Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Why are bike tires so frakking expensive?

I'd like to think there's more to it than economics of scale.

Maybe it's tougher to manufacture a bike tire? Tougher design parameters? Maybe it's harder to design a bike tire that needs to lean compared to a car tire that doesn't? Sigh.

i dunno, but i think it's probably along the lines of needing to design it to lean where as car tires don't. very different geometry with the bike tire being rounded and car tires having a big wide flat spot on the road.

that and with anything that's smaller, the margin of error is smaller so the manufacturing process is that much more demanding. that and why not charge another dollar if they know we'll pay it?

I've been buying tires at motorcycle-superstore.com. They are significantly cheaper than msrp. The shop may charge you a bit more to mount a tire you bring in yourself, but it's still cheaper than paying full price.

The R&D costs are spread out over a much smaller production numbers than with car tires which they sell much more of.

Tis true what HYPERR stated.

Ever try buying a trailer tire? For the most part, they're bias ply and are much smaller in size, but cost as much as a 16-17 inch car tire. I bought a 13 incher budget tire made in China and it cost me $85. Good Years or Firestone trailer tire cost even more for the same size.

There's also the roundness of motorcycle tires that add to cost. The compound has to be molded different. The thickness on the lower sidewall is much thicker internally on a motorcycle tire. Hence more material cost.

Sorry but its supply and demand, and all those other factors. Mostly economy of scale, for every car you have 4 tiers and for every motocycle you have hundreds of cars. Its cheaper to make a car tier.