John day Les schwab question/rant

[gottafish]

So friday night Im on my way back to camp and I was driveing down a gravel road and my rear tire went flat. I put the spare tire on and went to john day saturday mornining, to get it fixed. Now I bought thes tires at Les schwab in greasham about 3 monthes ago. wild country xts and they come with road hazards warrenty and all that they had maybe 10,000 miles on them. the guy at schwab in John day said yep a rock tore your tire so i'll pro rate them. that'll be $75.61 Because I can't fix it. I said what? I was told that thats a road hazard warrentee and it should be covered. Nope you gotta pay. now it seams to me I got the shaft. I paid the man because I wasn't getting anywhere Am I screwed? Im Rich Baker and I approve this message. Help? :whazzup:

[98ramtough]

Post deleted by 98ramtough

[jokester]

Rich,

Do you still have the paperwork that came with the tires? I always kept mine in the car with me, in case something like this came up. This way, i've got the proof and the warranty paperwork to back me up! No questions asked...it's right there in writing!!

-jokester

[gottafish]

Yes I have it but he didn't even want to see it something about that is store spacific?? Im going to where I got the tires and see what the heck.

[jokester]

That's a load of crap Store specific is a bunch of hooey...they should make it right with the customer, and if they want their money back, they should have to fight it out between the stores IMO

-jokester

[Fast Water]

Store specific?

Not a chance. Go get um'.

And make sure that the Les Schwab Corporate office hear about it too.

[gottafish]

Yea I should have stopped in prinville on the way home but I had to get back by 7 pm and didn't have time. Im going to the gresham store after work monday.

[troutski]

What has happened to LS, it used to be the cats meow. Now I can't find any positive remarks about them any more. I guess bigger isn't always better. JMO

CHUCK <font color="red"> </font>

[lentz]

It all depends on who runs the whole show. If old man Schwab was still in complete charge then it would have never been a problem. I bet that you get you're $$ back and if you really mean buisness then they might just want to buy you a whole new set of tires. Ok, maybe not but atleast it sounded good. Good luck!!!Derrick

[gottafish]

Well I'll say this there are in darn near every small town in oregon where I hunt but dang Is it worth it?

[baltz526]

les schwab has always prorated the road hazard guarentee. they do it on tread depth on the damaged tire. last time i blew a side wall, it was a brand new tire with less than 2000 miles on it, it cost about 35bucks on a $155 tire resiped/balanced

[crabbait]

les schwab has always prorated the road hazard guarentee. they do it on tread depth on the damaged tire. last time i blew a side wall, it was a brand new tire with less than 2000 miles on it, it cost about 35bucks on a $155 tire resiped/balanced

That has been exactly my experience. They gauge the tire and pro-rate the difference between what was left and a new tire. Seems perfectly fair to me.

<font color="red">MOD HAT ON: Any of you who have complained about LS and have not signed you names, please do so or your post will be removed. Thanks. </font>

[MattPark]

Just buy from America's tire, and you can get a free replacement warranty on the same tire for less money.

I will never buy anything again from LS for a bunch of reasons.

[gottafish]

That has been exactly my experience. They gauge the tire and pro-rate the difference between what was left and a new tire. Seems perfectly fair to me.

<font color="red">MOD HAT ON: Any of you who have complained about LS and have not signed you names, please do so or your post will be removed. Thanks. </font>

Ok that makes more sence to me I was under the impresion they would just replace it. I mean these are 10 ply tires and are hardly used. If I was running that place it would have been a free replacement. But then I am in the service buissness. How can a rock on a graded gravel road puncher a 10ply tire? the other thing that kind of gets me is I asked for a tire that is good on gravel roads when I bought them here in Gresham and this was the tire the recomended then the guys at the John day told me that they were prown to rock damage and they didn't sell many because of that. Im a little peeved by that. Im still going in to have a talk with them.

[crabbait]

Go with the Toyos. You won't have any more rock damage.

[gottafish]

Go with the Toyos. You won't have any more rock damage.

Thanks for the tip. I wonder if they will do a trade?? Im Disappointed

[StickFish]

King City LS, tore a tire on the van 10k miles - no charge. Course maybe they were just being sweet on my wife

I had problems with Wild Country three plies and not standing up to gravel before - now nothing but six ply or better.

