Our Divisions
Alma Tire Companies is built around a family of specialized divisions that work together to keep Michigan moving. From Modern Mechanics for full-service auto repair, to ATS Fleet Service for commercial truck and fleet maintenance, to our tire and retread operations serving drivers, farms, and fleets, each division focuses on what it does best – so customers get expert support, no matter what they drive or where they operate.
Our Product
RFFW Retreading helps fleets reduce cost per mile while extending the life of their tire casings. Through a disciplined retreading process and strict quality standards developed through the Bandag system and refined by our team, we produce dependable commercial retreads designed for long service life. It’s a practical solution that benefits your operation while reducing waste.
Alma Tire Companies: Keeping Michigan Moving
Who We Are
Alma Tire Companies is a fourth-generation, Michigan-based family of brands built around one standard: do the work the right way, protect people’s safety, and keep vehicles and equipment performing when they’re needed most. From everyday commuters to business owners managing multiple vehicles—and from regional fleets to heavy-duty and specialized equipment—we support the people who rely on transportation to run their lives and operations.
One Organization, Built for Different Needs
Today, we operate as a unified organization with specialized teams serving distinct customer types under one umbrella. Rather than trying to be everything to everyone in one shop, our divisions are intentionally structured so customers have a clear “home base” with technicians, tools, and processes aligned to their specific needs—backed by the full strength of the broader company.
Consistency You Can Feel
While each division is focused on a particular type of service and customer, we’re aligned behind the scenes through shared leadership, training, and operating standards across every location. That structure allows us to deliver a consistent experience: clear communication, disciplined workmanship, and dependable follow-through—whether it’s one family vehicle or an entire operation’s uptime on the line. It also means customers benefit from a team that can coordinate across divisions when a situation calls for it, without sacrificing accountability or clarity.
Investing for the Long Term
Family-owned and professionally led, we continue investing in our people, tools, and systems so we can raise the bar year after year. Our goal is simple: earn trust through consistency—not slogans—by showing up prepared, doing the job thoroughly, and standing behind the work.
Our Mission
To serve our communities and the transportation industry by providing the highest-quality tire, repair, and maintenance experience—built on honest recommendations, skilled technicians, and a continuous investment in our people, our tools, and our processes.
Our Vision
To be the most trusted transportation service partner in Michigan—known for protecting customers’ safety, maximizing uptime, extending the life of their vehicles and equipment, and creating rewarding careers for automotive and fleet professionals.
Our Story: Four Generations of Service
Alma Tire Companies did not begin as a “group of companies.” It started as one small tire shop where your warranty was a family name and a handshake. Over time, that one shop evolved—location by location, bay by bay—into a multi-division company that serves retail drivers, fleets, farmers, and industrial operations across Michigan.
The tools, trucks, and technology may look different than they did in the 1950s, but the heart of the company has not changed. We still treat every vehicle and machine like someone’s livelihood depends on it—because most of the time, it does.
After returning from the Air Force in the late 1950s, Richard “Dick” Grace joined his father’s tire store in downtown Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. The work was demanding and direct: mount and repair tires so farmers could get to their fields, families could get to work and school, and local businesses could keep their trucks on the road. Long days, cold mornings in the bays, and late-night calls were simply part of the job.
As word spread about honest work and dependable service, the family expanded into Alma and neighboring communities. New buildings, additional bays, and more technicians allowed the company to support a growing mix of passenger, commercial, and agricultural customers across Central Michigan. The reputation remained the same: show up, do it right, and take care of people.
Vehicles became more complex, and customers started asking Alma Tire to handle more than just tires. They needed alignments, brake repairs, steering and suspension work, and help diagnosing evolving electrical and engine systems. The company responded by investing in alignment racks, diagnostic equipment, and training—transforming from a tire-only operation into a true service partner for drivers and fleets.
To serve each type of customer at a higher level, Alma Tire Companies formalized two focused divisions: Alma Tire for passenger and light truck tire services, Modern Mechanics for complete auto repair, and ATS Fleet Service for commercial, OTR, agricultural, and industrial customers. Each division built its own processes and capabilities while staying rooted in the same family ownership, culture, and core values.
Under the Alma Tire Companies banner, these divisions now operate as a coordinated family of brands. We standardize what must always be consistent—safety, values, training, and quality—while giving each division the room it needs to serve its specific customers in the way that works best for them.
