JAX Tyres & Auto is one of Australia’s longest-established tyre retail networks, with a history dating back to 1949 and a current network of more than 90 stores.
The business has evolved considerably from its origins as a Sydney tyre retailer. Today, JAX combines tyre and wheel retailing with wheel alignment, brakes, suspension, vehicle servicing and safety inspections, positioning the business somewhere between a traditional tyre specialist and a broader automotive servicing chain.
TreadTorque’s analysis of the current JAX Tyres & Auto store network identifies 94 locations across Australia, with the largest concentration of stores in New South Wales and Queensland.
There is also an important ownership distinction that may not be obvious to customers. JAX Tyres & Auto is owned by South Korean tyre manufacturer Hankook Tire & Technology, which acquired the Australian business in 2017. Despite that ownership, JAX continues to operate as a multi-brand retailer, selling tyres from Hankook as well as competing manufacturers including Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, Michelin and Pirelli.
More Than 75 Years in Australian Tyre Retailing
JAX traces its history back to 1949, when the first JAX store opened in Sydney.
Initially, the business was primarily focused on tyres and wheels. That began to change in 1986, when JAX expanded into brakes and suspension servicing, beginning the transition from a traditional tyre retailer towards the broader automotive service business that exists today.
Another important change came with franchising.
JAX says its franchising journey began in 1993, providing the model through which much of the modern network has subsequently developed.
At roughly the same time, another tyre retail network was emerging independently.
Quick Fit Tyres was established in 1995, initially developing a strong presence in Queensland before expanding into Victoria.
The two businesses would eventually come together.
JAX and Quick Fit Join Forces
In early 2005, JAX Tyres and Quick Fit Tyres merged, bringing together their respective retail networks.
This was an important step in creating the geographical footprint of the modern JAX business. JAX brought its established presence and history, while Quick Fit contributed particularly strong representation in Queensland and Victoria.
Contemporary reporting around the combination described the resulting JAX Quickfit network as having 72 locations, making it one of Australia’s largest privately owned tyre franchise networks at the time.
The combined business operated as JAX Quickfit Tyres before the Quickfit name was eventually removed from the consumer-facing brand.
The business subsequently traded as JAX Tyres before developing into today’s JAX Tyres & Auto, reflecting the expansion of the network beyond tyre replacement into broader automotive servicing.
JAX Network History
1949
The first JAX store opens in Sydney.
1986
JAX expands beyond tyres and wheels into brakes and suspension servicing.
1993
JAX begins developing its franchise network.
1995
Quick Fit Tyres is established, initially developing a strong Queensland presence before expanding into Victoria.
2005
JAX and Quick Fit join forces, creating JAX Quickfit and a combined network of around 72 locations.
2017
Hankook Tire acquires JAX.
2020
The JAX Tyres & Auto business name is formally registered under Hankook Tyre Australia Retail, reflecting the network’s broader automotive service proposition.
2026
The network has grown to more than 94 locations, the large majority independently operated by franchisees.
Hankook Acquires JAX Tyres
One of the most significant changes in the company’s history occurred in February 2017, when Hankook Tire acquired JAX.
Hankook’s financial reporting confirms that the company acquired 100% of JAX Tyres, describing the acquisition as part of its strategy to strengthen its competitiveness in the business-to-consumer tyre market.
The acquisition was more than simply a tyre manufacturer purchasing an Australian retailer.
Hankook’s subsequent reporting describes JAX as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its global tyre distribution capabilities. In 2018, Hankook followed the Australian acquisition by purchasing German premium tyre retailer Reifen-Mueller. Hankook said the JAX acquisition had contributed to Australian sales and allowed aspects of JAX’s distribution system to be applied across its thousands of direct and franchised distribution outlets internationally.
Hankook’s 2017 financial statements provide additional detail. The acquisition was made through Hankook Tyre Australia Retail Pty Ltd, which acquired control of the JAX tyre distribution business, including its franchising and property entities.
Australian government business records continue to show Hankooktyre Australia Retail Pty Ltd as the entity associated with business names including JAX Tyres and Auto and JAX Tyres.
Is JAX a Hankook Tyre Store?
Not exactly.
This is an important distinction for consumers.
JAX is owned by Hankook, but it continues to operate as a multi-brand tyre retailer.
Its current tyre range includes brands such as:
- BFGoodrich
- Bridgestone
- Continental
- Dunlop
- Goodyear
- Hankook
- Michelin
- Pirelli
- Venom
JAX says stocking recognised global brands gives customers a choice of tyres across different budgets and applications.
That makes its structure quite different from a manufacturer-branded retail chain such as Bridgestone Select.
