mycar Tyre & Auto is one of Australia’s largest automotive service and tyre retail networks, but its business model is noticeably different from the specialist tyre retailers covered elsewhere in the TreadTorque Retailer Guide.
The business is the successor to Kmart Tyre & Auto Service (KTAS) and has been 100% owned by German automotive and tyre manufacturer Continental since November 2018. In September 2026 Continental announced that it had agreed to sell the Australian network to Chinese automotive service platform Tuhu.cn.
The A$403 million transaction includes around 280 stores and more than 1,600 employees and remains subject to regulatory approval.
Unlike Bob Jane T-Marts, JAX Tyres & Auto and Bridgestone Select, mycar does not operate a franchise model. Its stores form a centrally owned and managed national network. Continental’s financial statements confirm that it acquired 100% of Tyre and Auto Pty Ltd, the company operating the business.
A 2026 analysis of the current mycar store locator identifies 279 locations across every Australian state and territory, making it one of the country’s most well spread and conveniently located workshop networks.
You can usually find a mycar Tyre & Auto next to a servo or close to a shopping centre. There are a few stand alone store locations.
Tyres remain an important part of mycar’s business, and its ownership by Continental creates an obvious connection with tyre manufacturing. However, its public positioning increasingly suggests that mycar should be viewed first as a national automotive service and repair network that also has a substantial tyre business, rather than simply as a traditional tyre retailer that has expanded into servicing.
That distinction becomes clearer when looking at how mycar markets itself, where its stores are located and the range of services it now provides.
From Kmart Auto to Kmart Tyre & Auto Service
The origins of the network predate the mycar name by decades.
The automotive business originally developed within Kmart Australia’s retail operations. In 1992, Kmart Auto was restructured into an autonomous division and subsequently renamed Kmart Tyre & Auto Service. At that time the network had approximately 132 service centres. Contemporary industry reporting indicates that this had increased to more than 175 locations by the mid-2000s.
A major expansion occurred in 2006, when Kmart Tyre & Auto Service acquired around 90 Shell Autoserv and Auto Care locations.
The acquisition took KTAS beyond 280 locations at the time and significantly strengthened its presence at service stations as well as the shopping-centre locations traditionally associated with Kmart.
By 2009, Wesfarmers described KTAS as Australia’s largest retail automotive service, repair and tyre business, operating 255 stores and employing more than 1,200 people.
This history is important because automotive servicing was already central to the business long before Continental acquired it or the mycar name appeared.
Continental Acquires Kmart Tyre & Auto
The biggest change in the modern history of the business came in 2018.
On 13 August 2018, Continental announced an agreement to acquire Kmart Tyre & Auto Service from Wesfarmers for AUD$350 million.
At the time, KTAS operated 258 branches and employed more than 1,200 people. Continental described the acquisition as a way of substantially strengthening its tyre dealership network in Australia and part of its wider strategy to expand the global presence of its tyre division.
Wesfarmers described KTAS slightly differently. In announcing the sale, it called the business one of Australia’s largest tyre, automotive service and repair retailers and confirmed that Continental would be permitted to continue using the Kmart Tyre & Auto Service name and logo during a transitional period.
The transaction was completed on 1 November 2018.
Continental’s subsequent financial statements provide more detail. ContiTrade Australia acquired 100% of the shares in Tyre and Auto Pty Ltd. The final recorded purchase price was approximately $357.5 million, including a $350 million cash payment and a further $7.5 million purchase-price liability.
Continental specifically described the acquired business as both a leading tyre dealer and provider of automotive repair services.
From Kmart Tyre & Auto to mycar
Continental could not simply retain the Kmart identity indefinitely.
The result was the creation of a completely new consumer brand.
The mycar name was announced in June 2019, and the former Kmart Tyre & Auto Service network transitioned to mycar Tyre & Auto during the second half of that year. mycar says the new brand was launched in September, with stores around Australia subsequently rebranded.
Importantly, this wasn’t the sale of individual stores to franchisees or another automotive chain.
The existing national business effectively moved from Wesfarmers ownership into Continental ownership and adopted a new identity.
