Tire service recommendation - near Portland, OR
Had a pleasant expirience today at Love's Truck Tire Care center @ 400 NW Frontage Rd, Troutdale, OR. Around 20 miles east of downtown Portland off I-84. If you've been in this area, Love's bought the Flying J that use to be here, and they still have dedicated RV fueling, propane, separate diesel lanes, showers, a store, etc. The tire center is over in the trucking area.
I had purchased a couple steer tires from Amazon, RoadLux branded tires (manufactured in China, under technical collaboration from Dunlop), and was unsuccessful getting local tire shops to mount them. I stopped by three places in the area and they either couldn't handle 22.5" tires/wheels, or like Les Schwab, wouldn't install tires they didn't sell. One shop could change them but had no way to balance them. And steer tires must be balanced. Size I'm installing are 255/70R22.5 @ $200 each, an almost exact replacement for the Michelin 235/80R22.5 XRV I'm removing.
(It wasn't convenient calling around first, finding a shop to install them, then having the tires shipped directly to the shop. I'll most likely do it that way next time I need tires, if I can).
On the way home, I thought I would stop at the Love's, and I'm happy I did. When I pulled in, they were a little reluctant to do the job, not because of where I bought the tires but because it's a RV. They had to call the boss. They couldn't reach him, but after I assured them I was easy going and wouldn't whine about a scratch or two on the chrome hub caps, they assured me that wasn't the reason. It is because some RV chassis' require special tooling they don't have. But once I told them it's a Freightliner, they went ahead and started the job. Turned out they did have the tooling for that chassis. The tech did use my assistance in locating the two locking lug nuts holding the hub caps on.
They appreciated that I volunteered using my jacks to lift the RV, and I appreciated being able to wander around the shop asking questions. They also crawled under the rear of the rig and got the DOT dates off all the other tires for me.
When they totaled up the charges, it came to a grand total of $108. That's $40 installation of each tire, balanced, $7 each new tire stems (recommended change out), $10 disposal of the 10 year old tire I was replacing (the other one is only 6 yo so I'm keeping it), $4 shop supplies. Not bad. I found all their prices very reasonable. No tax in Oregon either. They also sell big tires, and the tire guys are big rig mechanics.
So if you're in the Troutdale area, and are looking for somewhere to have tire work done, I'd recommend these nice, capable folks. Since it's a truck tire shop, don't be in a hurry.
I had purchased a couple steer tires from Amazon, RoadLux branded tires (manufactured in China, under technical collaboration from Dunlop), and was unsuccessful getting local tire shops to mount them. I stopped by three places in the area and they either couldn't handle 22.5" tires/wheels, or like Les Schwab, wouldn't install tires they didn't sell. One shop could change them but had no way to balance them. And steer tires must be balanced. Size I'm installing are 255/70R22.5 @ $200 each, an almost exact replacement for the Michelin 235/80R22.5 XRV I'm removing.
(It wasn't convenient calling around first, finding a shop to install them, then having the tires shipped directly to the shop. I'll most likely do it that way next time I need tires, if I can).
On the way home, I thought I would stop at the Love's, and I'm happy I did. When I pulled in, they were a little reluctant to do the job, not because of where I bought the tires but because it's a RV. They had to call the boss. They couldn't reach him, but after I assured them I was easy going and wouldn't whine about a scratch or two on the chrome hub caps, they assured me that wasn't the reason. It is because some RV chassis' require special tooling they don't have. But once I told them it's a Freightliner, they went ahead and started the job. Turned out they did have the tooling for that chassis. The tech did use my assistance in locating the two locking lug nuts holding the hub caps on.
They appreciated that I volunteered using my jacks to lift the RV, and I appreciated being able to wander around the shop asking questions. They also crawled under the rear of the rig and got the DOT dates off all the other tires for me.
When they totaled up the charges, it came to a grand total of $108. That's $40 installation of each tire, balanced, $7 each new tire stems (recommended change out), $10 disposal of the 10 year old tire I was replacing (the other one is only 6 yo so I'm keeping it), $4 shop supplies. Not bad. I found all their prices very reasonable. No tax in Oregon either. They also sell big tires, and the tire guys are big rig mechanics.
So if you're in the Troutdale area, and are looking for somewhere to have tire work done, I'd recommend these nice, capable folks. Since it's a truck tire shop, don't be in a hurry.
