Four for the Road at Mill Street Tire

When asked about different tires, Andy Trought can rattle off every kind and type imaginableFirestone, Dayton, Goodyear; passenger, light truck, SUV; luxury, all-terrain, high-performance.

“Most people don’t find tires to be as interesting as I do,” says Trought with a laugh, whose company is a familiar fixture on North Church Street, right past the train tracks. “I guess I just like what I do.”

And what Trought (pronounced like the fish) does is sell, change and fix tires so the rest of us can have a sweet ride. 

Trought started his tire business nearly 22 years ago, a couple of blocks away on Mill Street—hence its name. He was there for  12 years.

“We outgrew the space after three years,” says Trought, 48, “but we didn’t move for another nine,” until he found the right garage.

Married to Melissa for 16 years and a father of two, Trought is a native of Moorestown, with relatives settling here during the Civil War. He attended West Virginia University and graduated with a degree in business administration, with a focus on small business management.

“My grandfather was a very entrepreneurial guy, and I looked up to him,” says Trought, a friendly and soft-spoken guy. “After college, I knocked around a little until I knew what I wanted.”

And, what he wanted was to own a business, preferably selling tires. The word  tire or tyre, incidentally, is thought to have derived its name from the word “tie” which refers to the outer steel ring part of a wooden car wheel. The first pneumatic tire, or gas-filled structure, was patented in 1846 by Scotsman Robert William Thomson.

“I worked for a guy in the business, Ron Walton, who owns R. W. Tire in Bordentown,” says Trought. “He was very helpful, and he mentored me for the two years I was working for him.”

For most of us, buying new tires doesn’t exactly get the adrenaline running like buying a new flat-screen TV, but they’re merchandise needed for our cars, says Trought.

“The tire business is a bit recession-proof because people need to keep their commodities going. That’s just the reality of owning a car.” Trought says his best year so far was 2007, and he adds with a guilty chuckle that the big snowstorms make him secretly happy.

“Bad weather is welcome because in the spring there are usually potholes,” Trought says, well-aware of what that means for drivers. Those tire-gnawing, gutter-gobbling, making-the-mechanic-merry road wreckers, can ruin a driver’s day.

And, beware of Belgian block curbs, which is decorative curbing made of tough stone used in some housing developments. “They can slice your tires,” says Trought.

On an early morning, two of Trought’s employees have cars suspended on the garages lifts. A Mercedes Benz is parked awaiting its turn. Trought says his reliable staff of nine full-time workers has been with him for a long  time.

With today’s erratic and steep gas prices, Trought isn’t concerned about business dropping. Since the days of Henry Ford, Americans have had a love affair with their automobiles. For some, next to a home, a car is the single most expensive purchase made; and along with that, the responsibility of keeping it in tip top shape.

Trought estimates he sells between 10,000 and 12,000 tires a year.

“Even though fuel has gotten higher,” says Trought among the screech of lug nuts being loosened, “people still like to drive, and people are driving even fancier cars,” which can translate into more expensive tires.

But, car owners can help to reduce fuel consumption.

“Maintaining adequate air pressure on your car’s tires is important,” says Trought. “If the pressure is too low, it will cause more fuel to burn, and the tires will wear out quicker, too. It is simple advice that people overlook.”

Besides selling tires, Mill Street employees are certified technicians that offer alignments, steering and suspension work, and oil changes.

“Our focus is to keep your car serviced and running smoothly,” says Trought. “That’s what where here for.”