How does $17.95 per month for a set of tires, maintenance sound?
Just more than a year after announcing plans for a $530 million plant in LaGrange, Ga., just north of Columbus, Sentury Tire on Tuesday unveiled a service that should complement and encourage the purchase of its products.
The company said it is rolling out what it calls AvanTech, a monthly subscription service that provides customers with four new tires on an “as needed basis,” a deal that includes installation, road hazard coverage, tire inspections and service. The cost starts at $17.95 per month, depending on the tires desired and the annual mileage the customer puts on them.
AvanTech is being introduced in only a few markets initially, which does not include Columbus. But there are participating tire and auto stores in the region, including Fryer’s Tire Center in LaGrange, University Tire and Auto in Auburn, Ala., and Litz Tire in Newnan, Ga. The service also should be available in some Florida and South Carolina markets, the company said, with the service to be expanded over time.
“Today’s consumers are no longer tied to just one screen or cable provider, so why should they still look at tire ownership the same way,” Rami Helminen, chief executive officer of AvanTech Tires, said in a statement. “We’re addressing the needs of a new generation of drivers who prefer an affordable, more convenient and hassle-free option that provides them with fresh, quality tires on an as-needed basis, along with peace of mind and zero hassles.”
Customers can check out the costs and subscribe at www.avantech.tires. A quick check of the estimated the monthly cost for a set of tires ranged from $19.95 for up to 10,000 miles of use to $45.95 monthly for 30,000 miles of driving per year. Subscribers must schedule an installation date, have the tires inspected by the installer every five to seven months for tread depth and air pressure, and rotated as needed. When they reach minimum depth they are replaced at no additional cost, the company said Tuesday.
Sentury Tire is a subsidiary of Sentaida Group, a company founded in 2008 in Qingdao, Shandong, China. It announced in September 2016 plans to construct a $530 million tire factory in Troup County, with it also serving as a North American headquarters. The plant is to employ more than 1,000 people, the company has said. Sentury Tire brands include Sentury, Landsail and Delinte. It already has plants in Qingdao and Thailand, with 70 percent of its tire sales in Europe and the U.S.
The Wall Street Journal, the Atlanta Business Chronicle and other media outlets reported in September that the tiremaker is still seeking a developer for the LaGrange factory.
This story was originally published December 5, 2017 at 4:01 PM with the headline "How does $17.95 per month for a set of tires, maintenance sound?."