Hankook has ownership of the JAX business, but a customer walking into a JAX store can still be offered tyres manufactured by Hankook’s direct competitors.
For consumers, however, the ownership relationship is still useful information to know when considering product recommendations. As with any retailer, it is reasonable to ask what alternatives are available and why a particular product has been recommended.
The JAX Tyres & Auto Network Today
TreadTorque’s current store database identifies 94 JAX Tyres & Auto locations:
| State/Territory | Stores |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | 45 |
| Queensland | 23 |
| Victoria | 15 |
| ACT | 4 |
| Western Australia | 4 |
| South Australia | 3 |
| Australia | 94 |
The distribution tells us something important about the network.
JAX has a particularly strong eastern Australian presence, with 83 of the 94 stores identified by TreadTorque located in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.
New South Wales alone accounts for 45 stores, almost half of the national network.
The current store data does not identify JAX locations in Tasmania or the Northern Territory.
This makes JAX a national retail brand, but not one with the same geographical coverage as larger networks such as Bridgestone or Bob Jane T-Marts.
Primarily a Franchise Network
Another defining feature of JAX is its franchise structure.
JAX reported in May 2026 that its network had grown to more than 94 locations, with 89 independently owned by franchisees. The network collectively supports more than 1,000 employees.
That means the overwhelming majority of JAX stores are locally operated businesses working within the national JAX system.
JAX provides the brand, retail platform, supplier relationships, technology, training and broader business systems, while individual franchisees operate their local stores.
The model combines local store ownership with the purchasing, marketing and technology resources of a national network, ultimately backed by Hankook.
For consumers, it also means the individual franchisee and store team can have a significant influence on the customer experience.
What Does JAX Tyres & Auto Sell?
JAX remains fundamentally a tyre retailer, but the business has developed well beyond tyre replacement.
The tyre range covers passenger cars, performance vehicles, SUVs and 4WDs, with products available from numerous global manufacturers and at different price points.
Being a multi-brand retailer gives JAX the ability to present several possible tyre solutions for the same vehicle.
That can be useful if you have not already decided on a brand or product.
Rather than simply asking for “the best tyre”, tell the retailer how you actually use your vehicle. Annual kilometres, highway or urban driving, wet-weather performance, road noise, comfort, expected tread life, 4WD use and budget can all influence which product is appropriate.
Then ask what alternatives are available in your size and why one is being recommended over another.
More Than Tyres
The “& Auto” component of the current JAX name is significant.
The company’s move into automotive servicing began with brakes and suspension in 1986, but the current network offers a broader range of vehicle services.
Depending on the location, these can include:
- Tyres
- Wheels
- Wheel alignment
- Wheel balancing
- Puncture repairs
- Brakes
- Suspension
- Vehicle servicing
- Oil and filter changes
- Vehicle safety inspections
JAX describes itself today as specialising in tyres, wheels, suspension, vehicle servicing and vehicle safety checks.
This makes JAX different from a tyre retailer whose workshops are primarily designed around fitting, balancing and alignment.
The business increasingly competes in both the tyre-retail and general automotive-service markets.
JAX Inspect
A particularly relevant development for the retailer guide is JAX Inspect, which JAX formally launched across its network in September 2026.
The complimentary inspection is designed to provide customers with a clearer assessment of their vehicle while it is being serviced.
JAX says technicians assess key vehicle components and provide customers with a report intended to improve transparency around the condition of the vehicle and work that may be recommended.
What Makes JAX Different?
JAX occupies an unusual position within Australian tyre retail.
It is a manufacturer-owned retailer that continues to operate as a multi-brand tyre network.
Hankook owns the business, but JAX stores continue to sell competing global tyre brands.
It is also overwhelmingly franchise operated. The national business and ultimately Hankook provide the wider retail structure, while most individual stores are independently owned and operated.
What to Know Before Visiting JAX Tyres & Auto
There are several things consumers should understand before choosing a JAX store.
JAX is multi-brand, despite being owned by Hankook. Customers can choose from Hankook and several competing tyre manufacturers.
Most stores are independently operated franchises. JAX reported 89 independently owned locations in its 94-plus-store network in May 2026.
The network has a strong east-coast concentration. TreadTorque’s store data identifies 45 stores in NSW, 23 in Queensland and 15 in Victoria, compared with seven across South Australia and Western Australia combined.
JAX is no longer only a tyre retailer. Brakes, suspension, servicing and vehicle inspections now form an important part of the business.
Ask about alternative tyre recommendations. JAX’s multi-brand range means there may be several suitable products available. Ask why one tyre is being recommended over another, particularly given the network’s ownership by Hankook.
Services can vary by location. With an overwhelmingly franchised network, check the individual store if you require a particular automotive service.
