Tyrepress
March 2026
Michael Welch launches Anglo Atlantic investment advisory
Sets out Anglo Atlantic's remit supporting investors, operators and founders in the automotive aftermarket.
→ Read on Tyrepress
Tire Business
26 February 2026
Industry veteran launches auto aftermarket advisory firm
US trade reporting on the establishment of Anglo Atlantic, Michael's investment and advisory business for the automotive aftermarket.
→ Read on Tire Business
Financial Times
15 August 2026
Tyre boss Michael Welch: 'I wanted to show people what I was made of'
A profile tracing Michael's entry into the tyre trade as a teenager, the Prince's Trust grant behind his first business, the founding and sale of Blackcircles.com to Michelin, his US tyre ventures and the launch of Rolo Tires.
→ Read on Financial Times
Financial Mail on Sunday (This is Money)
13 June 2026
I started my business at 17 after being made redundant: Millionaire tyre tycoon Mike Welch
Interview by Calum Muirhead, Executive Editor of Financial Mail on Sunday, on starting a tyre business at 17 after redundancy, the route from Liverpool to Blackcircles.com and Rolo Tires, and what young people not in education, employment or training can take from it.
→ Read on Financial Mail on Sunday (This is Money)
Fleet News
10 June 2026
Blackcircles founder launches tyre brand to challenge market hierarchy
Reports the launch of Rolo Tires for the UK and Europe, including the planned phasing of direct-to-consumer sales.
→ Read on Fleet News
Tyrepress
June 2026
Will Rolo Tires disrupt the legacy hierarchy? – Mike Welch interview
Extended trade interview on Rolo Tires' direct-to-consumer strategy and how it differs from the established tyre brand hierarchy.
→ Read on Tyrepress
Motor Trade News
26 May 2026
Blackcircles founder to launch premium tyre brand
UK trade coverage of the Rolo Tires brand and its product launch timetable.
→ Read on Motor Trade News
European Rubber Journal
22 May 2026
Blackcircles founder launches Rolo Tires consumer brand
Trade reporting on the launch of Rolo Tires as a consumer tyre brand for European markets.
→ Read on European Rubber Journal
TyreNews
21 May 2026
Michael Welch plans European launch for Rolo Tires
Announcement coverage of Rolo Tires' direct-to-consumer launch plan across six European markets.
→ Read on TyreNews
Daily Business
May 2026
Welch launching Rolo Tires venture across Europe
Scottish business coverage of the Rolo Tires launch and its European market entry.
→ Read on Daily Business
Tyrepress
May 2026
Direct-to-consumers: Michael Welch OBE launches Rolo Tires in 6 European markets
Details the Rolo Tires proposition as a premium direct-to-consumer brand entering six European markets.
→ Read on Tyrepress
TyreNews
24 March 2025
Tyre industry veteran Mike Welch teams up with Lowe's on new online venture
Coverage of Lowe's launching LowesTires.com in partnership with Treadsy, the platform business built out of Tirebuyer.
→ Read on TyreNews
Tyrepress
November 2023
Tirebuyer organization rebrands as Treadsy
Reports the rebranding of the Tirebuyer business to Treadsy, the white-label platform later used for Lowe's Tires.
→ Read on Tyrepress
Jonathan Bowman-Perks MBE
4 July 2023
#269: Mike Welch – CEO, Tirebuyer.com
Leadership interview on building and running the combined US tyre e-commerce business.
→ Read on Jonathan Bowman-Perks MBE
Liverpool Echo
14 May 2023
Dad had multimillion pound idea while walking down street
Regional profile of his Merseyside beginnings, leaving school with few qualifications and the idea that became an online tyre business.
→ Read on Liverpool Echo
Jazz FM
24 February 2023
Serial Entrepreneur & Tyre Retailer Mike Welch OBE
A 29-minute interview, published with a full transcript, covering Michael's career from the tyre bays to Blackcircles.com, the Michelin acquisition and his subsequent US businesses.
→ Read on Jazz FM
In the Business Coach's Chair
2023
Episode 168: Michael Welch OBE: from a £500 grant to a Michelin acquisition
Long-form interview covering The Prince's Trust grant, building and selling Blackcircles.com to Michelin, the move to the United States with Tirescanner and Tirebuyer, and life in Miami.
