Les Schwab Tire Center, Helena MT

I have used Les Schwabs in various states for over 19 years. One year ago I purchased tires with a 65,000 mile warranty. Ever since these tires were installed, i have had to air them every few weeks. I took my car back in today, and was told that my tires are no good, the tread is too worn, and although i had only put 19,000 miles on them, that they will not honor their warranty, claiming that my warranty is void because I have an AWD car and the tires should have been rotated, even though my car is clearly 2WD (front wheel drive). After I told them my car is 2WD, they then tried to say they wouldnt stand by their warranty because my car needs an alignment (a switch of reasons from what they originally told me when I told her my car isnt AWD).

Their tires were expensive, did not last anymore than a year, and should have been under warranty for another 46,000 miles. The product they sold me did not last, and their customer service person did not know the difference between a 2WD or AWD vehicle and changed the reason for not standing by their warranty. (The warranty states if its customer neglect, or Alignment issues then the warranty is void, so when customer neglect wouldn't hold up, they changed the reason to another illegitimate one).

Furthermore, I had asked at the time of drop off for a credit application. The gentleman was very helpful/friendly, and was going to grab one, when a lady from the back told him no, and that i needed to fill out the application online “because its easier”. I asked if it was easier for her, or easier for the customer. At which point she said easier for both, because its an instant approval.

When I went to pickup my car, this same lady refused to give me my car keys, and said “well, I guess next time you wont call me lazy”.

I asked for my keys 3 times, before another gal came around, took my keys from her, and gave them to me.

I spoke with the manager about the incident, and he said he's sorry, she was having a bad morning because they are so busy, and that they usually get compliments on her.

This employee withheld my car keys because she felt slighted, and refused to return them until another employee took them from her, and the management shrugged the incident off as “its a busy season, and she was already having a bad morning”.

I have bought countless sets of tires from this company, along with car batteries, alignments, wheels, etc over a two-decade period without incident, and always superb customer service, but this particular location is lacking in customer service standards, and in holding their employees accountable.

I am making an alternate appointment at a location 5 hours away, where customer service is top-notch, and they have provided superb service for two decades, and truly take care of their customers, and stand by their warranties and products, and also maintain a knowledgeable staff that knows the difference between an AWD & 2WD vehicle, a point that is extremely important in this industry.

I see consistent poor reviews at this location over the past several months, with a drop in their ratings.

The corporate office consistently refers complaints back to the store manager, even though the complaintants have clearly already given the store manager the opportunity to rectify the complaint.

Hopefully they get it together soon. Im going to make a positive review for the other location, where they really do provide excellent customer service, and would never shrug off an employee vindictively withholding a persons keys, or quickly change reasons on why they wont stand by their warranty.

Called to make an appointment for a tire alignment and rotation. We were told it would be about 45 mins barring any complications. After waiting an hour and half we asked the staff if our truck was ready as we had to get home in time to get our daughter from school. They said it was just coming off the rack and it wouldn't be much longer. We waited about 10 more minutes (total wait time is now 1 hour and 40 mins) when they told us they didn't do the alignment, just the rotation. We had a heavy load in the back of our Ford 350 and it would disrupt the alignment process. Instead of letting us know upfront and giving us the option to decide to come back when our truck didn't have the extra weight, they made us WASTE an HOUR and 40 minutes waiting in their building. There was no apology offered or any explanation as to why there was ABSOLUTELY NO COMMUNICATION about our alignment. I have never been so angry and confused at the lack of professionalism, common sense and decency. I wish I could leave 1000 bad reviews! Needless to say we will never be returning to Les Schwab.

Very professional and they know tires. Just don't let them do mechanical work on your front end.

I want to thank Paul Howell and the crew at Les Schwab Tires in Helena. My wife was runninglate to pick up her sisters at the Bozman airport and had a tire problem on the way. Called Paul and he had her in and out in minutes. You will never get this level of service at a Costco or Discount Tire. Paul, thanks to you and your crew for your help. Will see you guys next month for new tires.

I showed up 10 minutes before closing with a tire with a cut sidewall, they helped me get a whole new set of tires and they stayed late to install them and get me on my way. Thank you very much Les Schwab!

I’m traveling through MT 22 hours from home. As I come off a mountain road I notice my tire pressure decreasing. I hobble in from 15 miles away. The guys took care of my tire and wished me the best! What great guys! You definitely should use these guys, professional and proficient at their work!