Leadership: The Team Behind the Work
Alma Tire Companies is family-owned and professionally led. Three generations of the Grace family remain actively involved, supported by a leadership team that blends deep industry experience with a hands-on understanding of what happens in the bays, on the road, and at the counter.
Our core leadership team is responsible for vision, culture, and alignment across every division and location.
Tony Grace
Chief Executive Officer / Visionary
Tony owns the long-term direction of Alma Tire Companies. He focuses on where we are headed next—new markets, new capabilities, and new ways to serve the transportation industry—while protecting the core focus and values that built the business. As the visionary, he asks the big questions: “Where should we grow?” “How can we serve better?” “What’s next for our people and our customers?” Tony graduated from Michigan State University, where he was a 4-year letterman on the Michigan State Men’s Swimming & Diving Team.
Joe Grace
Chief Operating Officer / Integrator
Joe turns vision into execution. As COO and integrator, he oversees day-to-day operations across divisions, aligns teams and processes, and ensures we run on a clear, disciplined system instead of guesswork. Joe is the connector between strategy and what actually happens in each shop, on each service truck, and at each counter. Joe completed his education at Michigan State University, where he graduated from the School of Packaging with a degree in Packaging Engineering.
Mitch Cruzan
Controller
Mitch leads financial operations, budgeting, and reporting. He makes sure we have the financial strength to invest in new tools, training, facilities, and people—without compromising the stability that customers and employees rely on. His work keeps the organization grounded in data while supporting smart, long-term decision-making. Before his tenure with Alma Tire Companies, Mitch had extensive experience managing passenger & light truck service centers across Michigan.
Mike Wilson
ATS Fleet Service Division Leader
Mike focuses on how the work gets done in the field. He supports shop performance, safety, and service quality across locations, working closely with managers and performance coordinators to standardize best practices, refine workflows, and raise the bar on throughput and consistency. Before joining Alma Tire Companies, Mike held many different roles in the tire manufacturing, aftermarket, and automotive repair industries.
Kristi Young
Director of Human Resources
Kristi oversees hiring, training, and people development. Her role is to make Alma Tire Companies a place where technicians, drivers, and support staff can build long-term, meaningful careers. She helps align our HR practices with our core values so that how we treat our people matches the promises we make to our customers. Kristi has over 35 years of collective Human Resource experience in the logistics and manufacturing industries.
Barry Harper
Modern Mechanics Division Leader
As the Division Manager for Modern Mechanics, Barry leads our passenger and light truck service locations. His dedication and commitment to internal and external customers is what motivates him, ensuring customers receive the best service possible and employees truly have a place that they can call “home.” Prior to joining Alma Tire Companies, Barry successfully led teams in territory, market, and district-level roles in the automotive aftermarket, pet specialty, and consumer electronics retail industries.
Seth Godley
Marketing Manager
Seth leads digital strategy, brand development, and revenue growth initiatives across the company’s retail and commercial divisions. After previously serving as Human Capital Manager, Seth helped strengthen the organization’s culture, leadership development, and hiring strategy before transitioning into a performance-focused marketing role. Seth is passionate about driving growth, developing strong teams, and serving the community with professionalism and integrity.
Our Core Focus
Serve the community by providing the highest quality automotive repair experience in all segments of the transportation industry, with a continued investment in our resources, our process, and our people — our most valued asset.
How We Operate: Core Focus Backed by Core Values
Our core focus only works if our behavior backs it up. Alma Tire Companies is driven by six core values that describe how we act—in the shop, on the road, in the office, and at home.
Act with Integrity
- Integrity: Act with integrity, even when not observed.
- Prioritize doing the right thing, treating others fairly with respect and dignity.
- Put in extra effort to ensure tasks are done correctly, regardless of circumstances.
- The company’s success and reputation rely on consistent, right decisions.
- Building trust, a great team, and a great company hinges on repeatedly doing the right thing.
Play and Win as a Team
- Everyone plays a vital role in the company’s success.
- The positive impact ripples across the company, benefiting all.
- Each addition to the team strengthens the collective.
- Growing together necessitates reliance on teammates across the state.
- Mutual support and teamwork create a healthier, more resilient organization with increased opportunities for everyone.
Drive Toward Excellence
- Excellence is a fundamental practice at Alma Tire, evident in all we do.
