Ep 91 – Greg Buckley & Dan Thieken | Repair Shops That Sell Tires and Use A.I. Are Winning

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When I used the maintenance tool for the fist time with Detect Auto, my mind was blown. My advisors had the same reaction – and then SO MUCH MORE TIME. Learn more about Detect Auto and book a free demo now!

For years I thought I could handle the hiring process on my own. But, after far too many bad hires, it was clear I needed help. Promotive came through for me with a rock star hire in just a few days and I couldn’t be happier. Swallow your pride and bring in Promotive for that open position you have at your shop today. You can thank me later. Learn more HERE

AI for Shop Owners: Open the Hood of the Future is happening June 12-13 at Carfix in Raleigh, NC. Use AI to your advantage! Register HERE

In this episode, Mike Allen, Greg Buckley and Dan Theiken break down the nuts and bolts of tire sales, sharing strategies for maximizing profits without getting buried in equipment costs. Greg dives into how strong local marketing (along with a well-branded shop van) has helped his shop stand out in a busy market. The crew also explores the fast-moving shift toward AI in the automotive aftermarket, from building smarter workflow tools to the dream of AI-powered estimating.

Timestamps

00:00 Does selling tires boost suspension work?
03:00 Upcoming AI workshop & live shenanigans
05:17 International golf trips, shop talk, and bourbon
07:49 Who’s who: Meet Greg Buckley & Dan Theiken
10:30 Tire sales strategy: Margins, GP/hour & labor costs
13:03 Affordable tire equipment for small shops
15:59 Managing tire inventory without a giant warehouse
17:50 Tire protection plans, TPMS, and upsell opportunities
19:43 Growing tire sales in different markets
21:02 Local marketing, rolling billboards, and community outreach
23:54 Shop expansion, buying land, and creative waiting rooms
26:06 What AI is doing to the auto industry—real talk
27:30 Building custom AI tools for shop owners
29:39 How prompt writing is becoming a must-have skill
31:30 Using AI (and Tekmetric!) for smarter shop management
34:56 AI-generated content for training and onboarding
35:55 Replit, podcasting, and next-gen marketing
36:56 Songwriting, creativity, and AI tools like Suno
41:01 AI’s impact on creative arts (and your Spotify playlist)
42:10 AI avatars, digital influencers, and the automotive connection
43:42 The AI “holy grail”: Instant estimates and DVIs
44:42 Comparing shops: How AI is shifting sales and workflow
46:55 Shop advisor roles, relationship-building, and speed
47:33 Integration overload: The single-source dream
48:16 Soup Radio: Building a multi-location media presence