High school buddies team up in business

Friends since high school, William Elliot III and Paul Burke III have been by each other’s side for the majority of their lives.

With the opening of their new business, Tire Kings, Elliot and Burke are once again together doing what they do best — working on cars.

Elliot and Burke are from Seaford, Del. The idea of moving to Maricopa came when Burke’s mother moved here six years ago. She told her son he and Elliot needed to move to Maricopa and start a tire shop.

Along with the encouragement of Burke’s mother, the two friends thought the East Coast was too saturated for starting a new business and set their sights on the west.

Burke moved to Maricopa one year ago, and Elliot followed six months later.

With Burke’s experience in managing and Elliot’s extensive experience servicing automobiles, the pair seemed destined for success.

When Elliot arrived in Maricopa he soon realized that Maricopa is a perfect spot to open a shop because the city’s selection was “slim.”

 

Tire Kings not only specializes in tires, but it also has a large supply of rims and car audio equipment.

“We guarantee our work,” Elliot said.

Tire Kings offers new and used tires, differentiating itself from Maricopa’s large tire retailers that only sell new tires.

Since Tire Kings is not part of a franchise, Elliot said they can be more flexible with their pricing and keep it lower than their competitors. “Due to our overhead, we can beat their prices by a long shot.”

The shop has grown steadily since it opened and recently hired three part-time employees.

“It’s growing every day,” Elliot said.

As business increases, the shop plans to branch out and do more car tuning, in which vehicles are modified for performance like lowering the vehicle or adding aerodynamic characteristics.

“We plan on having an auto body and fender shop,” Elliot said.

“We are going to offer more or less all services,” Elliot said. “Anybody that has a vehicle that needs something done to it is going to come here.”

At a glance:
Tire Kings
19342 N. John Wayne Parkway
520-568-7686