We got a Les Schwab tire store locally (70 miles away) about a year ago. I took my truck this time, which I rarely do. I noticed it pulling so while my wife was shopping next door at Menards, I brought the truck in for an alignment and then walked back over to Menards while the work was being done. I little while later I received a phone call and was told that my right front hub was bad and needed to be replaced. I had just had some other front end work preformed by my local mechanic and he never mentioned it. At first I declined the service but then I told them I told them to go ahead and do the work and I walked back over. As I entered the store I heard another customer being told that his right front hub needed to be replaced as well. Coincidental???! Is Les Schwab a reputable company?
Les Schwab, reputable company?
- Thread starter otis24
- Start date
What can anyone say. Do they have a reputation for finding unneeded work?
Several years ago when my son was stationed at NAS Whidbey Island he took his car in for a front brake job, and came back with an estimate that blew my mind. He called me and asked what I thought and I told him to hold off. I went to visit him and did an $650 brake job for $35 plus the lift rental fee at the Hobby Shack on the Navy base. There were lots of parts they were going to "replace" that imo were not needed. He drove the car another 3 years and sold it after my brake job.
Funny story years ago a coworker took his jeep cherokee to them for something they also found a he needed a bunch of new front suspension parts... long list. He told them guess you can do it for free under your warranty because he just paid them big $$$$ in the last year to go through the front suspension. The counter guy went to talk to the manger eventually the counter guy came back and said they had a mix up on vehicles his jeep cherokee was fine. Kind of hard to mix a red jeep cherokee with another vehicle... unless? You be the judge.
I have prices shopped and less Schwab was very high priced for the exact same tires compared to other places around.
Overpriced but they are known for customer service. They were a proud Oregon institution. The family sold to private equity after Les passed away. His kids didn’t want anything to do with their dad’s business.
Around that same time, Discount Tire expanded into Oregon - especially in the Portland metro.
Around that same time, Discount Tire expanded into Oregon - especially in the Portland metro.
High prices and oversell work, just like most chain repair shops. Stay far away unless its a lifetime alignment or something.
When Les was alive, I think they were decently run. Their top tire line was Toyo. A good tire. And they had fair prices, and weren't looking to gouge every customer that walked in the door.
Now, they are owned by a California investment fund. They got rid of their one standout tire line in Toyo, and went all in on 3rd tier tires, at more than 1st tier tire prices. Yes, definitely watch out for the wallet-flush upsells on repairs that likely aren't needed.
Now, they are owned by a California investment fund. They got rid of their one standout tire line in Toyo, and went all in on 3rd tier tires, at more than 1st tier tire prices. Yes, definitely watch out for the wallet-flush upsells on repairs that likely aren't needed.
Sounds like Tire Kingdom.
Amazing friendly service. But prices have always seemed high to me. When there's a sale it's better. In terms of unnecessary work being sold, probably depends on the location and specific tire tech. Quite honestly, I wouldn't trust many (any?) places that do mostly tires to touch anything else on my car. Unless it's a car I don't care about. There used to be a tire shop that did a lot of mechanic work as well. They did some work for me. Installed a new exhaust cam in a Honda for a super cheap price compared to anywhere else and warrantied it very nicely. But they were locally known for solid mechanics and prices.
Does Les Schwab sell anything but store brand tires? Many years ago, I went in to a Les Schwab store to get some tires. I already had a specific tire in mind, and had a good idea how much it should cost. They didn't offer that tire or brand, but instead only offered me tire options that were made specifically for Les Schwab.
They sold Toyo for the price of Michelin - and no, not Costco pricing. Their pricing was closer to Big O.
......and Monro (whatever their new name is.)
Yep, the family killed the company. Pretty sure I only bought one set of tires from them over the many years, they did have some deals from time to time on snows (not often)
To this day when my local Discount Tire hustles (they do, great store) - the standard is the old Les Schwab. Zero reason to go there now.
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2025
30 years the only thing I have gotten from them is lawn mower tires and alignments. The Poulsbo Les Schwab has a guy that does the best alignments I have ever have.
