The automotive industry is facing a well-documented shop labor crisis. Across North America, shop owners are struggling to fill open positions while trying to retain skilled technicians who are increasingly in demand. The good news? You don’t have to accept technician turnover as inevitable. The most successful tire shops are meeting the challenge head-on by understanding what techs value, investing in smart recruiting, and creating a culture that keeps people around.

• Understand What Tire Technicians Really Want 
• Structure Competitive Pay and Benefits
• Builds a Shop Culture Techs Want to Stay In
• Get Strategic About Recruiting Tire Technicians
• How BayIQ Helps Tire Shops Thrive Through The Labor Crisis
• Conclusion

Understand What Tire Technicians Really Want

Before you can solve the tire technician shortage, you need to understand what your team values. It’s not just about pay. Today’s techs are looking for:

• Stable, full-time hours
• Opportunities to grow their skills
• A clean, organized work environment
• Clear communication and respect from leadership
• Recognition for their work

Techs want to work in a shop that values their time, listens to their feedback, and invests in their success. If your shop is stuck in old-school management tactics, you’ll lose out to the competition. Conduct regular check-ins with your team and ask for honest feedback. Do your techs feel supported? Are tools and equipment always in working condition? Is your shop culture positive and team-oriented? If not, start there.

Structure Competitive Pay and Benefits

Competitive pay matters. With the rising demand for tire techs, wages are climbing, and you’ll lose candidates fast if your compensation isn’t on par with other shops in your area.

But money alone won’t solve your hiring challenges. The full compensation package should include:

• Consistent hours with overtime opportunities
• Paid time off and holiday pay
• Healthcare or wellness stipends
• Tool allowance or reimbursement
• Training and certification reimbursements
• A structured path to higher pay tiers

Build a Shop Culture Techs Want to Stay In

Your work culture is your strongest retention tool. Do your techs feel like they’re part of a team, or just punching a clock? Are wins celebrated and mistakes used as learning opportunities, or do people get blamed when things go wrong?

Shops that retain tire techs well often have:

• Clear expectations and communication
• Onboarding and training programs
• Pathways for advancement
• Team incentives for hitting goals
• A focus on safety and cleanliness

One overlooked strategy for building culture is transparency in customer communication. When techs know that customers are seeing their work through professional digital vehicle inspections, it reinforces pride in the job. If your inspections are handwritten or inconsistent, it can lead to friction between techs and service advisors. 

Get Strategic About Recruiting Tire Technicians

Hiring in a tight labor market requires creativity. The days of posting on a job board and waiting for the right resume are over.

Here are proven recruiting strategies tailored for tire shops:

1. Leverage Word of Mouth

Encourage your current team to refer candidates. Offer a bonus when a referred hire stays for 90 days.

2. Market Your Shop Like You Market to Customers

Use your website, Google Business Profile, and social media to show off your shop culture. Post photos of team events, clean workspaces, and positive reviews from customers.

3. Work with Trade Schools and High Schools

Build relationships with local automotive programs. Offer paid internships or tool scholarships to students showing promise.

4. Highlight Career Growth

If your shop has multiple locations or leadership opportunities, lead with that in your job posts. Techs are more likely to apply if they see a future with your company.

How BayIQ Helps Tire Shops Thrive Through the Labor Crisis

BayIQ’s rewards and CRM platform helps you reduce workload at the counter while keeping your bays full—making life better for both your techs and your customers.

With built-in loyalty rewards, automated service reminders, and text-based communication, BayIQ lets your team stay focused on what they do best. 

Even better? Shops that use BayIQ often see higher customer retention and more repeat visits, leading to steadier workflow, fewer slow days, and more predictable scheduling for your techs. That kind of consistency makes your shop more attractive to potential hires.

Conclusion

The tire technician shortage isn’t going away, but you can rise above it.

By offering more than just a paycheck, investing in a great culture, and using technology to streamline your operations, your shop can become the kind of place techs are proud to work in and stay with long-term. 

With BayIQ, you’ll build a more efficient, more loyal customer base, so your technicians can do great work and grow with you long-term.

Ready to retain tire techs and beat the labor shortage? Let’s talk about how BayIQ can help.