→ Read on In the Business Coach's Chair
BBC News
2 March 2021
Tyre tycoon Michael Welch strikes deal for major US venture
Reports the combination of Tirescanner and Tirebuyer, creating a US business with a network of around 12,000 partner garages.
→ Read on BBC News
The Herald
March 2021
Mike Welch, who sold Blackcircles to Michelin, merges US business Tirescanner with ATD's Tirebuyer
Business profile connecting the Blackcircles history to Michael's new role leading the combined US business.
→ Read on The Herald
Tyrepress
March 2021
Tirebuyer.com and Tirescanner.com merge
Confirms Michael as President and Chief Executive of the combined Tirebuyer business following the merger.
→ Read on Tyrepress
The Dealer Playbook
2021
Mike Welch: Growing A Successful Tire E-Commerce Business
US automotive retail podcast interview on scaling tyre e-commerce in the United States.
→ Read on The Dealer Playbook
SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association)
27 August 2020
The Stage: Michael Welch of Tirescanner: how independent retailers gain online visibility
Recorded interview from the 2019 SEMA Show Stage in Las Vegas, released by SEMA in 2020 as part of the Wheel & Tire Council's video series. Michael sets out how Tirescanner uses e-commerce to give independent tyre retailers the online visibility of the big brands.
→ Read on SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association)
Tire Review
8 January 2020
What's Treading, Ep. 8: Tirescanner and tire e-commerce
Interview recorded at the 2019 SEMA Show, reviewing Tirescanner's first year in business and how the online tyre retail landscape is changing for independent dealers.
→ Read on Tire Review
Traction News
26 November 2019
Tirescanner.com to transform the way US motorists buy tires online
US trade coverage of the Tirescanner launch, quoting Michael on the online visibility gap facing independent retailers and mobile fitting vans.
→ Read on Traction News
Tirescanner (PR Newswire)
22 November 2019
Tirescanner.com launches in the United States
Company announcement of the Tirescanner.com consumer launch in the United States, distributed over the newswire.
→ Read on Tirescanner (PR Newswire)
Tyrepress
28 November 2018
Blackcircles.com entrepreneur launches online portal for US tyre retailers
Trade coverage of the launch of Tirescanner.com in the United States, backed by an initial investment of more than $1 million.
→ Read on Tyrepress
Peeblesshire News
7 July 2016
Founder of Peebles business gets honorary degree
Local coverage of the Edinburgh Napier honorary doctorate, reported from Peebles where Blackcircles.com had its operations.
→ Read on Peeblesshire News
Tyrepress
December 2015
Mike Welch on Michelin takeover, Blackcircles' growth and expectations
Long interview given after the Michelin acquisition, on how the company grew and what came next.
→ Read on Tyrepress
Blackcircles.com (official YouTube channel)
23 October 2015
Blackcircles.com: Meet our MD, Mike Welch
A short official company film in which Michael introduces Blackcircles.com, its network of independent fitting garages and the Tesco Clubcard partnership. He states on camera that he launched Blackcircles in 2001.
→ Read on Blackcircles.com (official YouTube channel)
BBC Radio Scotland
9 May 2015
Business Scotland: Mike Welch, the entrepreneur behind Blackcircles
Broadcast interview recorded days after the Michelin acquisition, tracing how Blackcircles.com began and how it grew.
→ Read on BBC Radio Scotland
AM-online
7 May 2015
£50m sale of online tyre retailer Blackcircles makes founder a millionaire
Automotive retail trade coverage of the Michelin acquisition.
→ Read on AM-online
The Scotsman
6 May 2015
Blackcircles bought by Michelin for £50m
Scottish national coverage of the Michelin acquisition and what it meant for the Edinburgh business.
→ Read on The Scotsman
Michelin
6 May 2015
Michelin buys Blackcircles.com for £50 million
Michelin's official announcement of the acquisition, citing Blackcircles' revenue growth of around 20% a year since 2008.
→ Read on Michelin
BBC News
6 May 2015
Black Circles sold to Michelin for £50m
Reports Michelin's initial acquisition of Blackcircles.com for £50 million, with Michael continuing with the business after the sale.
