Army Veteran Sold His House, Cashed His 401(K) to Launch Tire Empire: ‘It Was Worth It’

Former military members can be found starting and owning small businesses in just about every industry imaginable.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, veterans own roughly 2 million small businesses in the country, employing 5 million people and generating $1.3 trillion annually across the country.

But for Jason Summers, a 52-year-old former U.S. Army intelligence analyst, his post-military career led to a business venture he never would have guessed: owning a lucrative tire franchise named RNR Tire Express that expands across multiple states.

“I’m a military brat who grew up in a military family that moved around really all of my youth,” Summers told Military.com. “At [age] 17, I joined the military and spent eight years in the Army serving as an intelligence analyst.

“After the service, I moved to West Texas, worked for a cell phone company, then ultimately decided with my business partner, AJ, to start our first tire location in Lubbock.”

From Army Officer to Small Business Owner

Summers makes his journey sound simple. In reality, it’s been a long and hard road.

His time in the Army lasted from 1992 to 1998. Since then, Summers, his family, and his original business partners, A.J. Arthus and his dad, Steve, have been slowly building their tire business ever since.

Summers said it’s only been over the last eight to 10 years that RNR Tire Express has been able to grow from its first location to eleven locations, with plans to open 20 to 30 more.

The company’s total revenue last year topped $16 million.

“We now have four locations in Tucson, Ariz,” he said. “We’ve got one location in Clovis, N.M., and then the other six locations are in Texas—kind of spread across the entire state, from Lubbock all the way over to the Rio Grande Valley.

“Business is good. We’ve got a bright future. Tires are kind of a necessity. We all need them. So, it’s been good for us.”

A Major Sacrifice That Has Paid Off

Even though small business success has arrived for Summers, he risked a lot to attain it.

He told about how he had to liquidate his entire 401(K) retirement savings, sell his home, and downsize to an apartment with his wife.

With a $140,000 nest egg on hand, every penny beyond basic living expenses has to go into the business venture.

“It took us about a year to open our first location, so we obviously had to try to operate on a really tight budget,” Summers said. “At that point, my wife and I had been married for about 16 years, so moving into an apartment was a shock for her.

“But now, we’ve been greatly rewarded for doing all that. It was worth it.”

RNR Tire Express was named Franchisee of the Year for 2024 by the International Franchise Association.

Summers believes the key to his success is the discipline he learned in the Army. That, as well as his 20-year friendship with Arthus.

“AJ’s kind of the finance guy, and then I’m the operations guy,” Summers said. “I think just the structure that you get from being in the military, and the expertise that A.J. brought to the table as a previous business owner in multiple different businesses, has been helpful.

“I think we balance each other out. A.J. is a real intellectual, kind of an analytical thinker. And I’m the guy who can make quick decisions and build relationships. I think those two things go together really, really well.”

‘Carrying Lessons’ Learned From Father

Today, RNR Tire Express is counted among the 2 million small businesses in the country that are listed by the Small Business Administration as a veteran-owned company.

In Syracuse University’s latest National Survey of Military-Affiliated Entrepreneurs, nearly 56% of veterans reported they relied on entrepreneurship to provide them with a sense of purpose after leaving military service.

The survey also noted that veterans turn to business ownership for personal independence, financial security, and work-life balance.

Summers said his military background gave him an advantage.

“I think there is obviously a lot to learn when you get out of the military and go into business ownership,” he said. “There are a lot of things I didn’t know.

“But the one piece that I think military service members have is just the ability to operate inside organizations and understand how to develop teams and create culture. I think those are all big aspects of a successful business owner.”

Another takeaway from Summers in his transition from military service to small business owner is a lesson many other entrepreneurs follow: always treat your employees like family.

“We create a family-type feeling where our employees feel more like family than just co-workers,” Summers said. “That comes from my family, my upbringing. My dad spent 21 years in the military. He gave us structure and showed us the importance of family as a unit.

“I carry his lessons with me.”