opportunity at a solid career foundation and advanced career opportunities, it also provides consumers with a way to save even more on auto service" said Jeff Kruse, Vice President of Retail Operations at Belle Tire.

Upon completion of training and graduation, Belle Tire provides each graduating student with a mechanics tools set valued at over $8000, and each graduate is immediately placed at a Belle Tire retail location to begin their new careers.  Belle Tire currently employs 289 technicians who have received their ASE Certification, 87 of whom are ASE Certified Master Technicians. 

This new training program is just another way Belle Tire continues to strive for excellence and provides customers with an exceptional level of service beyond compare, additional value for those taking advantage of the up to 50% off discounts at the Auto Tech Development Center and advances the careers for ambition young men and women.

The Belle Tire Auto Tech Development Center is located at 1000 Enterprise Drive and is open five days a week, Monday through Friday, 8am—5pm, and can be reached at 313-271-9400 ext. 246.