From unassuming lunch bars to croffle shops, sublime Thai takeaways to sleek wine bars – turns out any tyre shop will tell you where’s good to eat if you just ask.

Tyre companies, as recent events have reminded us, can also be dining connoisseurs. In fact, sometimes they’re considered influential enough for governments to spend millions of dollars simply to lure them to their country to judge restaurants. Others, meanwhile, are more than happy to divulge their hottest epicurean tips for free. We asked tyre shops up and down the country to nominate the local spots officially worth making a pit stop for – here’s what they had to say.

Super Tyre Guy Manukau recommends… Maxbake Bakery & Lunch Bar

Gene from Super Tyre Guy Manukau says Maxbake owners Hong and Sok know many of his customers by name. Standout dishes include the chicken and chips, pies, quiche and hot rolls. In the sweets cabinet, you’re advised to go for the fresh cream donuts and custard pies. “Always a smile and a chat here,” says Gene. “A perfect place to have a break while getting your tyres done.”

Maxbake Bakery & Lunch Bar: 71d Wiri Station Rd, Wiri, Auckland

Super Tyre Guy Manukau: 69a Wiri Station Road, Wiri, Manukau  

Awanui Tyre Man recommends… Riverside Cafe

“Close, great service and crazy good eggs benedict muffins.” – Chris, aka Tyre Man.

Riverside Cafe: 8 State Highway 10, Awanui 

Awanui Tyre Man: Cnr, Sh S 1 & 10, Awanui

Big Value Tyres Napier recommends… The Fisherman’s Shop and Java Bean Cafe

Sheryl from Big Value Tyres says the all-caps “AMAZING” The Fisherman’s Shop, located in the same complex as this Napier tyre shop, does “amazing fish and chips” and sells some of the freshest fish in town. Another local favourite is Javabean Café just around the corner, which serves a wide array of meals and cabinet food: “all fresh, delicious and good value and awesome coffees as well”. Sheryl says: “We have no hesitation in recommending both these establishments to our customers and we do so frequently!”

The Fisherman’s Shop: 140 Taradale Rd, Pirimai, Napier

Java Bean Cafe: 11 Niven St, Onekawa, Napier

Big Value Tyres: 140 Taradale Rd, Pirimai, Napier

JM Tyres & Alignments Feilding recommends… Murray’s Irish Bar

There are a great deal of wonderful places to dine out in Feilding, say local experts JM Tyres & Alignments, so much so that selecting just one can be a vexing task – but the team regularly heads to Murray’s Irish Bar for a traditional pub steak meal. “It has a great priced yummy lunch menu with a variety of main meal options with great service and cosy Irish pub setting.”

Murray’s Irish Bar: 78/80 Fergusson St, Feilding

JM Tyres & Alignments: 133 South St, Feilding

Scotty’s Wheels and Tyres Paeroa recommends… Courtyard Cafe & Delicatessen and The Refinery

Courtyard Cafe in Paeroa gets top marks from Rosie of Scotty’s Wheels and Tyres – in particular for their chicken, grape and walnut salad, and a “divine” carrot cake. “Although I’m not a coffee drinker,” adds Rosie, “I hear their coffee is good.” Another local, The Refinery, with its “awesome atmosphere”, “retro decor” and “always good” food, is another eatery worth rolling up to.

Courtyard Cafe & Delicatessen: 72 Normanby Rd, Paeroa

The Refinery: 5 Willoughby St, Paeroa

Scotty’s Wheels and Tyres: 152 Normanby Rd, Paeroa

Tyre Owl Christchurch recommends… The Good Home

The wise people at Tyre Owl suggest diners order the Wigram Pork Belly Burger or Spitfire Pizza at The Good Home in Wigram.

The Good Home: 100 The Runway, Wigram Skies, Christchurch

Tyre Owl: 43 Trevor St, Hornby, Christchurch

Capital Tyres Hamilton recommends… Vietnamese Kitchen, i Japanese Cafe and Munchies Eatery

Capital Tyres in central Hamilton has been operating since 1979 – plenty of time to gain a very keen sense of its culinary surroundings. Spokesperson Aaron shared three local joints the team eats at regularly, and which they often recommend to customers. First is their neighbour Munchies Eatery, which specialises in matcha, coffee, bubble tea and croffles (croissant dough cooked in a waffle iron). Over on Victoria Street is Vietnamese Kitchen with its small but well-formed menu involving dishes like a “wicked” pho and “great” fresh rolls. “Everyone that goes there comments on how good it is,” says Aaron. Then there’s i Japanese Cafe (also on Victoria St) where the teriyaki donburi is a highlight and the miso soup is “top notch”.

