As several people stopped and said hello to Brad Schmucker, his father Sheldon and his uncle Art Miller, anyone could see Millersburg Tire Service is part of the community. Last week, the Ohio-based tire dealership celebrated 60 years of service with a three-day celebration.
“It’s still pretty neat to have my dad and uncle, who started it all, be here. It’s a milestone. Plus to still have it in the family…that’s amazing,” Brad said.
Sheldon started selling tires on his father’s farm in 1952 after various tire companies tried to sell his father tractor tires, he said. In 1953, along with brother-in-law Art, Sheldon founded Schmucker and Miller Tire in Millersburg, Ohio. The company later renamed itself Millersburg Tire Service.
The shop, originally located downtown, included two bays and a couple of molds for retreading. Today the store is in its second location and has seven bays and a retreading facility.
Art credits Sheldon’s knowledge of what farmers needed from their tires as part of the store’s early success, while Sheldon credits the store’s success to Art knowing everyone in the county. The pair both say the shop continues to run better under Brad’s management.
“I think Brad has done a great job,” Art said. “[The shop is] 10 times better than when we ran it. Brad is a good operator and understands the business.”
Brad, who at the age of 2 started traveling with his father to tire companies in Akron, Ohio, took over Millersburg Tires in the 1980s. He continues to run the store as a family with the same values of his relatives.
“[They taught me] you have treat people the way you want to be treated. You have to be honest,” Brad said. “Only have top of the table dealings – the only thing that should be under the table is your feet. I think if you’re honest and you have a good prices and good service, people will come back.”
“It’s all about honesty. If someone comes back in we don’t have to remember what we said to them because we told the truth,” Sheldon said. “We never had to say what did I say to him?”
Repeat service has helped the store throughout its 60 years.
“One guy yesterday said he was a third generation buyer of tires from us,” Brad said. “That’s really neat to think there’ve been three generations buying tires. His grandpa probably bought from dad. The dad bought from me and now the other guy is probably buying from my son…We’re not just here today gone tomorrow, we want people to come back.”
One challenge the store faced over the years was a fire at its retreading facility in 1978 that burnt the building down. Initially they chose not to rebuild, but just four years later the company was back in retreading.
“We bought tires from others, but we couldn’t buy as good of retreads as what we produced. So we started back up in 1982,” Brad said.
Located in the heart of Amish country, the Millersburg Tire Service sells all sorts of tires. While Ag tires are still its bread and butter, the shop carries passenger, Light truck/SUV, OTR and ATV tires.
“If it runs on rubber, we sell it,” Brad said. “Dad never had 100 of anything, but we always had one of everything. I think that’s why people have come back because we do have good selection.”
The dealership has supported various charities throughout its history, including local churches, missions, 4-H and baseball teams.
“If a local organization needed money, they could always county on coming to Millersburg Tire for a donation,” Brad said. “We’ve been blessed and we need to give back.”
Its 60th anniversary celebration, a festival-like atmosphere, included pony rides, dinner and other events for the entire community across three days. As part of the celebration, the shop collected money for The Love Center and the Haiti Relief sale.
“When you’re part of the community and the community supports you, you need to give back,” Brad said.
