Centeno’s Tire builds loyal network in Puerto Rico

GURABO, Puerto Rico — By this time next year, Centeno’s Tire Distributors Inc. won’t qualify as a small dealership.

Plans call for opening two stores in 2025, in addition to two existing service shops, as well as a wholesale business that already offers free next-day delivery to anywhere in Puerto Rico.

Owners Gabriel and Monica Centeno said the business really took off a decade ago with its first “big” international order: One pallet of tires.

“We started with a pallet, and now we do 10 containers a month of just one product,” Gabriel Centeno said.

Centeno’s Tire is headquartered in Gurabo with a second location in nearby Caguas — both roughly 20 miles south of San Juan. The business has a 60,000-sq.-ft main warehouse in Gurabo, from which it offers free next-day delivery to anywhere in the island.

Along with its two service shops in Gurabo and Caguas, Centeno’s plans to open locations in Maricao and Salinas this year. The business also is expanding its wholesale warehousing with additional sites in Humacao and Salinas.

“What sets us apart is that we are consistent in what we bring in, and we always try to do it better than we did last month,” Gabriel said. “We just want to keep growing as a business, to be more accessible to the island.”

The warehouse expansion is aimed at bringing same-day delivery to everywhere in Puerto Rico — all part of offering great customer service, Gabriel said.