John and Jim Johnson took over business from their father in 1990

After decades in the tire and vehicle repair business, New Ulm Tire owners John and Jim Johnson are retiring.

Their last day of business on North Broadway is Friday, Oct. 25.

The Johnsons have been around tires for a long time.

John and Jim’s father Norm earned a teaching degree in 1952. He later worked as an office/credit manager for Firestone Tires in Junction City, Kansas, managed a Firestone store in Fergus Falls, was a Firestone regional sales manager in Valley City, North Dakota, then a sales representative for JTW Tires in Shoreview, Minn., then Austin, Texas.

Moving to New Ulm in 1972, Norm Johnson owned and operated New Ulm Tire in a building that is now Retzlaff Marine.

After decades in the tire and vehicle repair business, New Ulm Tire owners Jim and John Johnson are retiring. Their last day of business is Friday, Oct. 25. Jim Johnson removes an old tire from a big truck tire rim. The job often includes using a large crow bar and Jim jumping on the old tire to break the tire bead.

In 1979, Norm Johnson moved the business to a building formerly known as Fischer Oldsmobile on North Broadway. In 1990, Norm Johnson retired and sold the business to his sons.

“I learned most of the jobs here (at New Ulm Tire) on the job. We have technicians doing most of the auto repair now,” said John, 67.

He and his brother Jim handle customer service and other front office work.

“When we started in New Ulm, we did tires and some front end alignment work. We later expanded to other areas to survive,” John said.

“We sure enjoyed working in New Ulm and being with everyone here. We appreciate all the business they gave us,” he said.

Now it’s time to do more of the other things he enjoys.

“I played quite a bit of golf and ride motorcycle. I haven’t been able to do it as much as I want to, but I intend to. I’d like to drive to national parks,” said John.

He said business picked up when the word got out that he and his brother are retiring and selling the business place.

Jim Johnson, 61, said he enjoys fishing but hasn’t done it as much as he’d like due to business demands.

“I’d like to do more fishing, travel and see the grand kids. I used to go up to Lake of the Woods and fish with a group of guys. I’m just going to take it easy and see what is presented to me,” he said.

Jim Johnson said the tire business is much different now compared to what it was when he started in it decades ago.

“When we started, there were about 18 sizes that fit cars and pickups. Now there are over 700. Every car manufacturer builds cars with different tire packages. There doesn’t seem to be any similarities with the car makers anymore. They all try to be unique in size. The complexity is never-ending. That’s the way things are today,” he said.

Jim said prices fluctuate too.

“It depends on what corporate America wants to make,” said Jim.

He said his business changed too.

“Lately, we’ve done more. We do lots of tires, brake and suspension work. But we can’t do it all due to the complexities,” Jim said.

Watching Jim remove an old tire from a large truck tire rim may involve him jumping on the tire to break the tire bead and using a large crow bar.

You could Jim and John old school with a strong, no-nonsense work ethic.

“Some guys laugh at us and our old equipment,” said Jim.

“It’s time (to retire). We appreciate all our customers through the years. It’s been good. We’ve enjoyed a long, long history here,” he said.

New Ulm real estate broker Eric Bode has a purchase agreement for the New Ulm Tire building.