[norms gone fishing too]

i have had to go to the les schwab i john day twice for tires or repair in the past both times they got me out fast and freindly, really fast the time they found out i was up there elk hunting they went out of there way to help.pro rating is the norm for replacement on tires batteries and the such

norm wegner

[ajfishfinder]

If you want some really good service out of the John Day store, next time you need a full set of 4, drive over and buy them in Johnn Day. Years ago I spent many fall days in Heppner between deer, elk and birds I practically lived there. The Heppner Schwabs fixxed me up more than once. When I was ready for a new set, I had a good excuse for a day trip for bird hunting. I made sure a couple weeks prior that they had what I wanted in stock. Then drove out early for some birding. Around lunch time I hit town for the new tires. This also led to some more tips on private land to try. They remember me when I need them now, and appreciate the business.
I often go out of my way to throw business to the small town guys. It helps them out, they don't forget you, and one day they might just be the only place for many miles. I bet the folks in Dufur sure wish now that they had supported "the only" gas station when they had the chance. Now they have to drive an extra 15 miles for a fill-up.
10k in just 3 months sounds like you do some driving. If you were just a hair out of alignment and the tire was abnormaly worn on the inside and this is where the damage is, would you still expect full replacement???

[Spindrifter]

My experience also is they have always prorated for tire wear. Otherwise whenever your tires were getting worn down you could just run them over a pile of broken glass and get yourself a new set. They wouldn't be in business very long....

[Radke]

Go with the Toyos. You won't have any more rock damage.

I'm still a LS fan, but to say Toyo's will give you a rock free ride is not even close to accurate. I've blown at least two Toyo's due to rock damage. One coming down the side of Dixie butte just north of Prairie City, and one on the south fork of the John Day.

I'm almost on a first name basis with LS in John Day.

and they always have pro-rated the tire, which I think is fair.

[JCJ]

Gotta wonder about the prorated part,if you blow a tire with 2000 miles on it,thats a brand new tire.If you went to Costco with that situation,it would cost a dollar for the old tire disposal and that all.No mounting and balancing charge and no questions on how it happened.Granted there are not Costco"s all over like Les but your not going to get bent over on things like this.And I have to laugh at the way Schwabs always goes for the syping on the tires,thats just a bottom line profit maker for them.If you buy a quality tire the factory syping is all you need.Sure guys swear by the syping and how much better it works but have they drove a quality tire before? Even with 10K on the tire it still should have a lot more than 50% left on the tire,so your only going to get 20% on a Schwab tire for how much money?And shouldnt you expect and get the same kind of service from all Schwab locations?Why some good and some so so.They have been known for years for their unbeatable service but maybe the bottom line profit got more important to them than their customers.

[TheRogue]

tire's like anything else....drive it off the lot, and it's immediately worth 30% less, even if you only drive TEN miles! Look at used tires, I just bought a set of Pirrelli tires AND 17" Mustang wheels for $425 shipped to my door; the catch is they are guaranteed to have 10 or less miles on them, still used, though. Buy that from anyone new, you're talking over $1,000 easy.

Pro-rating is always has they've done it, in my memory.

Wanna go with Costco? Fine, but unless something has changed, I don't remember a Costco in John Day, or in 80% of the other places that LS is located.

TR

[puddles]

I've got the toyo m-55's.also live on 2 miles of gravel,and so far no problems.this is my second set.will probably use them again.There probably is no way to be absoulutely sure your tire will not blow out.you hit the wrong rock the wrong way and you could get a blow out.could happen with any tire.

[ICHTHYDEMON]

I think if you read the warranty paperwork you'll find that the "road hazard" warranty doesn't apply to off-road travel.

I think you'll also find that the warranty is pro-rated as already mentioned.

So I guess you're lucky,as the way I read the warranty they didn't have to do warranty the tire at all. They could have told you you have to pay full price.

[Norm]

Thanks for the tip. I wonder if they will do a trade?? Im Disappointed

I have never seen a road hazard tire warrenty that was not pro-rated . I have been buying schwab tires for 25 years, both as a consumer and as a commercial customer, I have always had great service.

