We’re looking forward to introducing you to Iman & Daniel Ikeda-Bibi. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Iman & Daniel , thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
What I’m most proud of building — that nobody really sees — is a life filled with things that genuinely matter to us.
Danny and I come from very different upbringings, and one of the things I value most is how intentionally we’ve both stepped away from parts of what we were taught. Whether it’s religion, traditional definitions of success, or even holiday traditions, we’ve let go of what didn’t resonate and chosen to build something that feels true to who we are and to each other.
It’s not easy to go against the grain. It takes courage to question what you’ve inherited, and even more to thoughtfully create something new. We don’t want to be creatures of habit or simply products of our upbringing. If something is meaningful to us, we hold onto it. But if it’s not, we give ourselves permission to let it go and find what truly reflects us.
I love the life we’re building — challenging each other, growing together, and creating traditions that feel authentic and uniquely ours.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
We’re Iman and Danny — wife and husband, and the co-owners of Gear Up Tires in Huntington Beach.
Danny brings years of hands-on experience in mechanic shops, while I come from a background in marketing and startups — plus the perspective of the everyday driver who doesn’t know much about cars. That combination has shaped how we approach our business.
We’re building more than just an automotive repair shop. We’re creating a brand that speaks to car enthusiasts while also educating and empowering everyday consumers — especially those who may have felt taken advantage of in the past. We want people to feel confident, informed, and respected when it comes to decisions about their vehicles.
We have big plans for the future of Gear Up Tires, and we’re intentionally building it differently. It’s not the typical shop model — it’s a blank canvas, and we’re excited to shape it into something that reflects our values, creativity, and commitment to doing things better.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
Our relationship with each other has shaped how we see ourselves more than anything else.
There’s something incredibly powerful about seeing yourself — or at least trying to — through the eyes of the person you love. Your flaws don’t feel quite as heavy, and your dreams start to feel more possible. We’ve both experienced how transformative it can be to be truly seen, supported, and believed in.
There’s that saying that we’re our own harshest critics. And while that may be true, we also have the capacity to become our biggest supporters. A significant other can deeply influence that shift — helping you quiet the self-doubt and step more confidently into who you are. At least that’s how it has been for us!
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes — there absolutely was a moment when we almost gave up.
In 2024, we were finally hitting our stride at Gear Up Tires. Business was growing, revenue was climbing, return customers were increasing, referrals were coming in — everything we had worked so hard for was starting to click. It felt like we had found our groove.
Then early one Sunday morning, our landlord called. He never calls on Sundays. There had been a fire at a neighboring business. The fire department had put it out, but he wasn’t sure about the extent of the damage and asked us to come by.
The good news? Our shop was untouched by the fire itself. The tough part? The city yellow-tagged our building due to liability concerns because of structural instability in the neighboring property. Even though our space wasn’t damaged, we were forced to shut down until further notice.
We thought it might be a week or two.
It turned into months.
Our employee had to find another job. Some of our customers had to go elsewhere for urgent services. The bills didn’t stop. Insurance didn’t make us whole. And in those quiet weeks, we genuinely questioned whether we would be able to recover — whether customers would come back, whether we could rebuild the momentum we had worked so hard to create.
It tested our resilience. It tested our faith. It tested our commitment to the vision.
But somehow, we made it work.
We stayed connected to our customers. We communicated. We planned. We prepared for reopening.
Now, two years later, we’re stronger than ever. We’ve grown. We’ve built a new team. Our customers came back — and brought others with them. What felt like it could have been the end became a defining chapter in our story.
That season taught us something invaluable: growth isn’t just about numbers going up — it’s about what you do when everything is hard.
And we didn’t quit.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
Work–life balance.
I’m honestly surprised more high-achieving people haven’t figured this out yet. I understand ambition. I understand feeling like you have something important to build, something meaningful to contribute. Your dreams matter.
But what about this life — right here, right now? YOUR life.
Too many people are living like joy is scheduled for “later.” After the next milestone. After the next goal. After the next expansion. But later isn’t guaranteed.
Danny and I work extremely hard. If you ask anyone around us, they’ll tell you that. We care deeply about what we’re building. But we are just as intentional about protecting our life outside of it.
In this season, that looks like traveling internationally about three times a year. It looks like watching our favorite shows together. It looks like turning our notifications off. It looks like date nights— which, honestly, this is a good reminder that we need to do this soon.
You can chase big dreams without abandoning the moment you’re living in.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
Honestly? They would miss being genuinely cared for.
Not enough businesses in the automotive repair industry lead with integrity and empathy. That’s just the truth. Too often, the relationship is transactional. But for us at Gear Up Tires, it’s personal.
I watch Danny interact with customers. He’ll spend far more time explaining things than most shop owners would ever “budget” for. From a purely operational standpoint, we could probably move cars through faster. But he wants every customer to understand what we’re recommending and why. He wants them to feel confident in their decisions — not pressured into them.
Where we live, a vehicle isn’t optional. It’s how people get to work. It’s how they take their kids to school. It’s how they get groceries, show up for doctor’s appointments, and live their daily lives. That dependence creates vulnerability — and unfortunately, some parts of this industry feed on that.
We refuse to.
Just because someone NEEDS their car doesn’t mean every suggested repair is urgent. Sometimes tires can safely last another few months. Sometimes another bill needs to take priority. Sometimes there’s a smarter order of operations for the vehicle and for the customer’s real life.
For us, it’s never about squeezing out the highest possible invoice. It’s about long-term trust over short-term profit.
Not everyone operates that way. That’s where we shine the brightest. And I’m absolutely sure of that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gearuptires.com
- Instagram: @gearuptires
- Facebook: @gearuptires
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/gear-up-tires-huntington-beach
Image Credits
Legacy Makers, David Abdou
