Bud Holden has owned the Sunset Tire Factory since 1997

Featured Business
Sunset Tire Factory
by Virginia Bruce

There’s been a tire store on the lot at the southwest corner of Murray and Highway 26 since 1970. Back then, the business was owned by Al Taylor, who went on to become one of the founders of the Tire Factory Group.

Bud Holden, Jr. has been here since 1997. His father had a tire store in NE Portland, where Bud Jr. worked summers, and full time after graduating from University of Oregon with a degree in Business. By that time, Al Taylor was working full-time for the Tire Factory Group and had sold the Cedar Mill business to a new owner. The new owner wasn’t successful so Taylor approached Bud Jr. to see if he’d like to buy it. Bud says, “I only had a couple of weeks to make my decision. Al was very supportive to all of us and I was lucky to have his help in getting started.”

In addition to selling, installing and servicing tires and wheels, Sunset Tire Factory technicians work on brakes, alignment, shocks and struts and other wheel and axle work. They also handle oil changes, wipers and batteries for most cars and trucks.

They carry the most common sizes of tires and wheels at the Sunset location. Anything that they don’t have in stock can be brought from the Tire Factory warehouse in North Portland. Bud says he has quite a few customers who have very high-end cars and who require special-order tires. “They keep coming back because they know I can get the tires they want,” he says.

“At least half of our customers are regulars,” he says. And most of the new customers come in from referrals. Bud works hard to give his customers the best prices on the product they want and need. “We can beat the prices of our competitors,” he says, “and we also give more personal service and attention.”

The office and showroom includes a cozy waiting area with a good stock of magazines, free coffee and a tv.

A reviewer on Yelp.com says, “Bud answered the phone and he was able to give me options on the tires I wanted, not on the tires he was trying to get rid of. And the pricing was better then what I was expecting.”

Bud says it’s getting harder to help out his customers who are feeling the effects of the economy because he runs out of used tires more quickly. Tire prices went up with the rise in oil prices but never came down when oil prices dropped.

Bud’s mother Carolyn has worked with him in the business since he began. She answers phones, does some of the bookkeeping, provides customer service and even picks up tires from the central warehouse and provides customer shuttle service. There are three full-time and one part-time technician in addition to Bud and Carolyn.

A regular customer stops in for a free air pressure check before heading off on a family vacation

The Tire Factory Group was started in 1987 by a group of independent tire retailers who wanted a way to stay competitive in a changing market. Originally the group provided buying power and distribution. The concept has grown to include advertising and branding, group benefits and business advice. It now includes over 200 dealers in 13 western states. It operates a large warehouse in North Portland, and recently added another warehouse and distribution center in Salt Lake City.

Each business is locally owned and most of the member businesses have been around in their communities for years. Being part of the Tire Factory Group lets members offer lower prices as well as a warranty that is good in any of the locations. “We’re expected to get a portion of our tires through the group,” says Bud, “but we can order and sell whatever we want.”

The Sunset Tire Factory, along with all the stores in the group, was recently repainted. They’re waiting for county approval on a new sign, and long-term plans include some interior upgrades.

Carolyn says, “The Tire Factory businesses are mostly family businesses. We get together several times a year for picnics and meetings, and our kids have all grown up together.”

Sunset Tire Factory keeps an assortment of tires and wheels onsite.

Bud lives nearby in Rock Creek with his two teenage children. He attended Sunset High and supports local sports teams by advertising in programs and school papers. He has been a member of the Cedar Mill Business Association for many years, although he rarely takes time for lunch to attend meetings.

The Sunset Tire Factory is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 am - 6 pm, and Saturday from 9 am - 3 pm. They're located at 301 NW Murray Road at the southwest corner of Murray and the Sunset Highway, just turn next to the Greek Village on Mill Creek, go past the restaurant and enter the parking area to get to the shop. Call them at 503-643-6767 and visit the Tire Factory website at tirefactory.com