Vietnamese Kitchen: 307 Barton St, Hamilton

i Japanese Cafe: 567 Victoria St, Hamilton Central, Hamilton

Munchies Eatery: 68 Bryce St, Hamilton Central, Hamilton

Capital Tyres: Cnr Anglesea Street, Bryce Street, Hamilton North

Simpsons Tyres & Autocare New Plymouth recommends… The Hour Glass

The Hour Glass boasts a menu of tapas dishes, an ever-changing daily cheesecake, craft beers and an impressive beast of a wine list (including everything from $15 glasses of Martinborough pinot noir to Pedro Ximénez for a post meal sip to a $1200 bottle of Krug). Perhaps not surprising then that it has impressed the epicures at Simpsons Tyres & Autocare.

The Hour Glass: 49 Liardet Street, New Plymouth 

Simpsons Tyres & Autocare: 22 Leach St, New Plymouth Central, New Plymouth

Cheap Tyres Tauranga recommends… Papa Mo’s in Papamoa

The charm doesn’t end with the punny name, apparently – Cheap Tyres Tauranga says it’s practically impossible to make a misstep at Papa Mo’s: “order anything and everything.”

Papa Mo’s: Excelsa Centre 4 Golden Sands Dr, Golden Sands, Papamoa

Cheap Tyres Tauranga: 113c Maleme St, Greerton, Tauranga

U-Save Tyre Co Nelson recommends… Pie Time, DeVille and Chokdee

Daytime diners on the hunt for something to eat in Nelson are well-covered, according to Michael from U-Save Tyre Co. For a “good all-round bakery with mint pies”, you’re best to pay a visit to Pie Time (née Gloucester’s Bakehouse). And the nearby cafe DeVille does “good healthy meals that are decent sized and good value for money”. In the rare instance that they come across “an out-of-town customer wanting to go out for a nice dinner”, they tend to suggest somewhere like Chokdee – “authentic Thai food that tastes great”.

Pie Time: 40 Gloucester St, Nelson

DeVille: 22 New St, Nelson

Chokdee: 83 Hardy St, Nelson

U-Save Tyre Co: 46 Saint Vincent St, Nelson

Best Value Tyres Naenae recommends… The Trade School Kitchen

“They have great coffee, great staff, food made from scratch and they’re very, very reasonably priced” – Damien from Best Value Tyres.

The Trade School Kitchen: 17 Everest Ave, Naenae, Lower Hutt

Best Value Tyres: 1/234 Cambridge Tce, Naenae, Lower Hutt

World of Tyres Te Rapa recommends… Foundation Bar and The Lookout Bar and Kitchen in Hamilton 

There are few better ways to spend the time while you wait for your tires to be serviced at World of Tyres Te Rapa than borrowing a courtesy car and making a short trip for a bite. Those seeking a casual, easy-breezy eatery with a myriad of all-day menu options should head to try The Foundation Bar, says tyre man Chris. For something a little more upmarket, he suggests nearby gastropub The Lookout Bar and Kitchen. 

Foundation Bar: 1 Maahanga Dr, Northgate, Hamilton

The Lookout Bar and Kitchen: 60 Church Rd, Pukete, Hamilton

World of Tyres Te Rapa: 6/9 Karewa Pl, Pukete, Hamilton

World of Tyres Frankton recommends… BurgerFuel, Lola Breakfast Bar And Cafe and The Dinsdale Office in Hamilton 

Within walking distance, in fact just across the road from World of Tyres, you’ll find the ever-reliable BurgerFuel. Alternatively, you could borrow one of their courtesy cars and head to Dinsdale for a very pleasant coffee and scone at Lola Breakfast Bar And Cafe, or The Dinsdale Office for gastropub fare. 

BurgerFuel: 85 Greenwood St, Frankton, Hamilton

Lola Breakfast Bar And Cafe: 2 Whatawhata Rd, Dinsdale, Hamilton

The Dinsdale Office: 45 Whatawhata Rd, Dinsdale, Hamilton

World of Tyres Frankton: 62 Greenwood St, Frankton, Hamilton

Two Lads Tyres Nelson recommends… Thai Tahuna and The Lunch Stop

It’s a culinary struggle for the top local spots at Two Lads Tyres in Nelson: “The boss says Thai Tahuna, Tyre chief says The Lunch Stop on Pascoe St for the best pies in town, the office lady says Krua Bangkok for pad see ew and duck roti.”

