Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Curtis.
Hi Taylor, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been an automotive and racing enthusiast for as long as I can remember. My journey into automotive computer tuning, programming, and calibration began back in 2007 as a personal hobby. At the time, I was modifying and racing my own vehicle and wanted to better understand how to optimize its performance through tuning.
Back then, there weren’t many schools or easily accessible online resources dedicated to engine computer calibration. I had to teach myself — experimenting with my own cars, studying technical books, researching online, and collaborating with other tuners and performance shops. Through years of hands-on experience and self-education, I developed a deep understanding of automotive calibration and tuning.
As my skills grew, I recognized a significant demand for high-quality tuning and calibration services, not only in the Nashville area but across the U.S. and beyond. Initially, my focus was on domestic platforms such as Chevrolet, Ford, and Dodge. Over time, we expanded our expertise to include performance imports like the Subaru WRX STI, Nissan GT-R, and many others.
In the early days, I balanced tuning as a side business while working full-time as a UPS driver. As the demand for my services increased, it became clear that this was more than just a passion project — it needed my full attention. I eventually left UPS to become the in-house calibrator for a performance shop in Nashville, while also offering remote calibration services to shops nationwide.
When the Nashville shop closed due to the owners personal circumstances, I took the opportunity to go completely independent — and I haven’t looked back since. The business has grown steadily over the years, expanding beyond tuning into parts sales, service and maintenance, diagnostics, and in-house AWD dyno tuning.
One of our recent highlights came in early 2024, when we provided the tuning for the world’s fastest Subaru Forester drag car — built and driven by Darnell Brown of Brown’s Performance in Gainesville, Florida. That car achieved a 9.3-second quarter mile at 156 MPH.
Since then, we’ve tuned and supported hundreds of street and race vehicles at our Hendersonville facility, and the momentum continues to build. In addition to high-performance builds, we also offer calibration services for everyday and fleet vehicles — including fuel economy optimization, speedometer correction, towing calibrations, and speed limiter adjustments.
As the shop continues to grow, we’re also expanding our online reach to provide remote calibration services for clients around the world. I’m incredibly fortunate to work alongside an outstanding team — including Kyle and Milo, as well as talented partners like Darnell Brown of Brown’s Performance, Bekim Mehmedi of Continental Motorworks in West Nashville, and many other exceptional tuners and shop owners across the country.
Looking ahead, we plan to grow our team further and are currently upgrading our in-house dyno to a Mainline Pro Hub Dyno system. This will allow us to support even higher-powered, faster race cars and continue pushing the limits of what we can achieve.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of our biggest challenges over the years has been finding the right people for our team. Because of the complexity of what we do, we can’t just hire anyone. This work requires very specific experience — advanced mechanical knowledge, strong diagnostic skills, and a deep understanding of both OEM and aftermarket automotive systems.
I’ve also had to stay very intentional about maintaining a healthy work–life balance. Running a growing business takes a lot of time and focus, but I make sure to spend plenty of quality time with my kids and family. I’ve learned better ways to achieve that balance as the years have gone on.
Another ongoing challenge is managing the sheer volume of work, especially on the tuning side. That’s not something I can easily delegate, since we use several proprietary methods that make our calibration process unique. It takes a very specific skill set to handle that side of the operation the way we do.
We’ve been impressed with Taylor’d Tuning, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We offer a wide range of automotive services that cover everything from general repair and maintenance to advanced mechanical and electrical diagnostics. Our shop also provides both OEM and aftermarket parts sales, standalone ECU installation and wiring for racing applications, motorsport and race car preparation, as well as two-wheel and all-wheel-drive dyno tuning services.
In addition to in-house tuning, we offer remote calibration services via email, allowing us to work with customers across the country and around the world. We also stay connected with our community through social media, branded merchandise, and ongoing performance projects that showcase what we’re passionate about
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
The biggest piece of advice I’d give to any new tuner or shop owner is to stay humble and find a mentor — someone experienced in your area who’s willing to guide you as you learn. With tuning schools and online resources becoming more accessible these days, we’re seeing more newcomers enter the industry, which is great. But unfortunately, some develop a bit too much confidence too soon after gaining only basic knowledge. That overconfidence can lead to mistakes that hurt their results and their reputation.
This industry rewards patience, collaboration, and continuous learning. If more people approached it that way, we’d all be able to grow and innovate together
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Taylordtuning.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/taylordtuning
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/taylordtuning
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Taylordtuning