I run toyo M-55's but have even rock punctured those, although not as often as most other tire brands. Rock roads are tough on tires, just walk across one with bare feet :shocked:. Be prepared for M55 sticker shock, they are not cheap. I paid ~200.00 per tire last time around (x6 ouch!). The toyo AT's are cheaper but are not as tough as the M55's, and IMO do not wear as well. I have a CTD that weighs 7500LBs empty and I often haul my RV on gravel. Nothing like changing a flat loaded with a camper on muddy gravel road .

[WaterDog]

Look at the tires logger's put on their rigs, it's M-55's because that is tire that takes the abuse. Cheap they are not, $192 each.

[MattPark]

Does no one carry a spare?

Get the M55s or whatever you want at Americas tire, with the free replacement warranty (not a pro rated warranty, for LESS than Les Schwab would charge for the tire with a pro rated warranty). Have a problem? Put your spare on. That's what it's there for.

I used to have trucks that I only used for off roading, and would frequently destroy tires. Take them in, get them replaced, no questions asked. Well, sometimes the guys would ask because they though a tire being damaged like that was cool.

If you somehow need two tires or something like that, find a tire shop nearby. Sure, in WA and OR it's probably going to be a LS if you are out of the bigger cities, but chances are the spare will solve your problems anyways, you can continue what you were doing, and get the tire fixed when you get home.

[PullShootExplode]

I have always ran with LS tires and always will. Sorry you had a bad experience. The only time I have had a problem was on the west side of the state and I truly believe it was because they way my truck looks. Can you say Felony Stop, Very ugly. I have had my LS account for close to 18 yrs. I find that the eastern stores are actually more helpful. Just my .02
Oh yeah I always buy 4 new tires and keep the best of the old for a spare, seems to work for me.

[Just Fish]

I have had nothing but good luck at LS the store here in The Dalles it has very good service.I will not buy tires/ shocks or due a alinement any were else.And a prorated tire wear seems reasonable to me.Can you see the guy coming in to the store with half wore out tires and wanting a new tire because of a damaged tire .

[Tower Todd]

I just replaced a Schwab tire on Friday that was less than 6 weeks old. It was damaged / non repairable due to sidewall damage. The warranty paper that is included in the yellow envelope spells out the warranty comepletly. They will replace a tire with less than 25% tread wear and pro rate for tires with more than 25% tread wear. They replaced mine and never even questioned it. I was at the same store where I purchased it though and they looked up the sale in the computer. I didn't have reciept with me. I had them print me a copy of the original receipt to keep in the vehicle in the instance that I'm claiming the warranty at a different location.
I had competely sworn off Schwab a couple of years ago, but I was in hurry one day and the new branch manager at my local store has taken very good care of me since so I've been going there from time to time. We buy a lot of tires through our business. Discount and Big O are both cheaper to buy new tires from. Just so happens that Schwab is about half the distance so sometimes it makes sense.

Tower Todd

[The Chub]

Road hazzard warranty is always pro rated, and has been since I was in the tire business years ago. All the warranty really states is that they will pro rate your tire for the amount of tread left on it and you will pay the difference. They figure it is better then paying for another tire at full price.

Just an excuse to get more money out of you, but it can help if your running expensive tires.

[ehunter]

Rich I have had to pay for pro rated tires as well. Also my experience in the valley is not good they always tried to sell me 4 ply I have almost had to beg to get 6 ply I use toyo as well they last for ever and I have not had a rock flat in years they are not as agressive as some of their other tires. The valley guys do not think you will ever leave the payment over east or central Oregon they know what rock damage is. So that maybe why you got the wrong tires. I use Les Swab for all the reasons you mentioned and I will go no where else. If you need a tire repair in Eastern Oregon they are all over. Good luck

[baltz526]

And I have to laugh at the way Schwabs always goes for the syping on the tires,thats just a bottom line profit maker for them.If you buy a quality tire the factory syping is all you need.Sure guys swear by the syping and how much better it works but have they drove a quality tire before?

if you lived in an area with ice on the roads 5 months of the year, you would understand the reason for extra siping. we buy the best tires for each vehical, then get them siped. we do not run studs like most, and never have the difficultys the guy's running unsiped quality tires have. experience tells us, siping works. drive several thousand miles every year on slick roads, then tell me siping is worthless. when siping quits gripping, the chains go on.