- Our shops are consistently tidy, organized, and clean.
- Attention to detail in every task is a hallmark of our commitment.
- As we strive for excellence, we are dedicated to continuously improving and reaching new heights year after year, fostering a culture of growth and progress.
Say Yes and Solve Problems
- “Say yes and solve problems” mindset at Alma Tire Companies.
- We seek solutions rather than focusing on obstacles.
- When faced with problems, our goal is to find solutions.
- Maintaining flexibility and readiness to take action.
- We persist in finding solutions, even when others doubt it can be done.
Extreme Ownership
- Embrace servant leadership by taking full ownership of our decisions and actions.
- Foster trust in our team’s capabilities through open self-examination.
- Empower our team members with autonomy and responsibility.
- Reject excuses and error concealment, embracing a culture of accountability and growth.
- Analyze, adapt, and press forward to achieve continual improvement.
Make Friends, Build Relationships
- Building relationships is vital to our continued success.
- Customers seek us out in times of need.
- Teammates provide support during challenging times.
- We go the extra mile to make friends and establish lasting connections, reflecting our commitment to building relationships that extend beyond business transactions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Not sure which Alma Tire Companies division is right for your needs? The FAQs below explain how our services are split between Modern Mechanics and ATS Fleet Service – and how to choose the best option, whether you drive a family car, manage a fleet, manage heavy-duty trucks, or operate industrial and agricultural equipment.
How do I know whether I should go to Modern Mechanics or ATS Fleet Service for my vehicle?
For full automotive repair and tire service for passenger vehicles, visit a Modern Mechanics location. For commercial truck service, fleet, OTR, agriculture, and industrial equipment, or tire sales or service, ATS Fleet Service is the right fit for your needs.
Which division should I contact if I manage a commercial fleet or heavy-duty trucks?
Fleet managers and heavy-duty truck operators should contact ATS Fleet Service. ATS specializes in commercial tire sales and service, heavy truck repair, custom fleet maintenance plans, retreading, and 24/7 roadside assistance across multiple Michigan locations.
Where should I schedule service if I just need tires for my personal car or light truck?
For personal vehicles and light trucks, you can schedule tire sales and service through our Modern Mechanics locations.
Who do I call if I need roadside assistance or emergency service for a truck or fleet vehicle?
For trucks and fleet vehicles, call ATS Fleet Service for 24/7 roadside assistance and on-site service. Their team is set up specifically to handle breakdowns and tire issues for commercial and heavy-duty equipment and can be reached through the ATS Fleet Service site.
Can I get both tires and mechanical repair at the same location, or are those services separated by division?
Many locations offer both, but it depends on the division and site location. Modern Mechanics locations provide complete auto repair & tire service for passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks. Several ATS Fleet Service locations provide commercial tire & heavy-duty mechanical repair for trucks and fleets. There are ATS Fleet Service locations that only currently provide tire sales & service.
How do I find the closest location that offers the specific services I need?
Use the “Find Nearest Location” tool on the Modern Mechanics & ATS Fleet Service sites, then click into each location listed to see which services are offered (tires only, tires & mechanical, fleet/OTR/ag, etc.). From there, you can call or request an appointment directly.
What’s the best way to request service if I operate industrial, agricultural, or OTR equipment?
Industrial, ag, and OTR customers should go through ATS Fleet Service, using the Find a Location tool and the AG & Industrial/OTR service options. ATS handles OTR, ag, and industrial tire sales and service, retreading, and on-site support tailored to equipment that works off the highway.
Can I move my business between divisions as my needs grow (for example, from Modern Mechanics to ATS Fleet Service)?
Yes. Because all divisions are part of Alma Tire Companies, many customers start with passenger tire service and later add fleet or heavy-duty work through ATS Fleet Service. Your team can help you transition accounts, discuss fleet maintenance plans, and make sure you’re working with the division that best fits your current equipment mix.
Do all locations accept both walk-ins and appointments, or do I need to schedule ahead of time?
Most locations welcome walk-ins for basic tire and service needs, but calling or scheduling ahead is the best way to minimize downtime—especially for larger repairs, fleet work, or heavy-duty trucks. The website lets you Find Nearest Location, Book Appointment, or Get a Tire Quote so you can plan your visit with the shop that fits your schedule and services.