Financial Times
Tyre boss Michael Welch: 'I wanted to show people what I was made of'
Full-length Financial Times profile covering the whole career, from tyre fitter at 16 to the Michelin sale and the launch of Rolo Tires.
Dr Michael
Welch OBE FRSE
Entrepreneur · Investor · Philanthropist
Founder of Blackcircles.com, later acquired by Michelin. Now building Rolo Tires.
Profile
About
Dr Michael Welch OBE FRSE is a British entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist best known for founding Blackcircles.com, later acquired by Michelin. He subsequently founded and led automotive e-commerce businesses in the United States and is now building Rolo Tires.
Michael left school at 16 and began his career as a tyre fitter. At 17, with support from a £500 Prince's Trust grant, he established his first business, Motorforce. His work today spans business, investment and causes connected to fostering, adoption and opportunity for young people.
Career
Experience
Rolo Tires
CurrentFounder
2026 – Present · Europe
Direct-to-consumer tyre company founded in 2026, focused initially on Europe. First European sales are planned for 2027.
Anglo Atlantic
CurrentFounder
2026 – Present · United States & Europe
Investment and advisory activity across the automotive aftermarket in the United States and Europe.
Treadsy
Founder
Until 2025 · United States
The technology, operating capability and commercial platform developed out of the US tyre businesses. Michael completed his involvement in 2025.
Tirebuyer
President & Chief Executive Officer
From 2021 · United States
Led the combined Tirescanner and Tirebuyer business as President and CEO following their 2021 combination.
Tirescanner
Founder
Until 2021 · United States
US online tyre marketplace founded after the sale of Blackcircles.com, applying the buy-online, fit-locally model to the American market.
Blackcircles.com
Founder
2001 – 2015 · Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Founded in 2001. The online tyre retailer that pioneered buy-online, fit-locally in the UK. Acquired by Michelin in 2015 in a deal announced at £50 million.
Motorforce
Founder
1997 · Liverpool, United Kingdom
First business, established at 17 with the support of a £500 Prince's Trust grant and later sold to Kwik Fit.
Boards
Board & advisory roles
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
CurrentBoard of Trustees
2024 – Present
Trustee of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, which works across the United States to find permanent homes for children waiting in foster care.
The King's Trust USA
CurrentAdvisory Board
Present
Member of the Advisory Board of The King's Trust USA. The organisation, then The Prince's Trust, backed Mike's first business with a £500 grant when he was 17.
The Welch Trust
CurrentFounder and Chair of Trustees
2015 – Present
Family charitable trust supporting adoption and fostering, children with critical or terminal illness, and business education.
SimpleTire
Board Member / Strategic Advisor
2017 – 2018
Joined the board of US online tyre retailer SimpleTire as a strategic advisor in 2017, following the sale of Blackcircles.com. The role concluded in 2018.
Affiliations
Organisations
Royal Society of Edinburgh
Fellow · FRSE
Elected to the fellowship of Scotland's national academy in 2024. Also awarded the Society's Henry Duncan Medal in 2017 for outstanding business leadership.
Edinburgh Napier University
Honorary Doctorate of Enterprise
Awarded in 2016.
napier.ac.uk/about-us/our-schools/the-business-school/honorary-grads
Honours & awards
Recognition
- OBE
- Officer of the Order of the British EmpireUnited Kingdom honours system · 2016The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily)
- Honorary Doctorate of Enterprise
- Honorary Doctorate of EnterpriseEdinburgh Napier University · 2016Edinburgh Napier University: honorary graduates
- Henry Duncan Medal
- Henry Duncan MedalRoyal Society of Edinburgh · 2017Royal Society of Edinburgh: Henry Duncan Medal (2017)
- FRSE
- Fellow of the Royal Society of EdinburghRoyal Society of Edinburgh · 2024Royal Society of Edinburgh: Fellow profile
Selected coverage
Highlights from more than two decades of press coverage and interviews, from the beginnings of Blackcircles.com through the Michelin acquisition, the US businesses and the launch of Rolo Tires.
Financial Mail on Sunday (This is Money)
I started my business at 17 after being made redundant: Millionaire tyre tycoon Mike Welch
Financial Mail on Sunday interview on being made redundant at 17, building a tyre business from scratch and what that route offers young people out of work or education.
Tyrepress
Will Rolo Tires disrupt the legacy hierarchy? – Mike Welch interview
Long-form independent interview on Rolo Tires and its direct-to-consumer position against the established brand hierarchy.
Tyrepress
Blackcircles.com entrepreneur launches online portal for US tyre retailers
Coverage of the move to the United States and the launch of Tirescanner for US retailers.
BBC News
Black Circles sold to Michelin for £50m
BBC News report on Michelin's acquisition of Blackcircles.com.
Podcast
Serial Entrepreneur & Tyre Retailer Mike Welch OBE
Jazz Shapers · Jazz FM · Elliot Moss · 24 February 2023
Long-form Jazz FM interview covering the first business, the Blackcircles years and the US ventures.
Video interview
The Stage: Michael Welch of Tirescanner: how independent retailers gain online visibility
SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) · 27 August 2020
Interview recorded for SEMA on how independent tyre retailers compete with national e-commerce.
- BBC News8 April 2013Tyre firm Blackcircles.com drives forward sales BBC News on Blackcircles' sales growth and the shift of UK tyre buying online.
- The Independent31 July 2004Business Essentials: Foursquare advice will help Black Circles burn rubber and pull away from its rivals Early national coverage of Blackcircles.com in its first growth phase, three years after the company was founded.