Tyre tycoon Michael Welch strikes deal for major US venture

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, The new business will have 12,000 partner garages in the US

A Scottish entrepreneur in online tyre sales has struck a deal for a major new American venture.

Michael Welch's US business Tirescanner is merging with rival Tirebuyer, a subsidiary of a leading American tyre distributor.

The online business will have 12,000 partner garages, making it the largest network of its kind in the US.

As both president and chief executive, Mr Welch intends to run operations from Edinburgh and three American bases.

Image source, Stewart Attwood

Image caption, Michael Welch launched Peebles-based tyre firm Black Circles 20 years ago

Mr Welch started selling tyres in the UK at the age of 16 before joining Kwik-Fit.

In 2001, at the age of 21, he set up Peebles-based online tyre firm Blackcircles.com.

He sold the business for 拢50m in 2015 to Michelin before launching Tirescanner in 2018.