Thai Tahuna:14 Tahunanui Dr, Tāhunanui, Nelson

The Lunch Stop: 111 Pascoe St, Annesbrook, Nelson

Two Lads Tyres Nelson: 258 The Ridgeway, Stoke, Nelson

Road Rubber Tyre and Auto Sydenham recommends… Sydenham Bakery in Christchurch 

Sydenham Bakery is the destination for “good, honest bakery food” in Ōtautahi, with both the double happy and brisket cheese and jalapeno pie worthy of special mention.

Sydenham Bakery: 424 Colombo St, Sydenham, Christchurch

Road Rubber Tyre and Auto Sydenham: 40 Byron St, Sydenham, Christchurch

Peninsula Tyres Whitianga recommends… Cooked and Mat’s Cafe

Winton from Peninsula Tyres Whitianga believes Mexican eatery Cooked to be the finest restaurant in town: “tacos are to die for and the pork hock is amazing.” As for coffee, Mat’s Cafe is the best “by far”. 

Cooked: 2 Mill Rd, Whitianga

Mat’s: 47 Albert St, Whitianga

Peninsula Tyres Whitianga: 7 Monk St, Whitianga

Paihia Tyre Centre recommends… Bad Habits and Tipsy Oyster

Paihia is not lacking in lovely places to eat, according to Paihia Tyre Centre. But they’re especially partial to Bad Habits, a steak house, gin room, cocktail bar, butchery and deli which, unsurprisingly, does a very good steak and a very good burger. Nearby, you’ll find their sibling restaurant Tipsy Oyster, which is “brilliant on a warm day and serves excellent Asian fusion tapas, excellent burgers … supreme cocktails too”.

Bad Habits: 76 Marsden Rd, Paihia

Tipsy Oyster: 50 Marsden Rd, Paihia

Paihia Tyre Centre: 10 Puketona Rd, Paihia

Thames Tyres recommends… Food For Thought

“GREAT FOOD AND SERVICE ALL THE TIME ANY OF THE PIES (vege and chicken a favourite) ANY OF THE PANINI’S” – Gary Webber, Thames Tyres.

Food For Thought: 574 Pollen St, Thames

Thames Tyres: 917 Queen St, Thames

New Lynn Motors & Tyre Services recommends… Chickmate!

Hanjaar of New Lynn Motors & Tyre Services says they tend to send their customers in the direction of Chickmate! A good place to start is with the perennial favourite, chicken and chips, but they also serve what Hanjaar describes as the “best burger around”: the Oh Spicy Burger. “It’s juicy, has a great kick and is incredible value.”

Chickmate!: 2 Hutchinson Ave, New Lynn, Auckland

New Lynn Motors and Tyre Services: 51 Portage Rd, New Lynn, Auckland

Cambridge Tyre and Alignment recommends… Ma Bakery & Cafe

For an unfussy bite in Cambridge, you’re best to head to Ma Bakery, which is the Friday smoko pie choice of the pastry-lovers at Cambridge Tyre and Alignment. For the full experience, tack on an order of the hot chips with chicken salt. “Always on point.”

Ma Bakery & Cafe: 82 Victoria Rd, Cambridge

Cambridge Tyre and Alignment: 6 Anzac St, Cambridge

Steve’s Tyre Service + Autocare Palmerston North recommends… Boho Cafe

Expect superlative cabinet food and well-tuned breakfast menu options at this Palmerston North pick of James from Steve’s Tyre Service + Autocare. He can’t personally vouch for the quality of the coffee as he doesn’t drink it himself, but says his partner “loves it”.

Boho Cafe: 2 Pitama Rd, Awapuni, Palmerston North

Steve’s Tyre Service + Autocare: 34 Ngata St, Palmerston North Central, Palmerston North

Real Deal Tyres Whangārei recommends… Hungry Jacks

Mike from Real Deal Tyres is an enormous fan of this local lunch bar for their solid service, super coffee, and the “generously filled, handmade sandwiches”.

Hungry Jacks: 43 Commerce St, Whangārei

Real Deal Tyres: 25 Commerce St, Morningside

Harris Tyres Gisborne recommends… Bakery 22

Harris Tyres reckon that the stars of the show at Bakery 22 are the pies, in particular the butter chicken and mince and cheese. But, if you’re in the mood, the butter chicken or creamed pāua on chips are also things of culinary wonder. Bakery 22 is apparently “one of the better bakeries in Gisborne”, and that is no secret among locals. Expect to queue at peak hours.

Bakery 22: 394A Palmerston Rd, Gisborne

Harris Tyres: 61 Disraeli St, Gisborne