Corey

iTrader: (1)

Long day.
Left for work at 3:20 am, got home tonight at 6:30 PM.

Left work around 2:15 PM heading down highway 5 South.
I saw a huge metal spike in the road and just knew I was going to hit it.
I ran over it with the right rear tire and felt it hard.

Looked in my rear view mirror and I kicked it in the air about 5 feet or so, and it was heading right towards a pickup behind me.
Pulled over as I felt the flat coming on.

I must say this is the first flat ever in the 4Runner since I got it November of '98.

Got the spare down and noticed it was almost flat :cry:
And of course it is a 231 size tire, not a 31x10.5x15 like my Les Schwab Wild Country TXR tire.

The flat was shot, as it had a 4" rip on the inside wall.
Limped to the next exit during rush hour at 25 MPH and hit a station to get air.
Bummer I had to sell my Power Tank several months back.

Got to Schwab, asked abut a road hazard warranty on my tires, and they do not keep records.
Of course the yellow envelope they give you was at home in one of my many drawers in my bedroom.
From now on they are staying in the truck next time I get all new tires.

They rang me up for around $170 or so which included having the tire sipped.
These are not cheap tires, and they are worth every penny, and I will explain why.

Got these tires back around 2000, and here it is 2005.
After I told them I had been shopping there for 15 years, and that the manager had sold me my first set, they checked how much tread was left on the flat.
Something like 13/32?

These tires wear like iron, this is why I have bought two sets already, and will again to replace these.
Needless to say, these 5 year old tires were almost as good as new, and they said I qualified for a free replacement.
How frickin' sweet is that? :bounce2:

They refunded me my money, and I did not even get charged for the sipping which is around $12.
This is why I buy all my tires from Les Schwab, and will never consider another store or brand of tire.
A tire that is 5 years old, gets driven daily to and from work, and qualifies almost as a new tire is excellent in my book.

wimpywade94

funny, i had those same tires in a 32X11.5 and they were to fastest wearing tire i have ever seen, i belive i only had 19K or therabouts on them before they were WAY gone, mabey thats good for an offroad tire, but i was much happier with my bfg mt's,

although the txr's were an awsome offroad tire.
wade

Tacoma Dude

Very cool Corey!


Always cool to get awesome customer appreciation like that, especially from a chain!

mytruck

I'm happy to hear that the only damage was to one of your tires. Road debris can be very dangerous.
No doubt about it...Les Schwab is about as good as it gets these days for customer service.

Jim

Corey

iTrader: (1)

Thanks Peter.

Wade, not sure why yours wore out so fast.
My last alignment and tire balance was like 4 years ago too.
My tires are out of balence now, as I can feel it.

What did you have yours pumped up to?
I carry 34 to 35 at all times in mine, except off road they go down to 16 to 18 PSI.

Even my first set was perfect, so why did I buy this set 5 years ago?
To run the older ones with winter wheels during the crappy season.
I ended up selling them two years ago though to pay bills.

One thing I am going to save up for when I get back to Boeing is another set of these, and retire the current set of tires and my Centerlines for winter use only.

Looking at 2 types of wheels.
Either a black steel fake beadlock, or aluminum fake beadlocks.
I like the looks of them.

Jim with as loud as it hit, I should check for other damage when I get a chance.
It may have banged up against the back of the brake drum.
I saw it coming, could not avoid it fast enough.

Oh, and the guy washed all of my tires and scrubbed the wheels.
To bad the rest of the rig is a :pig: right now.

Glenn

Which LS store was it? I have had some pretty good service from different stores around the south sound area.

I always position my spare under the truck so I can access the valvestem easily. When I check my tires for correct inflation, it's fairly easy to check the spare and add air if necessary. I keep it at 5 lbs above the other tires. For some reason, it has never leaked in the 5 years it's been under there. I have never had to use it. A flat spare tire is a completely avoidable inconvenience.

Corey

iTrader: (1)

The one down by you and me Glenn, South Auburn.
That is the same place I have been going to since '91.
Before that, it was the one in Kent.

Corey

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, been meaning to since I had the rig to lower that thing and check the condition of it.

I did not mention that it is almost bald.
It does not even qualify as legal.

Another thing to buy on my list of many things to get in the future.

