Sun Auto acquires T.O. Haas Tire

By Jan Schultz
The Imperial Republican
    Arizona-based Sun Auto Tire & Service bought out the chain of all T.O. Haas Tire stores earlier this month.
    The acquisition of the 24 T.O. Haas stores will give Sun Auto Tire almost 350 locations.
    Imperial customers were informed of the sale through an enclosure placed in billing statements this month.
    “We didn’t go looking for a buyer for our company.” said Randy Haas, principal owner of T.O. Haas Tire, which was founded by his father in 1947.
    “But when Sun Auto reached out it became clear that this could be a good option for us, bringing additional brands to our offerings and we’re excited to get started on this next chapter,” he said.
    The company name will remain the same according to Fred Knight, Marketing Director of T.O. Haas Tire. That means, in part, all of the employees in their stores will remain.
    “Sun Auto’s method of operation is to buy successful companies and to make minimal changes in the way they do business so the name will not change and neither will the personnel,” said Knight.  
    “Bill, Tommy and Lance will continue to run the Imperial location so nothing will change on that end,” Knight said on Monday.
    “We’ve had to learn a new computer system,” said Bill White, manager of the Imperial store. “But once we figure that part out ,things should be pretty much back to normal.”
    T.O. Haas Tire bought out Cannon Tire in 1999 where long time employee Lendall Jahn served as store manager before his passing in 2019.
    In addition to Bill White, the Imperial store operates with two other employees, Tommy Estrada and Lance White.