Express Oil Change/Tire Engine

More than 290 million registered vehicles travel American roads each year, and the average driver needs an oil change three to four times annually. Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers was founded in 1979 by Jim Lunceford, who opened the first location in Birmingham, Alabama after seeing quick service oil change concepts on the West Coast and in Memphis. The original promise was a complete oil change in ten minutes without an appointment. By 1984, Lunceford had opened four locations and started franchising. Today, the Express Oil Changetire Engine franchise operates within the Mavis Tire Express Services Corp. family, which had more than 3,500 locations across 49 U.S. states and Canada as of 2025. The brand operates in 19 states, with a strong Southeast presence and growing markets in Virginia, Maryland, Texas, and the Carolinas. This overview examines the investment, available unit economics, and competition for buyers considering the franchise opportunity.

The fast lube and oil change segment represents an estimated $8 billion to $10 billion in annual U.S. consumer spending. Vehicles on American roads now average approximately 12.5 years old, the highest age on record, which supports continued maintenance demand. Electric vehicles represented fewer than 2% of the total U.S. vehicle fleet in the most recent estimates, so internal combustion engine service demand is expected to remain substantial for well over a decade. Drivers are also logging more miles as remote work has normalized longer commutes in secondary markets, including the suburban and exurban areas where Express Oil Changetire Engine locations often operate. The fast lube segment includes several large national brands alongside independent operators and regional chains. Tire service is an important differentiator because consumers replace tires every three to four years and often prefer to use providers they already trust for oil changes. The 2013 Tire Engineers acquisition was designed to capture that additional demand.

The franchise falls in the mid to premium investment tier for automotive service businesses. Total initial investment ranges from approximately $1.02 million to $3.08 million. Costs vary with real estate, construction specifications, geographic market conditions, and whether the buyer converts an existing facility or builds a new center. Historical Franchise Disclosure Document figures have included $2,564,000 to $3,818,000, $2,562,000 to $3,815,000, and an earlier range of $1,863,000 to $2,716,000. These differences reflect the brand’s expanded tire and mechanical service capabilities. The initial franchise fee has been reported at $35,000 and $50,000 in different disclosure periods, with $50,000 associated with the first center in more recent filings. Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers is owned by Mavis Tire Express Services Corp., which is backed by private equity investors including Golden Gate Capital, BayPine, and TSG Consumer Partners. The $1.02 million investment floor generally reflects a conversion or existing facility, while the $3.08 million ceiling reflects ground up construction in higher cost markets with full tire service capabilities. Buyers considering SBA 7(a) financing should evaluate the equipment and other tangible assets with qualified financing advisors, since these assets may affect lender underwriting.

The operating model uses a full service automotive center rather than a simple drive through oil change format. A location provides the ten minute oil change through stay in your car bays while also offering tire installation and rotation, alignments, brake work, fluid exchanges, filter replacements, and other mechanical repairs. Estimates suggest that a location may require eight to fifteen employees, depending on service volume and hours. The manager is central to maintaining speed and service standards. Training covers operations, customer service, technical procedures, and local marketing, with classroom and hands on components before opening. Corporate support includes field operations consultants, a centralized technology platform for scheduling and customer management, vendor relationships for oil, tires, and parts, and access to the broader Mavis Tire Express Services Corp. marketing system. Territory protections typically use population density or drive time radius. The system previously included 115 franchised units and 135 company owned units, compared with 13 franchised units in the active franchise registry being analyzed here. That history indicates a shift toward company operated growth while retaining selected franchise relationships. Buyers should expect an owner operator role because technical services and the ten minute standard require engaged management.

The system grew from 172 locations in 2010 to nearly 200 in 2013, 233 units in 2018, and 322 stores across 19 states in 2022. More recent estimates range from 330 to over 419 locations. Full service tire and mechanical centers are often cited at $1.5 million to $3 million or more, depending on market density and service mix. Because this model combines oil changes, tire services, and mechanical repairs, its revenue potential may exceed a pure fast lube format when the services are executed consistently. Labor, real estate, and parts procurement can materially change results. Buyers should test those assumptions against the $1.02 million to $3.08 million investment range.

The system added fewer than 30 locations between 2010 and 2013, then expanded through organic growth and acquisitions. Tune Up Clinics added 25 rebranded centers in 1998, while the 2013 Tire Engineers acquisition added seven locations and helped shape the current brand. Acquisitions of Savannah Tire, Trax Tires, Upton Tire, and Epperly Tire expanded the tire service footprint without requiring all new construction. Golden Gate Capital acquired the company in June 2017, when Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers ranked as the tenth largest fast lube chain in the U.S. Brakes Plus of Denver, Colorado was acquired in November 2017. In February 2018, the company merged with Mavis Discount Tire to create Mavis Tire Express Services Corp. That combination added purchasing scale and a larger platform for vendor negotiations, real estate selection, and hiring. The brand’s competitive advantages include its 46 year operating history, ten minute service model, integrated tire and oil change format, and connection to Mavis Tire Express Services Corp.’s network of more than 3,500 locations. Ricky Brooks, who purchased the company with Joe Watson in 1996 when they were the system’s largest franchisees with 14 locations, remained CEO as of December 2022.

The best fit is a business focused operator who can manage a multi employee service environment. Deep automotive technical experience is less essential than operational management, team leadership, and local market development skills. The ten minute promise supports the brand’s marketing while creating a demanding service requirement. With an investment of $1.02 million to $3.08 million, buyers should plan for a substantial equity contribution in addition to any debt financing. Multi unit development may suit operators who establish a successful first location, since the parent company has historically emphasized density in existing markets before entering new areas. The strongest presence is in the Southeast, including Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Florida. The system also has representation in Virginia, Maryland, Texas, Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Utah. Available territories may allow buyers to enter communities where the brand has limited presence. The headquarters is in Birmingham, Alabama, where Jim Lunceford opened the first store in 1979.

Express Oil Changetire Engine offers a full service automotive model supported by a 46 year operating history and the Mavis Tire Express Services Corp. network. The brand grew from a single location to more than 400 locations across 19 states, although current unit counts vary by reporting period. The $1.02 million to $3.08 million investment requires substantial capitalization and detailed financial modeling. The aging vehicle fleet, recurring maintenance needs, and consumer preference for established service providers support the demand case, but local labor, real estate, service mix, and execution will affect results. PeerSense offers franchise research that includes SBA lending history, Loan Activity Score analysis, location maps with aggregated Google ratings, FDD financial data across multiple disclosure years, and comparison tools for automotive service concepts. Express Oil Changetire Engine has a PeerSense Loan Activity Score of 57, rated Moderate.