RimTyme is the only custom wheel-and-tire store in the Columbus area, and we've been busy since the moment we opened our doors.
Rick Blakiston, Store Manager

Photo/ColorTyme

The Whitehall RimTyme store features a large showroom stocked with more than 800 custom wheels and tires.

The Whitehall RimTyme store features a large showroom stocked with more than 800 custom wheels and tires, a comfortable customer lounge equipped with an HD TV and refreshments, and fully equipped, state-of-the art service bays for professional installations.

"RimTyme is the only custom wheel-and-tire store in the Columbus area, and we've been busy since the moment we opened our doors," said RimTyme store manager Rick Blakiston, and has received an unprecedented response from the community. "Technicians and tire professionals from our other stores have come to Columbus to help us out. Clearly, there's no store anywhere in central Ohio that can match our in-stock selection of 16" to 24" wheels and tires."

Blakiston said RimTyme is eager to become active members of the Columbus community and plans a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Chamber of Commerce in March. "This summer we're also helping the Whitehall Police with their ‘Beat the Heat' drag-strip racing program to educate youth about the dangers of street racing and drug- and alcohol-impaired driving," Blakiston said, "We want our RimTyme store to be a major hub of activity for car clubs and auto enthusiasts of all kinds."

RimTyme's District Manager Travis John pointed out the popularity of RimTyme's no-credit-check policy and its wide range of payment options. "RimTyme customers have their choice of payment plans -- cash, credit, 90-days-cash or a flexible lease-purchase plan," he said. "People want their new wheels and tires today, but in times like these they don't want to pay cash up-front or use their credit card. RimTyme's flexible lease-purchase plans can fit anyone's budget, and they don't tie people down to a long-term credit commitment."

John said RimTyme offers a "Bolt It on Today" guarantee that the store has custom wheels in-stock and ready for installation that will fit a customer's vehicle. "We promise they'll be ready to roll within hours," John said. "If for some reason they aren't, we give them a $50 credit on their new wheels," he added. "But so far, no RimTyme customer has asked to exercise the guarantee," he added. John said RimTyme also includes services for free that others usually charge extra for, such as free installation, free lifetime balancing and rotation on new tires, and free lugs, locks and stems.

RimTyme also offers nitrogen fill for tire inflation like NASCAR does, John said. NASCAR uses nitrogen to prolong rim and tire life, increase fuel efficiency and safety, and curtail tire pressure fluctuation. "Nitrogen-inflated tires maintain their pressure as much as four times longer than air, and at RimTyme a nitrogen-fill is good for the life of the tires. If a customer's nitrogen tire pressure decreases, RimTyme will refill it for free," he added.

"RimTyme also offers a ‘Best Deal Guarantee' that others simply can't beat," Blakiston said. "If one of our customers finds a better out-the-door deal on the same in-stock wheels, tires and services, RimTyme will earn their business by meeting or beating that deal." Blakiston then added that, like the "Bolt It on Today" guarantee, RimTyme has never been beaten.

RimTyme's Vice President of Operations, Tim Hogan, said RimTyme has an aggressive growth plan ahead. In addition to the Columbus store, RimTyme is opening a new company-owned store in Indianapolis in early March and just opened a new franchised store in Louisiana. "We're seeing a great deal of interest in the RimTyme concept from potential franchisees," Hogan said, "and for that reason we are offering very attractive financing packages and one of the best franchisee-support programs available anywhere. We plan to be the hottest and fastest-growing wheel-and-tire company in America."

About RimTyme
RimTyme is the custom-wheels-and-tires brand of ColorTyme, Inc. and is headquartered in Plano, Texas. RimTyme currently has 13 franchised locations and 10 company-owned stores in ten states—Ohio, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Washington, Oklahoma and Kentucky. ColorTyme, Inc. is an independent, wholly owned subsidiary of Rent-A-Center (NASDAQ:RCII).