EVERY BUSINESS HAS A FOUNDATION.
For Conway Tyre Services, that foundation was built through years of hands-on experience in the tyre industry—assessing damage, understanding tyre construction and helping mining and heavy-industry operators make informed decisions about some of the hardest-working tyres in Australia.
Jess Conway’s tyre career includes extensive experience with Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia, where he developed the practical and technical knowledge that would eventually shape his own approach to tyre supply and technical advisory.
His time with Bridgestone included working as an Account Manager before being promoted to Tyre Repairs Manager. He later gained direct tyre-fitting experience before returning as a Technical Support Trainer and Assessor. During this time, Jess conducted technical studies and trained and assessed tyre fitters.
A Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia video from 2020 captures an important chapter in that journey. At the time, Jess was working as the Account Manager for Tyre Repairs in Mackay, supporting customers across mining, earthmoving and remote operations.
Video courtesy of Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia. Originally published in February 2020. Watch the original video on YouTube.
Where did Jess Conway begin his tyre career?
Jess began his tyre-industry career with Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia, where he developed experience across tyre repairs, inspections, technical support and customer service.
His career with Bridgestone progressed from Account Manager to Tyre Repairs Manager. He also gained direct tyre-fitting experience before returning to the business as a Technical Support Trainer and Assessor.
Alongside his practical experience, Jess conducted technical studies and trained and assessed tyre fitters, further developing his understanding of tyre construction, repair suitability and safe working practices.
By the time this video was produced in 2020, Jess was working as Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia’s Account Manager for Tyre Repairs in Mackay.
His role involved more than coordinating repairs. It required an understanding of how OTR tyres are constructed, how different injuries affect tyre integrity and whether a damaged tyre was suitable for repair.
Jess also worked directly with customers, including operators in remote locations, to inspect tyres, assess potential repairs and help them avoid unnecessary transport and repair costs.
A technical approach, not a one-size-fits-all repair
One of the key principles Jess explains in the video is that every tyre injury needs to be assessed on its own merits.
Rather than treating every injury the same way, Bridgestone’s process at the time involved assessing the individual damage and developing a repair based on the actual injury.
That experience reinforced an important lesson:
The tyre must be assessed for its application and condition
Tyres may appear similar from the outside, but their internal construction, operating history, damage and intended application can vary considerably.
A repair appropriate for one injury may not be appropriate for another. In the same way, a tyre that performs well in one operating environment may be completely unsuitable for different equipment, loads, speeds or site conditions.
That principle remains central to how Jess works today: understand the complete application before recommending a solution.
Why OEM training and tyre construction knowledge matter
In the video, Jess discusses the benefits of working with repairers trained through an original equipment manufacturer.
His experience as a Technical Support Trainer and Assessor, combined with his technical studies and direct tyre-fitting background, gave him a detailed understanding of how tyres are designed, constructed and repaired.
This training provided repairers with advanced knowledge of how tyres were designed and constructed internally, helping them make better-informed decisions about repair suitability and safety.
The repair process also had to be completed in accordance with the relevant Australian Standards.
For large off-the-road and mining tyres, this technical knowledge is critical. These tyres operate under significant loads and demanding conditions, where the consequences of an unsuitable tyre or repair can extend well beyond premature wear.
Knowing what is happening inside the tyre—not simply what can be seen from the outside—allows for a more informed assessment.
Helping operators avoid unnecessary costs
Transporting a large OTR tyre from a remote mine or worksite for repair can be a costly exercise.
As Jess explains in the video, Bridgestone’s inspection process allowed customers to have tyres assessed before committing to transport and repair. A dedicated account manager could inspect tyres earmarked for repair and provide a second opinion on whether they were likely to be repairable.
This helped customers avoid:
• Transporting tyres that would ultimately be rejected
• Paying unnecessary freight and handling costs
• Investing in repairs that would not deliver suitable service life
• Experiencing further costs when the tyre returned to operation
It was an early example of the value good technical advice can provide before money is spent.
What are the benefits of a quality OTR tyre repair?
When a tyre is suitable for repair and the work is completed correctly, a quality OTR tyre repair can help an operator:
• Extend the usable life of the tyre
• Reduce the tyre’s overall cost per operating hour
• Return valuable tyre assets to service
• Build a supply of suitable spare tyres
• Reduce downtime and keep equipment operating
For mining and heavy-equipment operators, these benefits can have a significant effect across an entire operation.
However, the real value begins with determining whether the tyre is suitable for repair in the first place. That decision requires training, inspection and a sound understanding of tyre construction and operating demands.
How this experience shaped Conway Tyre Services
Jess’s experience across tyre repairs, tyre fitting, technical studies, training and assessment gave him insight into what happens when tyres are damaged, unsuitable for an application or unable to deliver their expected service life.
It also demonstrated the value of making the right technical decision before a tyre is purchased, transported, repaired or returned to service.
Those foundations continue to influence Conway Tyre Services today.
Application-first tyre recommendations
No single tyre is right for every machine, site or operating environment.
Conway considers equipment type, load, speed, terrain, haul distance, operating conditions and required performance before recommending a tyre.
Technical advice before unnecessary expense
Just as an inspection could prevent an unsuitable tyre from being transported for repair, informed tyre selection can help an operator avoid investing in a product that is wrong for the application.
Knowledge grounded in industry experience
Conway’s recommendations are supported by more than 18 years in the tyre industry, including over 15 years of technical experience and direct exposure to tyre manufacturers and OEM factories.
From Bridgestone technical support to Australia-wide tyre advisory
Jess’s career with Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia included account management, tyre repairs, direct tyre fitting, technical studies, training and assessment.
That experience has developed into more than 18 years across tyre supply, selection and management.
Today, Conway Tyre Services supports customers Australia-wide, sourcing and specifying tyres for applications ranging from light vehicles and road transport to earthmoving equipment and the largest mining tyres in operation.
The business may have evolved, but the principle behind it has remained the same:
Understand the tyre. Understand the application. Make the right recommendation.
Looking for the right tyre for your application?
Tell Jess about your equipment, operating environment and performance requirements.
Conway Tyre Services can assess your application, discuss suitable tyre options and provide a tailored recommendation and quote.
About Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia
Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia forms part of Bridgestone’s Australian operations and provides off-the-road tyre products and related solutions for mining and earthmoving applications.
Bridgestone Corporation is a global tyre and mobility company, with operations serving passenger, commercial, fleet and heavy-industry markets.
Learn more here about Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia.
SOURCE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This article draws upon information shared by Jess Conway in the Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia video “Jess Conway Tyre Repairs Mackay”, published in February 2020.
Conway Tyre Services is an independently owned business and is not represented as being affiliated with or endorsed by Bridgestone.