Australian business records continue to identify the operating entity as Tyre and Auto Pty Ltd, with MYCAR TYRE & AUTO registered as a business name.
mycar Network History
1992
Kmart Auto is restructured as a standalone automotive division and subsequently becomes Kmart Tyre & Auto Service.
2006
KTAS acquires approximately 90 Shell Autoserv and Auto Care locations, significantly expanding the national network.
2009
Wesfarmers reports 255 Kmart Tyre & Auto Service locations and more than 1,200 employees.
2018
Continental agrees to acquire Kmart Tyre & Auto Service from Wesfarmers for $350 million. At acquisition, the business has 258 locations and more than 1,200 employees.
November 2018
Continental completes the acquisition of 100% of Tyre and Auto Pty Ltd.
2019
The mycar brand is launched and the former KTAS network transitions to mycar Tyre & Auto.
2026
TreadTorque’s analysis of mycar’s current store locator identifies 279 locations nationally.
Continental agrees to sell mycar Tyre & Auto to Chinese automotive service platform Tuhu in a deal valued at A$403 million.
The mycar Network Today
TreadTorque’s current store data identifies 279 mycar Tyre & Auto locations across Australia.
| State/Territory | Stores |
|---|---|
| Victoria | 83 |
| New South Wales | 67 |
| Queensland | 64 |
| Western Australia | 28 |
| South Australia | 17 |
| ACT | 12 |
| Northern Territory | 4 |
| Tasmania | 4 |
| Australia | 279 |
That gives mycar a genuinely national footprint, including representation in every Australian state and territory.
Victoria has the largest network with 83 locations, followed by New South Wales with 67 and Queensland with 64.
The network is also notable for where its workshops are located.
Of the 279 locations, 188 are classified as shopping-centre locations, 65 as service-station locations and 26 as freestanding stores.
That legacy is partly explained by the business’s history. Many KTAS workshops were developed alongside Kmart shopping centres, while the 2006 acquisition of Shell Autoserv and Auto Care added a substantial number of service-station sites.
No Franchisees: One Company-Owned Network
This is one of the biggest differences between mycar and many other major Australian tyre retailers.
mycar does not franchise its stores.
All 279 locations identified in TreadTorque’s current store data are company operated, under the same Tyre and Auto Pty Ltd entity.
This contrasts strongly with Bob Jane T-Marts, JAX Tyres & Auto and Bridgestone Select, where independent franchise owners form an important part of the network.
For consumers, the company-owned structure potentially provides greater consistency in national systems, pricing programs, staff training, warranties and customer policies.
mycar says it employs more than 1,300 people nationally and describes itself as Australia’s largest single employer of apprentice motor mechanics.
That last point also provides an important clue about what the business considers itself to be.
It doesn’t describe its workforce primarily in terms of tyre fitters. Automotive technicians, mechanics and apprentices are central to the company’s public identity.
Is mycar Really a Service Network That Also Sells Tyres?
There is a reasonable argument that it is.
The description needs some qualification because mycar remains a very significant tyre retailer. Its website has an extensive online tyre store, registration and tyre-size search tools, online tyre purchasing and fitting, mobile tyre fitting, tyre guarantees and dedicated tyre-care programs.
However, when its overall public positioning is considered, servicing and mechanical repair appear at least as important as tyres, and arguably define the wider business.
mycar’s own homepage describes the company as a:
“one stop shop for everything. Car Tyres, Servicing and Repairs.”
Its website gives major prominence to logbook servicing, basic servicing, fleet servicing, registration inspections, batteries and an extensive repair offering covering brakes, suspension, transmissions, cooling systems, exhausts and auto electrical work.
The network also promotes mobile servicing and pre-purchase inspections and has developed specialist EV servicing capabilities.
What Tyre Brands Does mycar Sell?
mycar remains a multi-brand tyre retailer despite being wholly owned by Continental.
