This May Be The Most Luxe Way to Buy… Tires? Les Schwab’s Tires are A+—But the Warranty Is Over the Top
Don't get me wrong, Les Schwab's Reputation 2 tire is an excellent (but expensive) tire. What you're really paying for, though, is the almost-too-good-to-be-true warranty.
Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area helped me grow accustomed to rough, gnarly roads. It taught me two things: first, that your suspension parts will wear out faster, so you have to pay attention; and second, that you have to invest in good tires. My family was a Michelin family for years for this reason.
Then I was introduced to Les Schwab’s designed-in-house tire, the Reputation 2 all-season tire. The Les Schwab Reputation 2 All‑Season tire is made by Continental and designed by Les Schwab engineers, so they’re quiet, smooth, and grippy. Still, its warranty is what caught my attention. It’s a no‑nonsense warranty that removes the mental stress from tire ownership.
If you felt your eyes gloss over, don’t worry—I’ll explain it, without all the jargon. But jot these terms down: 80,000‑mile warranty, road hazard protection, and free maintenance, all handled directly through Les Schwab. No middleman, no back-and-forth phone calls, no hassle.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. Les Schwab provided me with a set of Reputation 2 tires, but all opinions and impressions are my own.
First, Let’s Talk About the Tires
What makes the Les Schwab Reputation 2 tires interesting is that they blends two very different strengths: Continental’s manufacturing expertise and Les Schwab’s real‑world design priorities. Continental builds the tire, but the tread pattern, siping layout, tread pattern and performance goals come directly from Les Schwab’s in‑house product team. The result is a tire that feels engineered for everyday drivers.
I had mine installed in October of last year, so I faced a lot of cold rain. The tire feels planted in the rain, with confident braking and stable cornering even when the pavement is slick or uneven. The interlocking tread blocks and aggressive siping—both part of Les Schwab’s design—help the tire maintain traction when you need to stop quickly, change lanes to avoid a distracted driver, or navigate a wet on‑ramp (ask me how I know…). It’s not a sporty tire, but it delivers the kind of predictable, reassuring handling that matters when you’re driving kids to school or commuting through unpredictable weather.
Overall, the Reputation 2 delivers a calm, confident driving experience. It’s quiet without feeling soft, grippy without feeling harsh, and stable in the kinds of real‑world conditions most drivers face every day, all year long. The only time it didn’t feel like the best choice was when I had to briefly drive off-road. But, they’re all-season tires, so… They’re not made for off-roading.
Next is Price. They’re Not Cheap, But That’s the Point
The Reputation 2 sits at the top end of the all‑season tire price spectrum. For my Subaru Forester’s 225/55R17 size, the tire runs $258.99 per tire. That’s a meaningful jump compared to other well‑known all‑season options from Bridgestone, Michelin and BFGoodrich. The Bridgestone Turanza AS costs $238.99 per tire, Michelin’s Defender2 is $206.99, and the BFGoodrich Advantage Control AS runs about $189.99 per tire for that size.
If the tires are made by Continental, why are the Reputation 2 tires so expensive? Well, because the warranty miles ahead of the aforementioned brands (pun intended). To grossly oversimplify pages of legal terms and disclaimers, a tire’s warranty is typically broken up into two parts: the manufacturer’s warranty, which is limited and usually covers things like a product or material defect. The second part is a retailer’s add on, like road hazard protection, repair warrantys, and replacements, depending on the retailer.
For instance, if you bought Michelin tires from Costco, all the fancy protections, like flat repairs, free rotation and balancing, and more, come from Costco—not Michelin. If you got a flat because of a pothole, Costco would take that on. Michelin would only step in if the damage to the tire is because of a manufacturer defect. Makes sense?
How Les Schwab’s Warranty is Different (And Better!)
Les Schwab’s warranty is, truly, an all-in-one package. You don’t have to contact the manufacturer to get anything repaired, replaced, or serviced. I lived in Oregon when I had them installed—which was an incredible, professional, and quick service, by the way—and when I told the company I was moving to California, I was told, “Oh, that’s great! There are tons of storefronts that could help you if you ever need it.”
And that’s when it hit me. Even though I moved states, because I had them installed at a Les Schwab site, I could have them serviced or repaired at any Les Schwab. So, if I took a road trip to any state with a Les Schwab and I hit a pothole, because that purchase includes road hazard protection (unlike other tire companies that require that to be an add-on from a retailer), all I’d have to do is take it to a Les Schwab. That’s it.
I’m not kidding when I say this: there isn’t another tire company that beats that warranty. Les Schwab also has an 80,000 mile treadware warranty, too, so if they wear faster than normal, they can replaced at no cost to you. For many drivers—especially those who don’t want to research warranty fine print—that bundled, no‑nonsense approach is a huge selling point.
Would I Say The Heightened Cost is Worth It? It Depends
If you’re the type who loves comparing treadwear ratings, reading warranty PDFs, finding the best deal across multiple retailers, and you don’t mind back-and-forth calls between the tire shop and the tire company, you can absolutely save money with Michelin, BFGoodrich, or Bridgestone.
But if you want a tire that performs well with a warranty that’s both easy to use and interpret with a single point of contact, road hazard protection built-in, treadware warranties, and free service and repairs, the Reputation 2 tires make an extremely compelling case.
As someone who lives in California, where the roads are notoriously terrible, it means a lot to me knowing that if (and when) I face damage from a pothole or construction site, having that repaired and handled will be easy. That’s not a term I’m used to using, especially when it comes to tires.
So, it really comes down to putting a price on peace of mind. It’s all worth it to me. Just make sure to keep up with your rotations and balancing appointments, or that wonderful warranty can be voided. But, since it’s free and easy, that shouldn’t be a problem.
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