Question on tires

someguy29187 · 09-12-2006, 07:51 AM

My Ford Ranger is about due for a new set of tires, my question which would be a better place to take my business to, Costco or Les Schwab. Costco is lower on price, Les Schwab has the warranty. Just curious what everybodys experince with both is.

Cool Texan · 09-12-2006, 07:59 AM

I put some of Les' shoes on my Durango 5.5 years ago, and they're doing great. The warranty and the service is very much appreciated when you need it....though its not very often.

Herring Problem · 09-12-2006, 08:01 AM

Les Schwab or Tire Factory- When you have a problem you can get help from either one. Costco's are not in every area and a flat could totally ruin your day if you have to buy a new one from a different store than Costco.

crabbait · 09-12-2006, 08:03 AM

LS, here is why: I was towing a boat and had a blowout on the tow vehicle with Les Schwab tires. I made one phone call to find out if they were going to be open long enough for me to get there (very near closing time) and they sent someone out to take care of the whole shebang. They changed the tire and escorted me back to the shop where they replaced the blowout with a pro-rated new tire well after their normal closing time.

What do you think I would have gotten from Costco?

PapaHog · 09-12-2006, 08:07 AM

LS for me. You may pay a bit more but the service after the sale is second to none.

When you pull into CostCo do they come running out to see what they can help you with. It won't happen every time but it has happened to me a couple times. Just like on TV.

alaskan · 09-12-2006, 08:30 AM

I really miss L.S. They have good tires, and great service, for as long as you have the tires. Costco just has lower prices, and I never saw a real big savings to make up for the service.

StickFish · 09-12-2006, 08:31 AM

Les Schwab, I come in when I load up the camper to add air to the rear tires, they always drop what they are doing and run out and get the job done. I'm not talking walk here, I mean run.

Years ago we had a problem with a break job there and a scheduling problem. My wife got upset and gave them the riot act. A few minutes after we got home the manager of the store called and appologized and told me that a member of the crew was on his way to pick up our vehicle and get the brakes done as they promissed. When we went to pick it up they refused to let us pay for it, instead they appologized and said this one is on us. I have never gone anywere else since.

They have fixed flats in other companies tires at no cost, saying next time you in the market for tires stop on in.

If they ever go public with a stock offering I will be standing in line.

Firedog · 09-12-2006, 08:36 AM

Americas Tire, service and warrenty as good as Les Schwab and carry a better tire in my opinion. When I bought tires for my F350 they beat any price I could find and also paid the tax up here in Vancouver.

uhmw · 09-12-2006, 08:41 AM

How much are you really saving when you drive over a pile of leaf covered rebar in madras and put a slow leak in all 4 tires trying to show your dad what your new 4x4 truck could do

- schwabbe changed them all for me at no cost and saved my face and my ski trip to bend. Those stores are all over the place esspecialy in some of the more remote areas of OR and WA. I dont mind paying a little more to cover my hinne besides those guys give great svc thats worth rewarding.

jvp · 09-12-2006, 08:51 AM

Am. Tire was where I just bought my latest tires for my car. so far they are not bad about service.

LS has always been great service just like Friday when the batteries in my trailer were dead on the way out to camp and i stopped in at the Oakridge yes Oakridge LS and 20 min later on my way fixed and a few dollars poorer but on my way with no hassles.

Only reason I don't buy my car tires at LS is I can't get the tire size I want with the 130+ mph rating. yea i know speed limit is max 65 in oregon.

GSD · 09-12-2006, 08:51 AM

Les Schwab.
Too many good experiences with them not to continue buying tires there. I don't mind paying a few dollars more for their tires. Their tire repair service, even on tires <u>not</u> purchased their has always been "no charge", at the Dallas & Independence Stores in Polk County.

William

jvp · 09-12-2006, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Les Schwab.The service, even on tires <u>not</u> purchased their has always been "no charge".

William

Not always I have had the LS in Wilsonville and Sherwood charge me for rotating tires so didn't go back to them for any reason at all. That is another thing they all have differences due to the manager of the store.

GSD · 09-12-2006, 09:11 AM

[/quote]
Not always I have had the LS in Wilsonville and Sherwood charge me for rotating tires so didn't go back to them for any reason at all. That is another thing they all have differences due to the manager of the store.

[/quote]

OK, I will edit my previous post.....

Geemo · 09-12-2006, 09:25 AM

The guys at the Lake Grove Les Schwab know my voice over the phone! We've been going there since they opened, 1988 or 1989. Tires, Brakes, Wheel bearings, etc.
I wouldn't go anywhere else.

Geemo Deb

98ramtough · 09-12-2006, 09:34 AM

I used to really like Les Schwab, I think the smaller town ones are Ok. Seems like since Les isn't around anymore and there is not that fear of him walking in the store any time that it has went down hill. The stores are now more independently owned and each owner has more say than the corporation etc which leads to inconsistency....

I will not buy tires at Les Schwab anymore. They are over priced for what you get IMO. They charge way too much money for the little service they do. For the extra $200 you would have spent on the les schwab warranty, buy an extra tire or two and throw them in the back of your truck as a spare :smile:

Sorry, I know everyone around here will love les schwab, especially the souther oregon people being its more of a local company. But lately the Yakima, Tri City, and Prosser Les Schwabs have all been a bunch of morons and are way over priced for the shady service you recieve. I had a good argument one day with a guy trying to tell me a 255/85 was inbetween a 245 and 265 in size...

