Les Schwab to buy Plains Tire

An 80-year-old Wyoming tire company will be purchased by a newcomer to the state that had opened its first tire center in 2019.

Les Schwab Tire Centers announced Monday its intent to purchase Pains Tire Company for an undisclosed sum. The sale is anticipated to close in August and encompasses the nine stores Plains Tire operates in the state, including two locations in Green River and Rock Springs.

Plains Tire has operated in Wyoming since 1941. The Plains Tire owner Larry Nicholls said the Oregon-based Les Schwab is the right buyer at the time rime.

“Plains Tire is strong because our hard-working employees provide the excellent service our customers rely on,” Nicholls said. “Being part of Les Schwab, a company consistently rated the best in the tire industry, will create even more opportunity for our people, and I know our employees, customers and communities will be well cared for. I don’t believe I could have found a better partner than Les Schwab to sell our family’s company to, and I’m excited to watch these stores grow and flourish,” Nicholls said in a press release.

Les Schwab CEO Jack Cuniff said the company planned to expand its footprint in Wyoming after the 2019 opening of its first Wyoming location in Rock Springs. He said adding a strong company like Plains Tire allows Les Schwab to speed up its expansion into the state.

Dale Thompson, Les Schwab’s chief marketing officer, said the purchase is a great fit for Les Schwab as both companies started as small-town tire shops. Les Schwab started in Oregon in 1952.

The purchase has been in the works for the past several months according to Thompson.

The purchase creates a situation in Rock Springs where the company will own two tire shops, which Thompson said would operate as they have following the sale’s closure.

A press release from Les Schwab states there will not be any immediate changes to the Plains Tire locations as Les Schwab evaluates how to integrate the two companies. Dale said Les Schwab wants to keep all of the employees from Plains Tire as well.

“We want to keep every single one of them ... we hope they stay on and take advantage of what we can offer them,” Thompson said.

Les Schwab operates more than 500 locations in 10 western states and employs more than 7,000 workers. Corey Parks, Les Schwab’s chief administrative officer said the company is looking for other opportunities to purchase existing companies.

“We believe we are an outstanding partner for well-run, highly respected tire dealers who want to see their employees, customers and business well taken care of, and want to grow together with our company,” Parks said in a press release.