Jason A. Smith | The Valdosta Daily TimesJesus Marquez uses his mounting machine to attach a tire to the rim at Marquez’s Tires. 

VALDOSTA — Jesus Marquez, manager of Marquez’s Tires, was looking for a job four years ago and found something he loves to do. 

He had a friend who owned a tire shop. The friend let Marquez work Fridays and Saturdays.

He learned the trade until he was moved up to full time.

He was able to buy his shop from the previous owners and now manages his business. 

He said the previous owners offered him the store because they could not “keep up.”

“I might as well,” Marquez said. “I won’t have to work for anybody else.”

But even with managing his shop, he has faced struggles. 

“The first month was tough,” he said. “I didn’t think I was going to make it.” 

One struggle is he is the only one who works on tires, and he manages the front counter. He doesn’t have any employees yet. 

“It’s tough,” he said. “If you have three customers, you have to do the work and the receipts.”

Marquez is currently looking for someone to give him a hand, but he wants to help someone the way he was helped. 

He plans to bring someone in part-time Fridays and Saturdays and teach him or her the trade, he said. Then eventually move him or her to a full-time position. 

As the face of the company, Marquez deals with every customer who comes in the store. 

“You have to have a good attitude and good service,” he said. “You have to make sure you stay focused. You don’t want to leave any lug nuts loose.”

But Marquez said he is up to the challenge.

“I know how to do everything right,” he said. “It is not easy, but it is possible.”

Marquez sells new and used tires. He carries the brands Kenda, Toyo and Kumho, but is looking to expand his tire selection.

He changes tires, patches flats and mounts and balances tires. 

He doesn’t do any mechanical work. 

“Maybe in the future I’ll get a mechanic, but for now, just tires,” he said. 

While the manufacturer supplies a warranty on new tires, Marquez offers a 30-day warranty on used tires. 

“I like to do that because I hear stories from people about how their tires blow up the next day or the next week,” he said. “I don’t think it’s fair. I like to be fair.” 

One of the services he wants to add in the future is service calls, he said.

If a resident has a flat on the side of the road, he can send someone out, or go himself, and do the service on location. 

Used tires, including mounting and balancing start at $35, a patch and just mounting and balancing is $10 and tire disposal is $3. 

Marquez’s Tires is located at  608 W. Hill Ave. and is open 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday though Saturday. Contact: (229) 921-3897. 

Jason Smith is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1256.