Getting an oil change or buying new tires are two such tasks that should not be put off, but are often hard to schedule time for.

Anyone who has gone to a quick lube shop on the weekend knows that while the actual oil change may take 30 minutes or less, the wait to get into a service bay can be much longer. The same can be true for a tire change, which is timed in NASCAR with a stopwatch, but in my car with a sundial.

Besides, does anyone really want to give up even a small part of a weekend or extend the workday just to get these things done? While the wait is usually shorter in the middle of the day, not many bosses are going to give employees time off every 3,000 miles to keep the engine purring.

Reliable Tire Service in Henderson has come up with a solution to these problems. Instead of asking customers to come to the garage, they take the garage to their customers.

With a custom trailer that is basically a mobile garage, the company can replace a set of tires or do an oil change in minutes, for about the same cost as a garage.

An economy oil change is just under $30, with additional services such as tire rotation and fluid level checks available for an additional cost.

"Keeping the oil changed is so important and it's easy to let it go too long," owner Mitch Sneck said. "We really think we've tapped into something that there is a real need for here."

Tire prices vary based on size and model, and Sneck said he uses three wholesalers to get the best price possible. He admits that he doesn't have the buying power of some of the larger chains, but points out that he also doesn't have the overhead that they do.

"We think we can come pretty close on price and we are a lot more convenient," Sneck said.

Whether it's an office worker, a mom who doesn't want to drag a passel of kids to the garage or a company with a fleet of vehicles, the concept of being able to get routine auto maintenance done without sacrificing time seems to have a lot of appeal.

Sneck, 51, opened a trophy shop in Henderson after he retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel in 2002. After the shop got up and running, Sneck began looking for a new challenge and purchased Reliable Tire Service last year.

At that time, the company was providing local collision shops with refurbished tires and rims, but Sneck was worried that the business was relying too much on a few key clients and looked to diversify.

Sneck and his service manager, Cory Baxter, recognized that one of the biggest challenges facing people who live in a 24-hour city is that many service businesses still keep traditional hours. The concept of bringing routine vehicle maintenance services to customers, whether at work or at home just made sense.

Baxter, who previously worked for another tire service in the valley, said among the biggest complaints of customers was finding the time to get service done and having to wait at the shop.

"People have a lot going on and just don't have the time to do everything anymore," Baxter said.

In April, the company added the mobile unit and began offering the on-site oil change service and tires sales and installation to customers. Sneck said he considered offering additional services but was concerned that quality and convenience, the primary benefits of his business, would suffer.

"We would rather focus on a few things and do them very well," he said.

As with most any start-up business, Sneck said the biggest challenge has been getting the word out.

Advertising has been primarily limited to mailers so far and Sneck said the response has been pretty good. He said companies with fleet vehicles, which can rack up a lot of miles quickly and require frequent oil changes have been very receptive. He said he has also gotten good word-of-mouth response.

"Once people find out about us and try the service, they are hooked and they are spreading the word," Sneck said.

Service hours are primarily weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but Sneck said he will accept weekend appointments, with adequate notice. Appointments can be made by calling 221-7059 or through the company Web site at www.reliabletireservice.com.