Burkes Tyres is a Kilbirnie tyre shop with roots going back to the 1920s, when it opened as the Burkes bros, running a cycle shop, multi-service repair shop and automotive repairs business. Today, Burkes Tyres is a 5-6 person team focused specifically on tyres and wheel services.
The business operates one of the best Hunter wheel alignment machines available, backed by a manager with a huge wealth of knowledge and an enthusiastic team who know their brands well. As an independent local tyre dealer, Burkes Tyres carries a large amount of stock at competitive pricing while offering personal, attentive customer service.
Burkes Tyres stocks a wide range of trusted tyre brands and offers a full suite of tyre and wheel services, aiming to get customers back on the road safely and quickly.
On Coutts Street in Kilbirnie, Burkes Tyres carries on a business history that stretches back to the 1920s, now focused specifically on keeping Wellington drivers safe on the road with tyres and wheel services.
Burkes Tyres originally opened in the 1920s as the Burkes bros, running a combined cycle shop, multi-service repair shop and automotive repairs business. While the business has narrowed its focus over the decades, that long local history sits behind the shop's current operation, giving it a genuine depth of experience in the automotive trade.
Today, Burkes Tyres operates as a 5-6 person team, led by a manager with a huge wealth of knowledge and supported by staff who are enthusiastic and know their tyre brands well. This smaller team size means customers dealing with Burkes Tyres are working with people who genuinely know the business and its products, rather than being just another number at a large chain outlet.
Burkes Tyres covers the core services drivers need to keep their vehicle safe and performing well. Tyre changing is handled using Corghi tyre changing machines, known for their precision and reliability, ensuring tyres are installed perfectly whether replacing a flat or fitting a new set. For wheel alignment, the shop uses a Hunter Elite machine — described as top of the line in wheel alignment technology — which helps prevent uneven tyre wear, poor handling and decreased fuel efficiency caused by misaligned wheels.
Tyre rotation is carried out following best practice patterns tailored to each vehicle, helping extend tyre life, improve fuel efficiency and maintain smoother driving. Wheel balancing rounds out the core services, using both Corghi and Hunter balancers to eliminate vibrations, protect suspension components, and extend tyre lifespan.
As an independent local tyre dealer, Burkes Tyres stocks a large range of tyres from trusted brands, including Michelin, Dunlop, Hankook, Bridgestone, Pirelli, Firestone, Goodyear, BF Goodrich, Continental, Maxxis, Toyo Tires and Nexen. This breadth of choice means the team can help customers select tyres genuinely suited to their vehicle and driving habits, rather than being limited to a single brand's range.
Being an independent local tyre dealer gives Burkes Tyres the flexibility to hold a large amount of stock at competitive pricing, while still offering the kind of personal service that comes with being a smaller, locally focused business. The shop positions this combination — competitive pricing plus genuine service — as central to what sets it apart.
Burkes Tyres frames its work around a simple point: having the right tyres on a vehicle matters not just for performance, but for the safety of the driver and their family. The shop's qualified, friendly staff are positioned as being there to give the right advice, helping customers make informed choices about their tyres rather than just completing a transaction.
Burkes Tyres is located at 16-22 Coutts Street, Kilbirnie, Wellington. Whether it's a routine tyre rotation, a full set of new tyres, or a wheel alignment after hitting a pothole, Burkes Tyres combines nearly a century of local history with modern equipment and a knowledgeable, independent team.