Association of Professional Rental Organizations (APRO)

Rent-to-Own 101

New to rent-to-own? Explore the basics to understand how it works and why it matters to millions of Americans.

Tires and Wheels in Rent-to-Own

Last Updated on April 22, 2026

Rent-to-own (RTO) can provide access to tires and wheels through flexible rental-purchase agreements that allow customers to make periodic payments without taking on traditional credit debt. This gives consumers another way to obtain essential transportation-related products when they need them, with flexibility built into the agreement.

Why Tires and Wheels Matter in Rent-to-Own #

Tires and wheels are an increasingly important category in the rent-to-own industry because they are essential to safe and reliable transportation.

Unlike many household purchases that can be delayed, tire replacement is often urgent. Worn or damaged tires can make a vehicle unsafe to drive and may interfere with a person’s ability to get to work, take children to school, attend medical appointments, or handle everyday responsibilities.

For many households, a sudden tire expense can create immediate financial pressure. Rent-to-own provides another option for obtaining tires and wheels without requiring the full replacement cost upfront.

Why Customers Use Rent-to-Own for Tires and Wheels #

Customers use rent-to-own for tires and wheels for many of the same reasons they use it for other essential goods: flexibility, immediate access, and the ability to avoid traditional credit.

Tires are not a luxury product. They are a functional necessity tied directly to employment, family obligations, and daily mobility. When a set of tires needs to be replaced, waiting may not be realistic.

Rent-to-own can help customers:

  • replace tires quickly when an unexpected need arises
  • spread payments out over time
  • avoid taking on traditional credit debt
  • choose a structure that fits their budget and circumstances

This makes tires and wheels one of the clearest examples of how the rent-to-own model can support essential access in everyday life.

How Tires and Wheels Fit the Rent-to-Own Model #

Tires and wheels fit the rent-to-own model because they share several characteristics common to other rent-to-own products.

They are:

  • necessary for daily life
  • often expensive to replace all at once
  • connected to household stability and mobility
  • products that may need to be obtained quickly

Just as a refrigerator or washer may need to be replaced without delay, tires can also become an immediate household need. In that sense, this category reflects one of the central features of rent-to-own: helping customers obtain important goods when timing matters.

Flexibility and Consumer Choice #

One of the defining features of rent-to-own is that it provides flexibility.

Customers using rent-to-own for tires and wheels are not entering into a traditional loan. They are using a rental-purchase transaction that allows them to obtain the product through periodic payments with options built into the agreement.

This structure gives customers more control over how they manage the transaction over time.

That flexibility is especially important in categories like tires and wheels, where the need is often urgent but household finances may be uneven or unpredictable.

Tires and Wheels as Essential Access #

The inclusion of tires and wheels in rent-to-own also helps illustrate a broader point about the industry.

Rent-to-own is often associated with furniture, appliances, and electronics, but the underlying model is really about access to important goods through flexible terms. Tires and wheels belong in that conversation because transportation is a practical necessity for many families.

For a household that depends on a car for work and daily life, access to safe tires can be just as important as access to a working refrigerator or a bed.

This is one reason the category has become more visible in the industry in recent years.

Frequently Asked Questions #

Are tires and wheels offered through rent-to-own? #

Yes. Many rent-to-own businesses offer tires and wheels as part of their product mix, though availability may vary by dealer and market.

Why would someone use rent-to-own for tires? #

Customers may use rent-to-own for tires because tire replacement is often urgent and expensive. The model allows them to obtain needed products through flexible periodic payments rather than paying the full cost at once.

Are tires and wheels considered essential products? #

For many households, yes. Safe and reliable transportation is necessary for work, school, family responsibilities, and daily life.

Is using rent-to-own for tires the same as financing tires? #

No. Rent-to-own is a rental-purchase transaction, not a traditional credit loan. The structure and consumer options are different from standard financing.

Related Topics #

To learn more about how rent-to-own works, explore these related pages:

Mike Lewis

Mike Lewis is a Premier Rental Purchase franchisee with multiple stores and currently serves as Vice President of Operations. With 33 years of experience in the rent-to-own industry, he has spent the past 20 years working closely with franchisee owners and previously spent 12 years in Corporate RTO, gaining a strong foundation in the business.

For the past five years, Mike has been sharing his knowledge by teaching managers and franchisees at the company’s Training Center.

Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family, kids, and grandkids, and appreciates the simple things in life – especially riding his Harley Davidson with the sun on his face. If you know, you know!

Lauren Talicska

Arona Corporation dba Arona Home Essentials

Lauren Talicska is an experienced multi-channel marketing specialist and the Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Arona Home Essentials. She has found her home in the RTO community, supporting stores in branding, growth, and increasing traffic.

You may recognize Lauren as a former RTO vendor, including her time as a partner for Nationwide RentDirect, or her previous participation in the APRO Vendor Advisory Committee. Lauren calls Columbus, Ohio, home and spends her workday crafting and executing marketing promotions from inception to realization, all while supporting the branding and social media needs of all the Arona stores in 12 states (plus Puerto Rico!).

Charles Smitherman

APRO

Charles Smitherman, JD, PhD, CAE, became CEO of APRO in 2023, bringing years of legal and executive experience in the rent-to-own industry. 

Prior to joining the association, Charles served as COO, General Counsel, and Vice President of PTS Financial Services, where he played an active role in the rent-to-own industry by representing his company through PTS’s club program offering with APRO member dealers. Charles is an attorney with two decades of experience across a wide variety of areas, including RTO, consumer financial services, antitrust, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, franchise law, and privacy law. Following law school at the University of Georgia, Charles earned a Master of Legal Studies and PhD in Law from the University of Oxford in England.

Charles is credentialed as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) with the American Society of Association Executives, a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) with the International Franchise Association, and a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals. As APRO’s sixth CEO in its 45-year history, he brings a collaborative, member-focused approach to association leadership, emphasizing transparency, advocacy, and value creation. Outside of work, Charles is an active ultra runner and open water swimmer.

Mike Kays

Ashley Furniture Industries

As VP of Rental Sales for Ashley Furniture Industries, Mike thrives on building relationships with our RTO industry veterans, and helping businesses grow through new product, new marketing, and new supply chain options.

Mike works to leverage a wide breadth of relationships and influence, intimate knowledge of market trends, and unique knowledge of what RTO dealers need from a supplier to be successful.

The saying goes that a high tide raises all boats, and our goal is to leverage the world’s largest furniture manufacturer to drive the continued growth of the RTO industry and all the suppliers.

Mike Tissot

Countryside Rentals Inc., dba Rent-2-Own

Mike grew up in the rent-to-own industry under the guidance of his father, former APRO President and RTO legend Darrell Tissot. For nearly 25 years, Mike’s innovative leadership has helped expand the family business to more than 40 stores across Ohio and Kentucky while also shaping the industry as a whole.

He has served as President of the Ohio Rental Dealers Association, an APRO board member and Treasurer, and President and Treasurer of the TRIB Group. His contributions have earned him the APRO President’s Award of Excellence and the title of APRO Rental Dealer of the Year.

Outside of RTO, Mike enjoys time at the lake house or in Orange Beach, Alabama, with his girlfriend, Angela Strong McCool. A passionate Cincinnati Reds fan, he rarely misses a game, whether watching or listening alongside his parents. He also takes every opportunity to visit Arizona, where his daughter is currently attending Arizona State University.