Tyre prices

[TW]Fox

[TW]Fox

[TW]Fox

Man of Honour
Joined
17 Oct 2002
Posts
160,221
There is no purpose to this thread other than a mini-rant. Deep down I am fully versed in the workings of supply and demand but that doesnt stop me fancying a damn good whinge.

Is it me or have tyre prices gone bonkers lately? I can't find tyres for under £200 fitted, a few years back I was paying £160 fitted for the same tyres :(

And does anyone else find the pricing structures bizarre? A 235/45/17 AS2 is £105, yet a 265/35/18 AS2 is £100 more expensive. Is there really twice as much rubber in the slightly larger tyre?

Grrrrr.
 
My boss was talking about this recently, he needs 16" tyres on his car and he said that his tyres have gone up more than 30% in the last year alone.

He does between 30-45k per year so tyres can start to become very expensive especially for decent ones.

I think motoring in general is becoming ridiculously expensive.
 
[TW]Fox;20328488 said:
And does anyone else find the pricing structures bizarre? A 235/45/17 AS2 is £105, yet a 265/35/18 AS2 is £100 more expensive. Is there really twice as much rubber in the slightly larger tyre?
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A few months ago i thought tyre prices had gone up, but now they seem quite reasonable? I can get a fully set of AS2's for £570 from Camskill. In Feb when i got my CS3's i think Camskill were asking for £630. Fair enough, different tyre, but still comparable.

RE: the size thing - i can only assume they realise that normally 265 tyres go on expensive cars like Mercedes, Porches and BMW's - and therefore think that owners of these cars can afford this kind of money.
 
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Mine have been the same price for the past 3 years. Well give or take a few quid difference but I've not had a reason to moan about Sessanta price differences since I started using them (and most likely will continue using them on every car for years to come!).
 
Gaygle said:
RE: the size thing - i can only assume they realise that normally 265 tyres go on expensive cars like Mercedes, Porches and BMW's - and therefore think that owners of these cars can afford this kind of money.
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it's a slightly obscure size but seeing as the manufacturer will have made the mould donkeys years ago, the costs will have been recouped over and over. could be a case of hitting the german drivers.
 
Sessantas went up to goodyear F1 prices about 1 year back so i fail to see why anyone would go for the Sessantas, other than that tyre prices in my size have slowley being climbing over the years.
 
I always had a little rage when 205 45 costs more than 215 45 for most of the tyres why there is more rubber in the damn 215 makes no sense.
 
Mine are about £60 a pop so not bad at all.

What I hate is that you cannot get original Re010 or even the good Hankook RS2s anymore!

AD08 or PE2 next!
 
Gaygle said:
RE: the size thing - i can only assume they realise that normally 265 tyres go on expensive cars like Mercedes, Porches and BMW's - and therefore think that owners of these cars can afford this kind of money.
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along the lines of scene tax for certain cars :D

also, something like 225/45/17, common size for a rep car etc id have thought would be uber cheap but again, not the case

theyre just a necessary evil
 
14 days I've had a tyre fitted and whilst avoiding a suicidal pedestrian yesterday managed to kill the sidewall on a cut-stone curb... instant flat, not a happy bunny :mad:
 
DAvE18 said:
I always had a little rage when 205 45 costs more than 215 45 for most of the tyres why there is more rubber in the damn 215 makes no sense.
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Not many cars run 205 (CTR I assume, that's one of the few) therefore they're not produced largely enough, supply and demand through and through. All 14" tyres cost a hell of a lot more than 15" tyres simply because new cars don't run 14" wheels anymore. Changing to 15" wheels saves me ~£20 a tyre.

Such is life I suppose, but it's not as if they're cheap as it is really :/
 
Affordable motoring is now something not for the faint hearted.

Meanwhile, decent, on par with most other "internet great tyres", come the Vred Ultrac Sessantas in 275/35R19 for the princely sum of £175 each. Fitting round here for me is £15 for 4 or £5 each.
 
koolpc said:
Why do some of you buy such expensive tyres?
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Because the internet demands it :p

Seriously, It does make a difference. Some of us have very spirited driving, others like reduced road noise or longevity, some like all of the above. Often, when you find a tyre that matches most of your requirements, you stick with it.

I was offered some Vreds many years ago and really noticed a difference when driving with them, I've used them, where possible, ever since, even though they are not the most expensive tyre around. Unfortunately, when people "bite" to a review and decide to go that route and find tyres better than their previous tyres, word spreads and prices increase. In 2007 I paid £96 for 18" Vred Ultrac Sessantas. In 4 years, their designhasn't changed, testament to their design quality. I'm pretty much prepared to pay whatever they cost.

Gaygle said:
Where do you live? I frequently see this on internet forums, and believed it until i started getting quotes for tyre fitting myself. I think the cheapest i found for £12 PER WHEEL.
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In Dorset. I use Christchurch tyre centre, and have done ever since I started driving 13 years ago. I've known the owner, and his son and other family members who all work there but don't ask for or expect a discount. My dad has tyres fitted there for the same price.
 
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