[gottafish]

Well This is my beef, I bought a 10 ply tire and asked for the best one for gravel road IE hunting/fishing and This is what was recommended. then the guy in JohnDay tells me these are the worst tires for rock damage and that they don't sell that many of them. This was not a rough road it was a graded gravel road. I don't mind the fact that I had to pay pro rated . thats cool I understand. but to find out I spent 900.00 bucks on a tires that are prown to rock damage when that was the exact reason I bought what they recommended Im just a little miffed. I didn't get over to the store I bought them from yet but I want to talk to the manager and see if they will prorate out some different tires that are better than these I mean 10 plys going flat on grated gravel roads seams pretty poor. I am in the woods a lot between cutting firewood and hunting/ not to mention the dechutes river road which is proven to popping tires.

[nativedipper]

That's what a spare is for. To get you back so what if there isn't a Costco close. If your spare will get you to a LS you are on pavement keep going. I've tried Amercia tire's policy that they would match anyones price. When asked they alway say except Costco.

[alaskan]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

if you lived in an area with ice on the roads 5 months of the year, you would understand the reason for extra siping. we buy the best tires for each vehical, then get them siped. we do not run studs like most, and never have the difficultys the guy's running unsiped quality tires have. experience tells us, siping works. drive several thousand miles every year on slick roads, then tell me siping is worthless. when siping quits gripping, the chains go on.

Siping works, period. If you REALLY want traction on icy roads, siped studded tires are the ticket.

[TheTexan]

What is the name brand of the tires you had the problem with? I am getting ready to purchase new 10 ply tires and would appreciate the information.

Thanks!

edit: wild country xts sorry just saw it in the first post!

[The Chub]

Well This is my beef, I bought a 10 ply tire and asked for the best one for gravel road IE hunting/fishing and This is what was recommended. then the guy in JohnDay tells me these are the worst tires for rock damage and that they don't sell that many of them. This was not a rough road it was a graded gravel road. I don't mind the fact that I had to pay pro rated . thats cool I understand. but to find out I spent 900.00 bucks on a tires that are prown to rock damage when that was the exact reason I bought what they recommended Im just a little miffed. I didn't get over to the store I bought them from yet but I want to talk to the manager and see if they will prorate out some different tires that are better than these I mean 10 plys going flat on grated gravel roads seams pretty poor. I am in the woods a lot between cutting firewood and hunting/ not to mention the dechutes river road which is proven to popping tires.

I agree, a 10 ply should not go flat like that just traveling down a rocky road. If you bought those at one of the shops I use to work for, the manager probably would've given you a new one for free. Now days it's all about the dollar and nothing about customer service, or common sense for that matter. Sounds like you got a tire that was screwed from the get go, and the manager should've made it right. I usally run Bridgestone Duelers on all of my 4x4 vehicles and I've never had any problems at all.

[Norm]

Well This is my beef, I bought a 10 ply tire and asked for the best one for gravel road IE hunting/fishing and This is what was recommended. then the guy in JohnDay tells me these are the worst tires for rock damage and that they don't sell that many of them. This was not a rough road it was a graded gravel road. I don't mind the fact that I had to pay pro rated . thats cool I understand. but to find out I spent 900.00 bucks on a tires that are prown to rock damage when that was the exact reason I bought what they recommended Im just a little miffed. I didn't get over to the store I bought them from yet but I want to talk to the manager and see if they will prorate out some different tires that are better than these I mean 10 plys going flat on grated gravel roads seams pretty poor. I am in the woods a lot between cutting firewood and hunting/ not to mention the dechutes river road which is proven to popping tires.

Unless your hauling heavy on gravel all the time I wouldn't sweat it. Flats happen on gravel with any tire brand. I ran my factory Michelin tires for 45K and only had two rock flats. One flat does not make a bad tire. My dad had a rock flat on a brand new M-55 last year, I still bought a set for my truck.

If you want the best I would look at

1. Toyo M55
2. Michelin XPS

Both will run around $200.00 a tire.

[ICHTHYDEMON]

The Toyo M55s are an excellent tire. I went with them last year and am really liking them. They work great in the snow and while they really aren't a mud tire they work well in the mud as well.

As mentioned,they are exspensive. My 10ply 265s were $192 a pop.

[Tower Todd]

Siping = GOOOOOD!