The RNR Tire Express Canada expansion is officially underway as the U.S.-based tire and custom wheel retailer prepares to open its first international location in Oshawa, Ontario. The store is set to open this month at 1080 Simcoe St. N, marking a milestone for the 25-year-old franchise system.
Founded in 2000, RNR Tire Express operates more than 200 locations across the United States. The company has built its reputation on a flexible lease-to-own payment model designed to make essential automotive purchases more accessible to a broader range of consumers. With its Canadian debut, the brand is positioning Oshawa as the foundation for a broader national rollout.
The inaugural Canadian store is being led by franchise partners Rakesh Jegganolla and Sravan Sharma, two technology professionals who transitioned into entrepreneurship after extensive corporate careers.
Jegganolla worked as a software engineer for over 13 years before pivoting into franchising in 2020, initially entering the childcare industry. Sharma brings more than a decade of experience in technology, consulting, and working alongside Big Four accounting firms. The pair shared a long-term goal of launching a business together in Canada and spent considerable time evaluating opportunities before selecting the automotive sector.
Oshawa emerged as a strategic choice. The Durham Region city has experienced steady population growth, and the franchisees identified what they described as a gap in the local market. While traditional tire retailers operate in the area, they concluded that no existing competitors offer a lease-to-own payment structure combined with a broad inventory of custom wheels and brand-name tires. That perceived niche ultimately drove the decision to plant their first Canadian flag in Oshawa.
A Lease-to-Own Model Targets Affordability
At the core of the RNR Tire Express Canada expansion is its lease-to-own structure, which allows customers to pay for tires and wheels through weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly installments, with no credit required. The model is designed to address the financial reality that a sudden tire replacement can exceed $1,200, creating strain for households without access to immediate cash or traditional financing.
By adapting a rent-to-own framework typically associated with furniture and electronics to an essential automotive product, the company has carved out a distinct niche in the U.S. market. Tires, unlike discretionary purchases, are a necessity for safe vehicle operation. The brand’s approach aims to balance access, safety, and affordability.
The Canadian store will mirror this model, offering consumers in Oshawa a payment alternative that differs from traditional upfront automotive transactions.
Building a Canadian Team with U.S. Roots
As the opening approaches, the Oshawa location has been actively hiring its founding Canadian team. The recruitment process reflects the company’s effort to replicate its established U.S. operational standards north of the border.
New hires, including incoming Sales Associates, are required to travel to RNR’s headquarters in Florida for a two-week intensive training program. This cross-border training initiative is intended to ensure operational consistency and reinforce the company’s corporate culture from day one.
Job postings associated with the Canadian launch highlight several U.S.-based cultural practices that will be introduced in Oshawa. These include providing financial budgeting tools to employees and organizing community service initiatives. In the United States, the brand is known for giving away a car to a deserving mother each Mother’s Day, reflecting a community-focused identity that the company intends to extend into Canada.
From Rent-n-Roll to National Franchise
The brand’s Canadian entry represents the latest chapter in a business model that originated in Tampa, Florida, more than two decades ago.
RNR Tire Express was founded in September 2000 by entrepreneur Larry Sutton. Sutton had already built and sold a successful rent-to-own television and appliance business before attempting early retirement in 1997. Dissatisfied with stepping away from business, he began searching for a new opportunity.
He identified a gap in the automotive market. While consumers could rent-to-own electronics and furniture, there were virtually no comparable payment solutions for high-cost automotive needs. Sutton opened his first store in a renovated gas station under the name Rent-n-Roll, initially emphasizing custom wheels.
Over time, the company shifted its focus. Custom wheels remained an important category, but Sutton recognized that scaling the concept required leaning into everyday passenger tires. Tires offered consistent, recession-resistant demand. The brand eventually rebranded to RNR Tire Express to reflect this broader, essential product focus.
Franchising followed shortly after. In 2003, former colleagues from Sutton’s earlier rent-to-own ventures encouraged him to formalize a franchise model after observing strong consumer demand in the Tampa stores. The system expanded steadily, and by 2017, RNR opened its 100th location in Sarasota, Florida. During that period, the company was opening approximately one new store per month.
Today, the retailer operates in nearly 30 U.S. states and consistently ranks within Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list for the wheel and tire category. That sustained U.S. growth laid the groundwork for international expansion.
Canada as the Next Growth Frontier
According to RNR Tire Express CEO Adam Sutton, expanding into Canada represents a natural next step for the brand. The Oshawa store is intended to serve as the foundation for broader expansion across Ontario and other Canadian markets in the near future.
The RNR Tire Express Canada expansion signals the company’s confidence that its lease-to-own model can resonate in a new market shaped by rising living costs and increased scrutiny around household budgets. Automotive expenses remain unavoidable for many Canadians, particularly in suburban communities where car ownership is essential.
By selecting Oshawa as its initial entry point, the franchise partners are betting that population growth combined with demand for flexible payment options will create traction. If successful, the location could function as a proof of concept for additional Canadian stores.
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