Discount Tire: Hiring, Background Check & Employment Verification FAQs

Discount Tire was founded on May 31, 1960, by Bruce T. Halle, who took out a $400 loan to open a tire shop in a rented former plumbing supply building in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Halle's original stock consisted of just six tires, two new and four retreads, and it took three days for his first customer to arrive. Despite this humble start, the business grew steadily, opening a second store in Ypsilanti, Michigan, in 1964, and expanding further into Flint by 1966.

In 1970, Discount Tire relocated its headquarters to Scottsdale, Arizona, a move driven by the state's favorable business climate and growing Sun Belt car ownership. The company expanded rapidly through the 1970s and 1980s into California, the Pacific Northwest, Texas, and Florida, surpassing $360 million in sales by the end of the 1980s. Discount Tire, legally known as The Reinalt-Thomas Corporation, remains privately held and has continued to grow through acquisitions, including Tire Rack in recent years and Suburban Tire Auto Repair Centers in 2024.

Today, Discount Tire generates roughly $9.7 billion in annual revenue and employs more than 30,000 people. The company specializes in tire and wheel sales along with installation, balancing, rotation, and repair services, and is known for customer-friendly policies such as free flat repairs and price matching. Discount Tire's workforce includes retail sales associates, service technicians who mount and balance tires, and store managers overseeing individual locations.

Company culture and employee programs: Discount Tire has built its reputation around customer service, including a famous "Thank You" television commercial that earned a Guinness World Record for longevity. The company emphasizes promotion-from-within policies and has maintained founder Bruce Halle's legacy of employee engagement and community involvement since his passing. Benefits, scheduling, and advancement opportunities can vary by location, so candidates should confirm specifics with a recruiter during the hiring process.

Yes. Employers in the automotive retail and service industry, including Discount Tire, are legally permitted to conduct pre-employment background checks on job candidates, provided they comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws. In the United States, employment screening is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires employers to obtain written consent, provide disclosures, and follow adverse action procedures.

Discount Tire is generally reported to conduct background checks as part of its hiring process, which is standard for automotive service and retail employers, particularly for technician roles involving equipment operation and customer vehicle service.

The hiring process for store-level positions at Discount Tire typically includes an application, an interview with a store manager, and a background check prior to a final offer. Technician roles may also involve a skills assessment related to tire installation and vehicle safety procedures.

Background check timelines can vary based on the type of screening requested and how quickly records can be verified. Learn more about typical background check turnaround times to understand what factors can affect the process.

A typical pre-employment background check for an automotive retail role may include:

Under the FCRA, criminal history reporting is generally limited to seven years for most background checks, though state laws may extend or restrict this timeframe depending on the type of record and jurisdiction.

Hiring decisions involving candidates with criminal records are generally made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the nature of the offense, how much time has passed, and its relevance to the role. Some states have adopted "ban-the-box" laws that restrict when employers can ask about criminal history during the hiring process.

Candidates can generally expect to provide personal information such as full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number, along with signed consent authorizing the background check, in compliance with FCRA requirements. Technician roles typically also require a valid driver's license.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that regulates how employers can use background check information in hiring decisions. It requires employers to notify candidates before running a check, obtain written consent, and follow specific adverse action procedures if a decision is made based on background check results.

Running a personal background check with Checkr lets you preview what Discount Tire may see during the hiring process, helping you address any concerns before you apply. A personal background check can include:

Learn more about Checkr Personal Background Checks and explore your Checkr Profile to see what information may appear in your own background check.

If you're a candidate with a background check in progress through Checkr as part of your application to Discount Tire or another employer, you can check your status through the Candidate Portal. For additional support, visit the Checkr Help Center.

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information is for general informational purposes only. Checkr does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. This article may contain links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader. Checkr does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites and disclaims any affiliation with the companies mentioned in this article unless otherwise stated.