‘Tire man’ Masop never tired of satisfying customers

As a child, Steve Nelson never owned a toy car but as he grew older he always found himself in a mechanic shop, familiarising himself with the tools in the workshop, while living along Windward Road.

"My first encounter with tyres, yuh know when a summertime, yuh go down the tyre shop and a likkle man tell yuh 'Come mek me show yuh how fi beat off two tyre and tek off tyre offa vehicle.' Is like me come back full circle and reach in a position fi have a job in the tyre industry," he recounted from his store along East Queen Street.

The passion was still burning in his eyes as Nelson boasted how he found his groove as a tyre-repair technician 25 years ago, when he made the bold decision to leave his steady job as security guard. Being a technician was not on his list of careers, but was instead viewed as the perfect pastime activity.

Nelson's love for and commitment to his career is fuelled by the satisfaction expressed by his customers for a job well done, which translates to a feeling of fulfillment, knowing that he has provided invaluable service for his countrymen.

"I can't forget my first day. Me used to work with a company that had a lot of trucks name Rock and Wheel, and from deh so me start get the experience. Me never did start at a young age, me start when I was in my 30s and just fall in love with tyres," Nelson joked.

A high stock pile of tyres, myriad of tools and the unconventional sight of a bathtub are among things found inside Nelson's workshop. He and his son, who also doubles as his apprentice, serve over 30 customers on average daily, mending tyres. The artisan pointed out that though tyre repairs may be the simplest of tasks, they are the most important work done on a vehicle.

The process of fixing a tyre starts with carefully removing the wheel, then applying air pressure to it. This is followed by submerging it in the bathtub filled with water to identify the problem, why it no longer functions as it should. Whether it is a punctured tyre or a cut in the wheel, Nelson assured THE STAR that he can get the job done.

"I am proud of what I do and me tek pride in my work," the Camperdown High School graduate bragged.

A trick in the trade that he showcased for the news team, was the process of vulcanising a tyre, which becomes beneficial for a person strapped for cash.

"If it burst pon the side, me have the skill and the ability to fix it. We use a special patch that has nylon cord in it and the lube. One does the patching and the other does the strengthening. It takes a certain amount of time and skill to do vulcanising," the self-taught technician explained.

Masop, as he is called by customers, has no intentions of leaving his workshop any time soon but is hoping to see the tyre industry improved, with suggestions proffered for the safe disposal of used tyres.

"With all the technology in the world going on right now, I don't see nobody coming up with no great idea weh yuh can do with used tyres. That would be my greatest wish right now because I feel there must be some other use they [authorities] can offer for them right now. Me nuh know if dem can burn it back like energy or something," he said.