Worcester, Mass.-based Ken Jones Tires is celebrating its 75th year in business. Founded by Ken Jones in 1938, the third-generation family business has evolved from a local brick and mortar retail and wholesale tire distributor to an online seller of specialty tires, tire chains, tire tubes and hard to find tires.

Ken Jones Tires originally began as a Fisk Tire distributor. When World War II broke out, rubber was rationed and there were few tires to sell. Retreading used tires became extremely important to keep up with the demand; the business ran 24 hours a day.

After a meeting at the corporate headquarters of Fisk Tires in New York City in 1942, Ken realized Fisk was no longer able to supply him enough tires to keep his business growing. On his train ride home, he decided to stop in New Haven, Conn., to visit a rubber company called Armstrong Rubber. Armstrong agreed to sell him tires, and that was the beginning of a long business relationship between Ken Jones Tires and Armstrong Rubber.

Ken’s only son, Jerry, came into the business in 1958. Jerry’s wife, Rachel, worked for the business for many years and their three sons, Steve, Brian and Darren, joined the business after college. The three men are now equal owners of the company. Grandchildren Chris and Justin have begun working during summers and breaks from school, starting the fourth generation at Ken Jones Tires.

In 1999, the company launched its first website, eventually converting to a full e-commerce site selling specialty tires, tire tubes and tire chains in 2009.Today, Ken Jones Tires sells its products globally, and the company’s online division continues to expand.

“Growing our business online has become my passion,” said Brian Jones. “When I get phone calls from all over the U.S., Canada or even American Samoa, I can see our online strategy is working, building the legacy of Ken Jones Tires in the 21st century.”