By Nancy Brumback, Contributing Writer
Northborough – “We specialize in offering any brand of tire you want and in providing full service auto repairs and maintenance. You can come see us. You don's have to go to a dealer,” said Carl Kazen Jr., describing his family's newest New England Tire Car Care Center, this one in Northborough.
Carl's father started the tire and repair business 35 years ago in the Attleboro area where the company is based. The Northborough store opened this past February, the first one outside of southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. New England Tire has four other stores, plus a wholesale business supplying tires to independent repair shops.
Carl Kazen Sr. is president of the company, and Carl Jr. and his brother, Bill, are vice presidents. Many other family members are also part of the business.
“Just about anywhere you go, you'sl run into one of us. We'se really lucky we all get along so well,” Carl Jr. said.
The Kazens bought the Northborough store from Dick Johnson, who had run a Goodyear tire store in the same location for years, but was looking to downsize his business.
The Northborough store is managed by Mark Messier, who has worked for New England Tire for 20 years. “We put our best guy in here,” Carl said.
“This is our first venture north, but it won's be our last. We'se been very well received here. The next location is likely to be in the Metrowest area or slightly north,” he said.
New England Tire's stores are AAA-approved repair facilities and are also certified by Goodyear. “Each of those has strict criteria we have to meet, and they frequently audit us.”
The renovated Northborough shop features large windows giving customers a view of the repair bays, and an updated customer lounge area. Free shuttle service is available if customers don's want to wait for their car to be repaired.
While the store features Goodyear tires, “We can get any type and brand of tire that's available, especially the higher-performance tires,” Carl Jr. said. Customers can just stop in, or they can make an appointment and confirm that a specific tire is in stock before bringing their car in.
“We sell a lot of winter tires, and we will store the customer's other tires at our warehouse over the winter. You don's have to find room for them in the garage or basement,” Carl said. Winter or snow tires are “almost a necessity” on a lot of cars.
“Many newer cars are terrible in snow, and now manufacturers are going to rear-wheel drive to increase gas mileage, but those cars don's perform as well in snow with ordinary tires.”
“People often think we only sell tires, but we offer the full range of maintenance and repairs, anything a dealer can do,” he added. The shop also performs state auto inspections.
The company has recently launched a new website, www.newenglandtire.com, which lets customers make appointments online and search different types of tires. The website includes tips on buying tires and on tire care.
New England Tire Car Care Center is located at 367 West Main St. in Northborough. It's open Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and all day Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is closed Sunday. For additional information or an appointment, call 508-393-9183.
