tyres

[gavroche]

Why are bicycle tyres so expensive? My bike is fitted with Specialized All condition armadillo 700 -23 tyres. I am very pleased with them as they are quite puncture proof and feel good on the road.
I was looking in my lbs for prices and they cost £29 each. I know I can get them a bit cheaper on-line but I can also get tyres for my car for around £40 each. Cars are much bigger and use much more rubber to make so why are bike tyres so dear? Some cost as much as a car tyre. It just doesn't make sense. Are we being taken for a ride because it is a minority hobby?

 

[biggs682]

totally agree

 

[Pauluk]

Price is all about what the people in a particular market will pay. Price has nothing to do with cost (cost to produce), its all about what people are willing to pay (or what we are forced to pay by necessity or law).

 

[defy-one]

My car tyres cost £212 a corner. I don't have a problem paying £30 for a quality puncture resistant tyre for my bike.

 

[Kestevan]

If you're comparing with "budget" car tyres then you can also pick up a "budget" bike tyre for £7 (http://www.parker-international.co.uk/1993/Vittoria-Zaffiro--Rigid-Tyre.html)

Might not want to go racing on it - or fit it to your £3k Superbike, but then you probably wouldn't want to put £40 tyres on a Ferrari either.

At the end of the day though, given that a thumb-end sized bit of rubber is the only bit of the bike in contact with the road, is this an area you'd feel comfortable skimping on?

 

[Lee_M]

There are also significantly more car tyres than cycle tyres sold) so sheer economics mean decent bike tyres will have a higher unit price

 

[zizou]

Not really comparing like with like - a decent tyre compared to a low end budget one.

In any case bike tyres are more labour intensive to make than car tyres - they are still largely handmade, it is not an automated process. Even inner tubes when they are manufactured they are inflated and left for a while or put under water to see if there are any leaks.

 

[grumpyoldgit]

My last 'toy' car was £2.5k per set,special order.£30-40 on a quality bike tyre is ok.

 

[MattHB]

Its been about 20 years since I paid £40 for a car tyre.. on our 07 yaris theyre £70 each if we buy a decent one that doesnt squiff about in the rain.

Im about to buy a pair of conti 4 seasons with tubes for £63 thatll last my commuter a long time and save me all that fuel... bargain