Loyal Tire and Repair fills a community need

By Valorie Brecht A familiar face with a wrench in hand, Matt Wilke is bringing an old Loyal garage back to life. Matt owns Loyal Tire and Repair, a new small business offering tire sales, including ag tires; oil changes; breaks and suspension work; and small engine service and repair.

The shop opened for business April 1. Matt had long desired to start his own business, and it seemed like the right time, he said.

“I was talking to a few people who were upset about Domine’s closing down. There was a need for someone to do services, tires, and light mechanic work in town, so I thought it would be a good opportunity I had to finally make it happen,” Matt said.

Matt, a Loyal native, went to school in Arizonaformotorcyclemechanics.Heworked for Fletcher’s Tire and Auto Service while he was in school. After graduating, he returned to Wisconsin. He stepped away from mechanic work for a while, but eventually got back into it and worked at Mike’s Tire Service in Loyal for three years. The business is at 302 E. Elm Drive/Highway 98, just west of Roth Manufacturing. Lennie Kollmansberger built the garage, used it for his own auto repair shop, and lived in the house behind it. The May 4, 1972, TRG records that “Lennie Kollmansberger, well known Loyal auto mechanic, has announced he has returned to full time auto repair service. For the past five years he has handled sales and service of wheel aligning equipment.”

Bob Rueth bought the property from Lennie and eventually passed it on to his son, Kevin Rueth, who sold it to Matt’s father-in-law, Kevin Froeba. Matt and his wife rent the shop from him.

“Kevin and his dad only used it to store equipment and store their own equipment, but it wasn’t used for an auto shop… I just thought it was fitting to bring it back to an auto shop,” said Matt.

Matt started working on the building about a year and a half ago. The interior is completely new, including all new spray foam, tin, electrical work, heating, and a new bathroom and wash sink. The lift is brand new, as is most of the equipment, except for one machine Matt rebuilt. Outside, Matt has trimmed trees, fixed the gravel and yard, and mowed to make it more presentable. At the time of this writing, work was being done on the exterior of the building to give it a facelift.

Although his business has only been open a short time, it has already gained momentum, said Matt, and people are appreciative of the service.

“There are plenty of customers in the area… So far, the response has been extremely positive,” he said. “People especially appreciate that I’m open on Saturdays, so if they work past 5, they can still get in here on a Saturday. I can also stay late or come in early if I know about it ahead of time.”

He is happy to provide a variety of brands of tires, sourced from Pomp’s Tire Service and U.S. AutoForce.

“I offer pretty much any line of tire. There are 15 to 20 options, depending on what you are looking for,” he said. “I have tractor and wagon tubes all the way down to a bicycle.”

He also is proud to buy local when it comes to auto parts.

“All of my parts come from C& J. I don’t outsource most stuff,” he said.

Matt does all of the tire and repair work while his wife, Erin, does the accounting and monitors the social media page. Business goals include purchasing an alignment rack and eventually bringing on a full-time employee. Matt would also like to get a company truck and make service calls.

For now, he’s excited to be on this new adventure.

“I just like the satisfaction of doing a good job, helping everybody out. And knowing that I can do it for a living, it’s nice,” he said.

His shop is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 715-937-1786 or message the “Loyal Tire and Repair LLC” Facebook page.

VALORIE BRECHT/STAFF PHOTOS

Loyal Tire and Repair