Its current tyre marketing prominently includes:
- Continental
- Michelin
- BFGoodrich
- Pirelli
- Kumho
- Goodyear Optilife
- Viking
- Diamondback
- mycar Avandra
- Rovelo
- Zetum
However, the visible brand proposition is not as broad as the range presented by tyre-specialist retailers such as Bob Jane T-Marts or JAX Tyres & Auto.
That makes sense when viewed against the broader business model.
Tyres are one major product category within a much wider vehicle-maintenance proposition rather than the sole reason for the network’s existence.
More Than Tyres
Mechanical servicing is not an add-on at mycar. It is one of the core components of the business.
Its current services include:
- Logbook servicing
- Essential or basic servicing
- Fleet servicing
- Brake repairs
- Suspension and shock absorbers
- Auto electrical diagnosis and repair
- Clutch and transmission work
- Cooling systems
- Exhaust systems
- Batteries
- Registration and vehicle inspections at eligible locations
- Pre-purchase inspections
- Tyres, balancing and wheel alignment
- Mobile servicing
- Mobile tyre fitting
mycar’s comprehensive servicing process includes a road test, operational checks, battery testing, underbody inspection, tyre inspection, brake measurements, suspension inspection and a final assessment.
This is considerably broader than the traditional tyre-store workshop model.
EV Servicing and BYD
Another indication of mycar’s direction is its investment in electric vehicle servicing.
mycar operates a network of more than 40 EV-enabled locations providing BYD servicing, with locations across every state and territory except the Northern Territory currently listed on its BYD servicing page.
Its BYD service offering includes diagnostics, charging-system checks, fluids, tyres, suspension, steering, alignment, brakes and air-conditioning inspection.
mycar also operates mobile servicing vans in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane that can service eligible EVs.
For a business historically associated with Kmart car parks and tyre fitting, this is a significant evolution.
It reinforces the idea that Continental is developing mycar as a full automotive maintenance network, rather than simply using the stores as a distribution channel for Continental tyres.
Tyre Care Plan
Although servicing has become central to mycar’s proposition, its tyre after-sales package is substantial.
Eligible tyres can be covered by mycar’s free Tyre Care Plan, which currently includes:
- 30-day tyre satisfaction guarantee
- 12-month road hazard warranty
- Free puncture repair
- Tyrelife Saver Program
The 30-day satisfaction component allows eligible customers to change tyres if they are dissatisfied, subject to the applicable wear and program conditions.
This gives the retailer an ongoing relationship with customers after the original tyre fitting.
Tyrelife Saver Program
Customers purchasing two or more tyres can also qualify for mycar’s Tyrelife Saver Program.
The program encourages customers to return regularly for tyre maintenance and can include complimentary wheel balancing, tyre rotation and tyre-pressure checks.
Regular rotation, balancing and pressure maintenance can help promote more even tyre wear, while also giving technicians an opportunity to inspect the tyres periodically.
For consumers, this is worth considering when comparing the complete fitted proposition rather than simply comparing the initial tyre price.
Pay careful attention to the cost of servicing though as this generally only makes sense on the more expensive higher inch tyres, as regular servicing schedules can cost you more than the price of a replacement set of tyres on the lower inch and cheaper branded tyres.
Tyre Mileage Guarantee
mycar also provides mileage guarantees on selected products.
Eligible Kumho tyres carry either a 50,000 km or 80,000 km mileage guarantee, depending on the pattern, while the mycar avandra tyre currently carries a 50,000 km guarantee.
To maintain eligibility, customers must comply with the Tyrelife Saver Program and return every six months or 10,000 km, whichever occurs first.
If an eligible tyre wears out before reaching the guaranteed distance, the program provides a pro-rata credit based on the remaining guaranteed mileage, subject to its conditions.
It should therefore be viewed as a conditional mileage guarantee rather than a promise that every eligible tyre will automatically travel the stated distance.
Tyre Price Guarantee
mycar also operates a Tyre Price Guarantee.
If an Australian competitor offers a lower price on an identical stocked tyre, mycar says it will beat the competing price, subject to its terms.
