Jackson Free Press

Upton Tire Pros

6371 Interstate 55 N., Jackson, 601-977-8473

210 Orleans Way, Brandon, 601-825-8473

5312 Lakeland Drive, Flowood, 601-919-8473

2019 Strawberry Hill Drive, Madison, 601-856-8473

uptontirepros.com

Mike Upton's business came from a love for cars and a desire to better his community. Upton, who has never worked on cars for a living—and promises that no one should ever want him to—respects those with the gift.

"These guys who (work on the vehicles) have a great talent, and they're not valued as much as they should be in general, because they really work real hard," Upton says. "This stuff almost comes to them intuitively; they can just look at a car or a part and know how to fix it."

While he can't work on cars, Upton is a talented businessman. He opened Upton Tire Pros to provide the community with quality tires and vehicle services nearly 25 years ago, and now Upton has four locations in the metro area: Brandon, Madison, north Jackson and Flowood.

In 1977, he left college to marry Denise, his wife of 38 years now. Upton started working with Firestone Complete Auto Care as a sales representative. He easily moved up the ladder to assistant manager, and eventually the company promoted Upton to manager of its Vicksburg location, a job he held for about 15 years.

Upton wanted to try working for himself and noticed a need in Brandon.

"There was just an opportunity there. They didn't have a nice, modern tire store in Brandon back in '89," he says.

He opened his first Upton Tire Pros store there in June of that year.

"It was exhilarating, which can be both fearful and fun—and it was a little of both," Upton says about opening his new business. "We had some good people working for us. I work real hard morning, noon and night to keep it going, and it worked out real well."

Several years later, Upton noticed a similar situation in Madison where he lives. He opened up shop there in 2000, and it gets the most business of his four locations. Upton continued to expand by buying a competitor's property in Jackson in 2003, and he opened his newest store in 2007 on Lakeland Drive in Flowood. "By size, it's our biggest store, and we have big hopes for it," Upton says.

Upton Tire Pros offers full auto services, from oil changes to engine replacements, and sells tire brands such as Bridgestone, Continental, Michelin, General and Goodyear. Upton says the business pretty evenly splits between servicing cars and selling tires.

With four locations, Upton can't be everywhere at once. To oversee operations for the stores, he employs four store managers and a general manager to oversee them. Despite this, he stays accessible and is fully involved with his company. "I'm easy to get a hold of if you need me in case something comes up—and it does in our business," Upton says. "I make sure we're doing the right thing for our customers."

Upton Tire Pros strives to be forward thinking with technology. Not only does each location have computers available for customers to use while waiting, but customers can also go online to book appointments, view prices and information on previously received services.

All Upton Tire Pros locations are open Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturdays 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.