Yoda

Hey Corey,
I have a used but very legal 31/10.50-15 tire you can have. I might even mount it for you.

Glenn

If your main four tires are in good shape, you can save money by getting a used spare. I got a recap tire from a used tire warehouse. I'm trying to remember where it is ... I think on highway 99 south of the Federal Way Costco. It's on the east side as you drive south toward Fife? Been several years since I have been by there. Anyway, I got a 31x10.50 Goodyear recap installed and balanced for only $15. It has only lost a pound or two in the 5-6 years I have had it.

Corey

iTrader: (1)

Dave, thanks for the offer, but it would not work with my rig.
Glenn, same problem with a 31" tire.

You see, my rig came stock with the tiny 231 sized tires, thus the spare tire hanger setup is made for that size tire.
A 31" tire would not mount under there, and I do not want to carry one up in the roof rack.

I will end up getting a used one somewhere to put back up under the rig.
SR5 trucks and 4Runners that had the 31" tire option have a different tire hanger setup underneath.

UNLIMITED96

we use a franchised les schwab down the street,
they give us excellent prices and this month is FREE BEEF time.

no complaints on there service, i wouldn't recommend buying brakes
or batteries, they are very cheap ( crap )

Corey

iTrader: (1)

My battery is a Les Schwab "Optima" red top copy, and has been going strong for around 6 years now.

Glenn

I didn't know the carrier was different. FWIW, my truck didn't come with 4.56 gears and 31" tires. It's not an SR5 either. I have had no issues fitting the 31" tire on the spare tire hanger.

justpassinbye

i liek discount tire, aka american tire... they have an awesome warrenty.. it costs about 24 dollars for an offroad tirewarrenty, and they will fix a flat, or remount if you get it off the bead for free.. and if they cant fix it or its on the sidewall you get it replaced for about 35 dollars, in ANY condition.. and iv ridden tires 20 miels back offroad damn near down to rim. 25 for the warrenty, and 10 for the remounting.
workd for me.. seeing as hwo iv gotten 1200 dollars worth of tires in 2 months. and the warrenty is country wide...
i paid 800 dollars for 32x11.5 BFG mt's wich are an awesome tire for any condition if you dont mind the 35 bux every once in awhile to keep em new. but i use myne HARSH. like daily runs of up to 30 miles at 40+ on hard packed dirt or river bed with full drifitng action and lots of lost traction with full throttle. the tires are awesome. wouldnt recomend them unless you do a lot off offroading..
these days id recomend just shell out the money and get a new rim and tire set up.. and stick with some cheap A/Ts on your stock rims for doing whatever...

v8sport4runner

Corey, I couldnt agree more about the TXR's. I had a set on my Rodeo and they kicked ass. They charge thru the snow and mud like a champ. I sold the car with about 35,000 miles on the tires and they still looked practically new. I am definitely buying a set for my 4runner before the winter.

muddy_feet

I've ran Wild Country's on my '86 yota pickup 33x12.50 and '94 4runner, I've had the set on my 4runner since '01. I've put around 50,000 and still good as new, 31x10.50. I'm just waiting for them to wear out, so I can go with the MT and not the AT. My dad also has them on his '94 yota pickup 31x10.50 and '90 Full size Blazer 32x11.50.

Mickdady

Here is why I try to buy my tires at Les Shwab.

About 3 months ago I went in for new Toyos. I put the 275s on when I got home and took a better look at it, I didn't like them, they were too skinny. So I went back to les shwab to see how bad they were going to hit me to change them out for a fatter tire. NO CHARGE. Even the siping was free!

I couldn't believe it. I told the salesman how much I appreciated it and that I was a little embarrassed to make them put another set on after 1 day. His response...."just remember us when you are ready for 285s".

One more reason I shop at shwab is the way they treat their employees. They invest a lot back into their employees and it shows.

lee

damn, thats great service!

i just went to their site and of course they arent in the northeast...

Corey

iTrader: (1)

What is it about these tires (TXRs) that makes them last so long?
I also dig the low deep song they play from about 20 to 60 MPH.

Yeah, rack up the miles on them, and they still look brand new tread wise.
For sure I will be going with them again.
Will be my 3rd set on this rig.