The comparison uses the fully fitted price, including fitting, balancing, a new tubeless valve, tyre disposal, freight and GST. The competitor generally needs to have the required quantity available at a fitment centre within 30 km of the mycar store.
This makes the comparison more meaningful than comparing the tyre-only price against a quote that subsequently adds fitting and disposal charges.
Guarantees Extend Beyond Tyres
The after-sales proposition also illustrates mycar’s broader automotive focus.
mycar currently advertises a lifetime workmanship guarantee on labour it performs and a 24-month or 24,000 km guarantee on new parts supplied and installed by its technicians, subject to the applicable conditions.
It also operates a Brakes for Life program. Customers purchasing eligible brake pads can receive replacement brake pads for the life of the vehicle, subject to program conditions and associated servicing requirements.
These programs are not tyre-specific.
They reinforce the company’s attempt to build a continuing service relationship with the vehicle owner.
What Makes mycar Different?
mycar occupies an interesting position within Australian tyre retail.
It is 100% company owned, rather than franchised.
It was 100% owned by Continental, but continued to operate as a multi-brand tyre retailer.
In September 2026, mycar entered another significant chapter in its ownership history.
On 24 September 2026, Continental announced the sale of mycar Tyre & Auto to Tuhu, a major Chinese automotive service platform. The transaction is based on an enterprise value of A$403 million and includes around 280 mycar stores and more than 1,600 employees across Australia. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals, meaning the change of ownership has been announced but has not yet completed.
It has one of Australia’s largest workshop footprints, with 279 stores identified in TreadTorque’s current data.
And unlike many tyre retailers that progressively moved into mechanical servicing, mycar inherited a business where automotive servicing and repair had already been central to the proposition for decades.
That combination makes mycar less like a conventional tyre-store chain and more like a national automotive maintenance network where tyres form one of the major service categories.
Its store locations reinforce this.
Almost seven in ten stores are located at shopping centres, giving mycar an unusual convenience proposition. Customers can leave a vehicle for tyres, servicing or repairs while using the surrounding retail centre rather than waiting at a traditional standalone tyre store.
Who Is Tuhu?
Tuhu, also known as Tuhu Car or Tuhu Car Inc., is a Chinese automotive service platform that combines digital retail with a large physical workshop network.
Its business model integrates online vehicle maintenance and parts purchasing with physical workshops, covering areas including tyres, chassis components, vehicle maintenance and repairs, detailing and other automotive services.
The scale of the business is substantial. As at 30 June 2026, Tuhu’s network comprised 8,825 Tuhu Workshops in China, while approximately 31 million customers transacted through the platform during the preceding 12 months. Continental describes Tuhu as operating the world’s largest automotive service network by the number of stores under management and having the largest user base among automotive service platforms in China.
Tuhu and Continental are also not strangers to each other. Continental says the companies already have a long-standing strategic partnership in China, which helps explain why Continental expects its tyre relationship with mycar to continue after the ownership change.
For Tuhu, however, mycar represents something new. Tuhu CEO and founder Min Chen described the company as a new entrant to the Australian market, making the acquisition of mycar its platform for entering Australia’s automotive service sector.
What to Know Before Visiting mycar
There are several characteristics worth understanding before choosing mycar.
Every store is company operated. Unlike most of the major tyre networks covered by TreadTorque, there is no franchisee layer between the customer and the national business.
Continental owns mycar. Continental acquired 100% of the operating company in 2018.
It remains a multi-brand tyre retailer. Continental and Continental-owned brands form part of the range, but competing tyre manufacturers are also represented.
The tyre brand range is more concentrated than some specialist competitors. Consumers particularly interested in comparing many manufacturers may find broader brand portfolios at dedicated multi-brand tyre specialists.
Servicing is central to the business. Logbook servicing, mechanical repairs, brakes, suspension, diagnostics and inspections are core mycar services rather than peripheral additions.
Many stores are shopping-centre based. TreadTorque identifies 188 of the current 279 locations as shopping-centre sites.
Ask why a particular tyre is being recommended. Continental ownership provides useful context, but suitability for the vehicle, driving conditions and budget should ultimately determine the recommendation.
