Our story
Michael Welch

Michael Welch, OBE FRSE, is the CEO of Tirebuyer and Treadsy, leading the charge to modernize how consumers buy and install tires online.
With over three decades of experience in the tire and automotive industry, Mike is a digital commerce innovator focused on simplifying the tire-buying journey through technology, trusted partnerships, and robust nationwide installer networks.
His mission:
make tire shopping fast,
transparent, and customer-first.
Before taking the helm at Tirebuyer and founding Treadsy, Mike was the founder and CEO of Blackcircles.com, the UK’s largest online tire retailer, which was acquired by Michelin in 2015. Under his leadership, Blackcircles.com became a pioneer in direct-to-consumer tire sales, setting the standard for how modern tire retail could operate.
Now based in the U.S., Mike brings that same disruptive mindset to Tirebuyer and Treadsy by building seamless, tech-enabled solutions that connect top tire brands, national retailers, and a growing installer network to make tire shopping easier, faster, and more customer-focused than ever before.
He’s passionate about improving customer experience, supporting independent installers, and driving the next generation of growth in the tire industry.