About Us

Family-Owned and Trusted for 79 Years: Your Reliable Tyre Company Since 1945

Welcome to Neumanns Tyres Ashburton, Mid Canterbury’s first choice for tyre service and expertise. From humble beginnings, we have consistently delivered quality and reliable tyre service for decades. Our commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction has solidified our reputation, making us the preferred choice for generations of drivers.

While the business has grown exponentially, now boasting 16 stores throughout the South Island, we’ve remained true to our core founding principles and remain proudly family-owned, customer driven.

As an independent multi-brand tyre company, Neumanns Tyres, incorporating Tyre General, takes great pride in our ability to supply a wide selection of tyres, ensuring you always get the right tyre to meet your specific requirements.

With strong ties to the Mid Canterbury agricultural community, Neumanns Tyres is a proud supplier to Ruralco, offering preferential pricing and on-the-farm servicing experience. Not only do we supply the highest quality brands of tyres to South Island motorists, but we also specialise in commercial and agricultural tyres. Outside Mid Canterbury, the network of Tyre General stores offers the same high standards of exceptional service and expertise.

On-Farm/Fleet Service
Our on-farm/fleet service means you no longer have to worry about getting that flat tyre from the farm into town for repairs. Whether it’s your tractor, pivot irrigator, or harvester, our experienced fleet servicemen will ensure your downtime is kept to a minimum. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, we are here to meet your tyre and service needs.

If you require tyres or service, call us direct on 03 308 6737.

We are a proud registered partner of the New Zealand Government’s TyreWise Scheme. The Tyrewise Stewardship Fee is applied to the sale of tyres and covers the costs of collecting, recycling, and responsibly disposing of used tyres. By participating in this program, we help manage end-of-life tyres sustainably.

Our Mission Statement

At Neumanns Tyres, our mission is to keep New Zealand motorists moving with top-quality tyres and unmatched customer service. As a proud, family-owned Kiwi business, we’re committed to delivering premium products and expert support for private motorists and professional drivers alike. Our team is driven by dedication, excellence, and a shared commitment to our community’s safety. Guided by strong ethical standards and professionalism, we aim to lead responding to the unique needs of each customer, and create a trusted, positive experience at every step of your journey with us.

Contact Us

Rich in History: Over 70 Years of Tyre Service

Back in 1945, Len Neumann saw a need to provide tyre repairs to the Ashburton district. Today the family tradition continues with Len’s boys, Alan and Ian and their children providing the same service to the 4th generation of Neumann’s original clients.

With a few bob in his back pocket and newly married to Ashburton girl, Kath Green, Len Neumann decided to venture into business. Setting up was the easy part, making it pay in post war Ashburton when you were new to town was the hard part. His experience was limited having worked just six months for Motorways in Sockburn, Christchurch but his determination to make the punt pay off was immense. Neumann’s Tyres started with the whole of Len’s life savings of 87 pounds. Rent was one pound a week and his first week’s profit was 7 shillings and 6 pence. Obviously if you could get through the tough times, then you were seriously in business for the long haul.

Soon with a family on the way, it was crucial that Len and wife Kath should make their business work for them. The first premises was located at a shed belonging to Stevenson’s Auction Mart on Havelock Street. Business grew and Len saw the need to move across the road to the Welsh’s Building. Vehicles were serviced on the footpath and tyres were repaired upstairs. Len’s first employee, Don Hayes as a 15 year old carried tyres up the spiral staircase where liners were stripped off them to make sleeves while others were vulcanised. Initially owning very little equipment, Len used a steam vulcaniser, a secondhand gas tyre mound, sandbags and a couple of tyre levers.

Instrumental in the design of tyre changing equipment, local engineer, Cliff Horrell collaborated with Len to make the moulds for changing tyres. Horrell manufactured tyre changing equipment that was sold across the Pacific through E.W. Pidgeon.

Established Ashburton businesses, Burnett Motors and Gluyas Motors were the only tyre suppliers while Neumann’s were the only specialist repair shop.

Jobs were varied from repairing gumboots to inserting liners into tyres. With post-war fuel rationing discouraging people from driving, Neumann’s customer service never waned. Len and his staff would often be seen cycling around town to collect tyres in necessity of repair. In 1959, Len purchased a section in Wills Street to expand the business. This proved to be the best move for the businessman as new tyre sales increased greatly.

With such commitment to the needs of his clients, it was not surprising the Neumann’s Tyres sales and tyre repair service expanded its scope to Ashburton’s wider business community and to rural areas.

Not interested in sales alone, he would offer friendly advice and on-site after-sales service. These were the foundations on which the Wills Street business today is based.

With Neumann’s sons Alan and Ian now at the helm, the enterprise has flourished and expanded to include Tyre General Christchurch, Darfield Tyre Centre, South Canterbury (Temuka and Timaru), Oamaru, Motueka, Nelson, Blenheim, Amberley and Rangiora.

It’s not surprising that today’s customers are 4th generation family members of some of the original customers…little did Len Neumann know that his beliefs in good old fashioned customer service would stand the test of time.

It’s in the family…

Brothers Ian and Alan Neumann only need to glance across the office or workshop of Neumann’s Tyres to appreciate how far their business has come in the past 75 years. As second-generation owners, they’ve proudly led the Mid Canterbury-based business for over 40 years, having taken over from their father, Len, who founded the company in 1945. Now, with the third generation poised to take the reins, the future of Neumann’s Tyres looks bright. Alan’s son, Vinnie, and Ian’s daughter, Emma Hintz, have both been integral to the business for over a decade. “That’s something we’re really proud of,” Ian said. “It’s pretty special to see the family line set to continue for us.” While plans for the future are well underway, there are no immediate plans for Alan and Ian to step away completely.

Alan, who is already semi-retired, envisions remaining in a mentoring role, acknowledging that it’s difficult to walk away entirely. Both brothers agree that what makes their roles so rewarding is the incredible team of staff they’ve built over the years. With many employees having been with Neumann’s Tyres for over 20 years, the Neumann family takes great pride in the loyalty and dedication of their team. The camaraderie, commitment to success, and professionalism are evident from the moment you walk into reception to when you stroll through the shop floor. “Staff are the most important thing. You can have all the good ideas in the world, but without a dedicated team to bring them to life, it’s never going to work,” Ian said.

Alan and Ian are also deeply rooted in their local community. “We want to help foster and grow this community as much as we can,” Alan said. “Whether it’s supporting kids playing sports on a Saturday morning or something much bigger, it’s important to us to give back to the community that gives us so much support.” The community’s strong backing of local businesses inspires the Neumanns to do their part as well.

Join us on our journey as we continue to drive forward, one tyre at a time.