Renowned entrepreneur Henry Thomas has in the past 50 years built a legacy in the Vaal Triangle through his exceptional business acumen and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction. With tireless dedication and perseverance, his tyre outlets have established a benchmark of excellence in the industry.

As Henry approaches his 80th birthday, he has recently opted to streamline his business operations. To this end, he has made the strategic decision to consolidate his efforts by closing the Tyreworx branch in Frikkie Meyer Boulevard, Vanderbijlpark and will now focus exclusively on the Rossini branch, conveniently located opposite Vaal Mall.

Henry, born and raised in Port Elizabeth, graduated from Muir College in 1963. He pursued a tool makers trade and worked for General Motors before moving to the Vaal, where in 1971 he joined the Thomas Tyres Group. Henry was instrumental in establishing the Bandag factory in Meyerton, and in 1991, after 20 years in the industry, took the entrepreneurial leap of opening his first two tyre retail stores.

From 2001 to 2024 he bought one, rebranded another and opened two franchised stores. His conviction that owning your own property is preferable to renting led him to sell two stores and close two others over the years.

“The year 2024 brought the death of two loved family members, a serious health scare, and a decision to scale down and enjoy becoming 80 in September. When your doctor tells you that you’re alive by the Grace of God, you count your blessings and assess your life. My children are established in their lives and will not follow in my footsteps. Scaling down on business and enjoying life a bit more has made this tough decision easy, especially when you have reached your goals in your endeavours,” says Henry.

“Selling Henry Thomas Tyres after 34 years was not an option, because no one will look after your namesake business like yourself. As we have another store in town with the same name, it just made perfect sense to close the company when I sold the property,” he explains.
“I always just wanted to be the best in whatever I attempt. Being a perfectionist leaves little margin for error. Until today I pride myself in my business ethic: Be humble, trustworthy and do it right the first time. Treat the cheapest to the most expensive vehicle with the same respect. The owner worked hard for it. Top brands, state of the art equipment and Service Excellence by well trained staff is what kept us going for 35 years, and I hope for many more.”

Henry Thomas

“It is with great humility that we thank our customers for their loyal support through the years, and above all, the Grace of God, that kept us going even in the toughest times.” – Henry Thomas