→ Read on BBC News
Tyrepress
May 2015
Michelin buys Blackcircles.com for £50 million
Trade coverage of the acquisition, citing revenue of £28 million and growth of around 20% a year since 2008.
→ Read on Tyrepress
Tyrepress
24 November 2014
Blackcircles on expansion, investment and going international
Pre-acquisition interview on international expansion plans and the investment behind them.
→ Read on Tyrepress
Startup Grind Edinburgh
30 June 2014
Startup Grind Edinburgh hosts Michael Welch (Blackcircles.com)
Fireside chat at CodeBase in Edinburgh, with Michael interviewed about building Blackcircles.com.
→ Read on Startup Grind Edinburgh
The Sunday Times
27 April 2014
How I Made It: Mike Welch, founder of Blackcircles.com
First-person career profile covering his adoption, leaving school at 16, the founding of Blackcircles.com and the possibility of a stock-market listing.
→ Read on The Sunday Times
The Marketing Society
2014
Sir Terry Leahy and Michael Welch of Blackcircles.com
Library interview piece from the Blackcircles era, recounting the cold approach to Sir Terry Leahy that led to his mentorship and investment.
→ Read on The Marketing Society
BBC News
8 April 2013
Tyre firm Blackcircles.com drives forward sales
Reports a 30% rise in Blackcircles sales to £23.2 million and the company's European expansion plans.
→ Read on BBC News
The Telegraph
2013
Sales accelerate for online tyre retailer backed by Sir Terry Leahy
Reports Blackcircles' growth during the period when former Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy was involved as an investor and adviser.
→ Read on The Telegraph
HuffPost UK
14 November 2012
Black Circles' Michael Welch On How A 16-Year-Old Can Set Up A Business
Interview on Michael's teenage start in the tyre trade, his first mail-order tyre venture and the approach from Kwik Fit.
→ Read on HuffPost UK
Tyrepress
October 2012
Blackcircles.com turns a profit
Trade report on the company's first retained profit, ten years after it began trading.
→ Read on Tyrepress
The Herald
2012
Small profit for tyre firm Black Circles
Scottish national coverage of the company's first reported profit, describing the business as set up in 2001.
→ Read on The Herald
Tyrepress
April 2009
Blackcircles partners with RAC in online tyre deal
Reports the RAC Tyres white-label partnership, an early example of the platform model Michael later used in the United States.
→ Read on Tyrepress
Tyrepress
March 2008
Blackcircles aims to take online tyre sales in Germany
Coverage of the German-language launch, an early move into continental European markets.
→ Read on Tyrepress
Tyrepress
28 June 2007
How Blackcircles uses conventional media to boost online sales
Interview-led piece on the marketing model behind the online business as its fitting network passed 300 garages.
→ Read on Tyrepress
Tyrepress
February 2007
New appointments at Blackcircles.com support rapid expansion
Reports senior hires as the business scaled, describing Blackcircles.com as launched in 2001 by managing director Mike Welch.
→ Read on Tyrepress
Startups.co.uk
2007
Michael Welch: Black Circles (Young Guns)
Founder profile in the Young Guns series covering the 2001 launch, an angel investment round and the fitting-network model.
→ Read on Startups.co.uk
Tyrepress
July 2006
Blackcircles predicts record £10 million turnover
Growth report on the expanding fitting-garage network and the company's turnover forecast.
→ Read on Tyrepress
Tyrepress
November 2005
Blackcircles Aims for UK Retail Revolution
One of the earliest trade profiles of Blackcircles.com, describing its fitting network of close to a thousand garages and its ambitions for online tyre retail.
→ Read on Tyrepress
Tyrepress
September 2004
E-Business of the Year Award
Trade report on Blackcircles.com winning a Scottish e-business award, noting Michael Welch's earlier Shell LiveWIRE win.
→ Read on Tyrepress
The Independent
31 July 2004
Business Essentials: Foursquare advice will help Black Circles burn rubber and pull away from its rivals
Early national feature on Blackcircles.com by Kate Hilpern, covering the fitting-network model, quality control and turnover of £3.5-4 million. States that the company was founded in September 2001.
→ Read on The Independent
