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Who We Are

Our Values

Chapel Hill Tire is a values-based company. We operate from the belief that while we service vehicles, we serve people. Each day, we work to live out our five core values:

  • Strive For Excellence
  • Treat Each Other Like Family
  • Say “Yes” To Customers & Each Other
  • Be Grateful & Helpful
  • Win As A Team (and the customer is part of the team)

Empowering our people to improve everything we do, we make saying “Yes” to creative solutions a part of our culture.

At our Woodcroft shop, our commitment to sustainability is through the roof.

The best way to see our values in action is to meet the people who work here:

Seeing ourselves as part of the values-based company movement, we celebrate like-minded organizations in every sector:

Our Commitment To Our Community

Grateful that we are able to use our skills and talents to help others, we express our gratitude by working to make our community a better place for everyone who lives here. We are involved with a number of charitable organizations in the Triangle area. We also maintain a special relationship with Wheels4Hope, as their mission fits our abilities so well.

We gladly support the work of these organizations:

We also encourage our neighbors to support causes that are important to them through our 12 Days Of Kindness Holiday event. 

We love to celebrate people who make a positive difference in our community:

Our History

Founded in 1953, Chapel Hill Tire was purchased  by Al Pons in 1964. Al’s children, Marc Pons, Britt Pons, and Neill Bellamy, represent the second generation of family ownership. Built on the premise that happy employees create happy customers, Chapel Hill Tire has grown into the Triangle’s largest tire and auto repair business with nine locations serving the area. Dedicated to being the preferred car care provider for all of their neighbors in Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Apex, and Durham, they have built Chapel Hill Tire as a values-based company whose purpose is to create a work happy, drive happy movement. 

Growing stronger, year by year

  • 1953

    Founded by Sion Jennings at 502 West Franklin St, today Chapel Hill Tire is one of 6 businesses on Franklin St who have been in operation more than 60 years; the others are Suttons Drug Store, Carolina Coffee Shop, Varsity Theater, Julian’s, Walker Funeral Home, and University Florist

  • 1964

    Purchased by Al Pons

  • 1972

    Second shop opens as the first tenant to occupy University Mall; of the original tenants, we are the only one still operating

  • 1984

    Fordham Blvd store opens

  • 1985

    Carrboro location opens

  • 1988

    Britt Pons starts working at Chapel Hill Tire

  • 1992

    Planning to slow down, enjoy life, and play as much tennis as possible, Al Pons sells University Mall, Fordham Blvd, and Carrboro location to his long time managers

  • 1996

    Al Pons passes away unexpectedly after having double knee replacement

  • 1997

    Marc, Britt, and Neill assume ownership of the company

    Marc joins the Chapel Hill Tire team and assumes the role of President

    Chapel Hill Tire repurchases Carrboro location from longtime manager, Jimmy Edwards

  • 1999

    Chapel Hill Tire opens at the Cole Park Plaza location, converting space in a former Lowes Food

  • 2002

    Chapel Hill Tire purchases Chapel Hill Service Center and merges operations into their Franklin St. location

  • 2004

    Named “Business of the Year” by the Chapel Hill Carrboro Chamber of Commerce

  • 2011

    Chapel Hill Tire becomes the area’s first hybrid certified independent auto repair facility

    First Durham location built next to Woodcroft Shopping Center

  • 2012

  • 2014

  • 2015

    Chapel Hill Tire repurchases University Mall location from Al’s longtime manager, Larry Braxton

  • 2016

    Chapel Hill Tire repurchases Fordham Blvd location, renamed AutoProToCall from Al’s longtime manager, James Allen

  • 2018

    Chapel Hill Tire expands to Raleigh with the purchase of Atlantic Avenue Tire and Service, creating our 7th location

  • 2019

    Chapel Hill Tire purchases Passport Motors and merges the operations into the Franklin St. location

    Chapel Hill Tire adds second shop in Raleigh and 8th location overall at Crabtree Valley Mall

  • 2020

    Chapel Hill Tire expands to Apex with the purchase of Auto Remedy—creating our 9th location

    Free pick-up and delivery service launched in response to COVID-19 pandemic

  • 2022

    Chapel Hill Tire opens its first Cary location by acquiring Bull Tire and Service—upping our location count to 10 Triangle-area shops.

    51 ASE Certifications achieved bringing the total number of certifications to 151

  • 2023

    Introduced Mobile Car Wash and Detailing

    Opened the Hillsborough Rd Store

    Hired a Director of Training

    Crabtree Valley and Woodcroft Stores received ASE Blue Seal of Excellence