In this episode of Mountain Mule Media, Tim sits down with Kinsey Harmon, co-founder of Tipton’s Tires, a new Bozeman-based business built around solving a common Montana problem—where to store your tires. Kinsey shares how she and her husband Eric launched the company to give locals a cleaner, simpler way to manage their seasonal tire swaps. What began as a practical solution has quickly turned into a small-town success story built on community trust, hard work, and a little help from their namesake cow dog, Tipton.
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Finding a Local Solution
As Bozeman continues to grow, so do the everyday challenges that come with limited space. For Kinsey and Eric, the inspiration behind Tipton’s Tires was simple: people needed somewhere to put their seasonal tires. After seeing similar services thrive in places like Colorado and Canada, they realized Montana was more than ready for the same convenience.
Each year, local tire shops perform hundreds of seasonal swaps every day, but customers often leave with four heavy tires they don’t want to load, haul, or store. Tipton’s fills that gap by picking up, storing, and delivering tires directly to the shop when it’s time for the next changeover.
Building a Business from the Ground Up
Starting a new business comes with challenges—especially when it means putting yourself out there. Kinsey shares what it’s been like to launch Tipton’s from scratch while balancing marriage, home projects, and full-time work. She describes the vulnerability of promoting something new and learning to handle feedback, all while building trust within the Bozeman community.
For the Harmons, the goal is to keep Tipton’s feeling small, local, and personal. They want customers to feel like they’re working with neighbors—not a call center or corporate shop. Whether it’s a text about a pickup or a question about timing, Kinsey says their focus is on keeping every interaction simple, friendly, and personal.
The Heart Behind the Name
The business takes its name from their dog, Tipton, a loyal mix of Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, and Blue Heeler. The Harmons wanted their business to reflect the same personality as their four-legged mascot—hardworking, reliable, and a little playful.
They plan to lean into that identity even more, with ideas for future Tipton’s merchandise and a logo featuring their energetic pup. As Kinsey puts it, “Tire storage doesn’t have to be serious. We wanted something light-hearted and fun—something that makes people smile.”
Looking Ahead
As Bozeman continues to expand, Kinsey hopes Tipton’s Tires will help keep the community grounded in small business values. Their focus remains on service, relationships, and reliability—a local company built by locals, for locals.
It’s a Montana solution to a Montana problem, and it’s just getting started.
To learn more about Tipton’s Tires, visit www.tiptonstires.com
To learn more about Mountain Mule Media and upcoming episodes, visit www.mountain-mule.com