We purchased new tires this company in a different state and less than 10 months later they were splitting and going flat. We purchased 4 new tires again from the Helena store and 6 months later they all had gone flat and they would not replace it discount new ones. The ‘patched’ them 4 times and within days they were flat again. The workmanship and quality provided by this company is terrible. Save your money and time and go elsewhere.

I was driving back from Salt Lake City and notified a screw that was stuck in my tire. I called Les Schwab in Helena, they were very informative and got me in right away. They were quick and got me back on the road in less than an hour. I will always take my business with Les Schwab!

Excellent customer service except for the fella whom drove my vehicle out of the shop. What is this, Ferris Bueller's Day Off? There's absolutely no need to drive my vehicle like it's your personal hotrod. If not for "that guy" I would have happily given this experience 5 stars.

I used to go here but have found other shops are much more honest. I took my truck in, I get a phone call from them trying to sell me 2400 dollars in bull, I get another phone call saying the tire rotation is done. I get there and they want me to set up an appointment for their scam work. I go back to work and look in the back of my truck and my wheel spacers are in the back. Why would they throw parts in the back of my truck and decide not to put them back on without a phone call. I now have to make another appointment at a real customer service shop to get my pieces put back together. Never going back, my time is way more valuable than have to go to another shop every time I go to this one.

They fixed my flat for free and I didn't even buy my tires there. I will definitely be coming back to get any of my future tire and wheel needs met. Thank you Les Schwab

I called and spoke with Paul (the manager) prior to this review to give him a chance to rectify the situation - he was not interested.
I sent my 17 year old son down to get his truck aligned after getting new tires installed. Les Schwab aligned the truck and then told him he needed a new front hub for $475.00.
This is fine, and apparently the truck does need a hub. The issue I have is, it's not possible to correctly align a front end if the vehicle has a bad hub.they assured me it was "correct". I hope they don't think that is accurate?
When I pressed them on this (2 different follow up phone calls) they assured me it was correct - but reminded me I could bring the truck in again after installing the hub and pay another $99.00 to have it re-aligned.
There are 2 sides to every story and I'm sure they will respond to this review with their version.
I just want everyone to know how they do business - you decide for yourself if this is where you want to do business.

If I could give the guys at LA schwab at Helena Montana a 110 stars I would tonight they definitely earned it. I found a screw I'm my tire and called les schwab as fast as I could minutes before closing and they took me in with smiling faces thank you jennifer, Josh, and crew

I always love coming here. This company really knows how to gain customer retention. I feel like my business is truly appreciated and that my car will get the care it deserves. This place is worth every penny. I think it's safe to say I'm a loyal Les Schwab customer for life

AJ and crew are amazing. The new GMC sierra 1500 AT4 has an odd brake caliper which makes it tough to fit after market rims. Research and persistence prevailed. Thanks to The Helena Schwab crew for their expertise and professionalism.

I took my car in to get winter tires put on because I was doing some emergency traveling over the weekend out of town and would be hitting some icy roads. Before I had driven 4 miles, I already had a flat. Thankfully, I needed gas so I was still driving in town and not the interstate yet. Les Schwab had not tightened the air valves on either passenger side tire. If I had been on the interstate and both had gone flat, I very possibly would have been in a fatal accident. They also had the tire pressure at 40 for all tires instead of 32. I will NEVER go back and recommend you don’t either.

Rolled into town on a trip with a nearly flat tire. They took me right in and got it patched up in no time. So grateful they helped me in a pinch!

Notice I had a flat at work, tried to put air in the tire, but I wasn't getting air in it. So I took it down the road to les schwab. I do not recommend driving on a flat, my tire still had enough air to drive 5 mins down the road without effecting the wheel. Also I have big A/T that are new. So please don't attempt this, use a spare or get it towed.

Anyways, there was a wait, I wait about a hour and half. But I was expecting that going in a 4pm. When everyone usually getting off work.

The staff where very friendly and once they got my tire off the fully checked it, found the problem and had me out the door with no charge for the service. No I didn't buy my tires from them, just great customer service. Will be back again like usual. I been going to them since 2013.

Purchased 4 tires and asked about the time frame. They said 1 hr was almost 2. Just be up front so we know what to do around that time.