Anyway, just my opinion. I just bought a new truck and was happy to buy a set of Dueller AT Revos at a bridgestone dealer with a buy 3 get one free deal.

Plong_77 · 09-12-2006, 09:41 AM

Tire wise you cant go wrong with Les Schwab. You pay abit more, but like everyone says, the warranty is well worth it in my opinion.

Any other work i would take elsewhere, I had them rebuild a front end on my bronco (big mistake) had to take it back twice to have it done right.

I heard that Les is on his death bed in the Prineville Memorial hospital. hes a great man, got the chance to meet him in person one day in Prineville. Its too bad a Schister (sp?) like Phil Wick will be taking over the entire company soon. Service will sure to go downhill somewhat.

flyfish101 · 09-12-2006, 10:30 AM

You can't go wrong with Costco on the warranty. If I remember correctly, their tires are $9 for mounting, balancing and that also includes a road hazard warranty. If you're out in the middle of no where they'll reimburse you for a road hazard from another company also. At least that was my experience. No they're not everywhere, but for the price and service I think it's worth it.

Bait O' Eggs · 09-12-2006, 02:06 PM

I have met Les and he is a great guy, his Daughter Margie has controlling interest, not Phil.

Normally I dont think you get back what you pay for in the service, but I recently had a wheel/hub problem, LS bailed me out after hours

I went and bought 4 new tires for the boat a couple days later since they got me fishing when I wanted. They did me right, I returned the favor with a new purchase. Next set of tires I see myself free to choose where I shop, we are squared up

chances are it may be LS :grin:

1pump · 09-12-2006, 02:38 PM

I've never bought any LS tires, mainly due to them being a private brand of overseas origin. I like the brand names, so my last set came from Costco. I did consider Ol' Lester, mainly due to the good service I've had on repairs. When I was driving truck for a living they always got me back on the road in a jiffy. And I had a LOT of blown or flat tires. I felt really bad for the truck tire repair guy in Klamath Falls. I'd always come in late in the afternoon about the same time the local log trucks would show up. I don't know how any human can take the physical abuse of busting down 11X22.5 tires all day right up to closing time and then some. Just watching him made me hurt.

Tagster · 09-12-2006, 04:08 PM

Ipump-I run Toyo Open Country A/Ts on my Expedition (8 ply) and the same, but, 10 ply on my F250.

I love the tires! Been around for a long time and they are not a "private brand"...at least by my definition?

Tag

nativedipper · 09-12-2006, 04:43 PM

I would go with Costco. I have had two bad experiances with two different Les Schwabs. I won't go into details but both involved taking advantage of women not knowing any better. I won't support them again.

Fish Wheels · 09-12-2006, 06:16 PM

I'd go with Am Tire as mentioned earlier. Any tire shop will fix a flat for ya at minimal cost if any and IMO the BFG AT's are a better tire than the Toyo's. I've had both and have the Toyo's right now on my 03 ranger 4x4. I would strongly suggest that if you do go to LS, don't get the XTX model. I have seen at least 5 sets of these (including mine) that have worn a bald strip down the middle of them with the rest of the tire wearing correctly. And they were inflated properly.. I made the mistake of going back to LS for the Toyo's and wish I didn't .,....

Pete · 09-12-2006, 06:36 PM

Time and again, LS has come through for me. Beating my Ranger around the desert I had 3 flats - shredded sidewalls and not patchable - on Easter Sunday, years ago. There I was in Prineville, 7:30 on Sunday morning. What's open. Nothing. What do ya do? I limped into the LS. It was closed. But there was someone inside who came out and said, "We aren't open, so I can't sell you tires. But I can pull some discards off the stack and get you on the road." 3 free tires, mounted and balanced and I was able to make it home. Monday morning, guess where I bought tires?

I've been going with 8 ply rated Avons from LS on my Expedition. I'm on my second set. The first set went 55,000 miles.

I have nothing but good things to say about LS tire service.

1pump · 09-12-2006, 09:45 PM

Tagster, I was referring to the Schwab brand, like Wild Country etc. Most people have had good luck with those and I almost bought a set this time around.
Toyos are good tires, especially for heavy trucks. Well-known and respected name.

Mokai · 09-13-2006, 12:47 PM

I have had good and bad with LS..

One thing allot of people dont know about them is that they can special order any tire brand you want..

I had them order me some BFG All Terrains for my Tacoma and even with freight costs they were cheaper than the competition.

Something to think about if you dont want what they offer..

You still get the great warranty also..

MattPark · 09-13-2006, 12:58 PM

America's Tire hands down. They have the same warranty on the tires, offer a free replacement warranty for a small charge (great on truck tires, they can be worn out and if you damage them you will get new tires for free), and they will beat anyone's price on anything. They honor ALL tire warranties as well, where as with Scwabbies, they will charge you $15 for a flat repair on a tire they don't sell.

SlamminKokes · 09-13-2006, 01:05 PM

Quote:

America's Tire hands down. They have the same warranty on the tires, offer a free replacement warranty for a small charge (great on truck tires, they can be worn out and if you damage them you will get new tires for free), and they will beat anyone's price on anything. They honor ALL tire warranties as well, where as with Scwabbies, they will charge you $15 for a flat repair on a tire they don't sell.

Matt, I think youre one of the only people in the world whos been charged 15 bucks for a repair because they didnt sell it to you!