Tyre prices - are they now a rip off?
Discussion
From what I can tell, tyre prices have inflated around 50% over the last 3 years, that's some inflation.
The best local quote I could find for a pair of Continental 285/35x18 (MO) is £508 all in. I reckon the profit per tyre is probably £50 plus for the fitter, all the other 'middlemen' taking their cut along the way. I can buy the same tyres from the cheapest online supplier at around £430 the pair, which is still way up on 3 years ago.
I'm wondering if tyre manufacturers have been hit with so called green taxes or have to buy ridiculous carbon permits, the cost of which are being passed on to the consumer under the guise of increased overheads, the same as the power companies are doing. There must be more to the extortionate price increase than simple greed.
I'm thinking about boycotting premium brands now, and going for something like Falcon 453's which I've heard good things about, and have the same temperature, load and speed ratings. They're still a rip off price, but less so.
Comments are especially welcome from those involved in the tyre industry
The best local quote I could find for a pair of Continental 285/35x18 (MO) is £508 all in. I reckon the profit per tyre is probably £50 plus for the fitter, all the other 'middlemen' taking their cut along the way. I can buy the same tyres from the cheapest online supplier at around £430 the pair, which is still way up on 3 years ago.
I'm wondering if tyre manufacturers have been hit with so called green taxes or have to buy ridiculous carbon permits, the cost of which are being passed on to the consumer under the guise of increased overheads, the same as the power companies are doing. There must be more to the extortionate price increase than simple greed.
I'm thinking about boycotting premium brands now, and going for something like Falcon 453's which I've heard good things about, and have the same temperature, load and speed ratings. They're still a rip off price, but less so.
Comments are especially welcome from those involved in the tyre industry
Mine have only gone up something like 10-15 quid a corner over the last 4 years. Would have to check exact figures, but certainly nothing like 50% & I doubt tyre chap has swallowed the considerable difference to get to that figure.
Not buying Wanlis either and equivalent brand/tyre, so presumably not that straightforward.
Not buying Wanlis either and equivalent brand/tyre, so presumably not that straightforward.
20 years ago, a family saloon would be running about on tyres sized something like 195/60R14.
Nowadays, the equivalent car is probably running on 225/??R17 or R18.
A branded 195/60R14 costs less than 50 quid (Uniroyal Rain Expert).
No idea how much the 225s are, but I suspect around double that.
Nowadays, the equivalent car is probably running on 225/??R17 or R18.
A branded 195/60R14 costs less than 50 quid (Uniroyal Rain Expert).
No idea how much the 225s are, but I suspect around double that.
swerni said:
I've got to get a pair of 325/30/19's for the rear soon.
That's a grand before even think about the fronts.
Wow! Is that for the Vette?That's a grand before even think about the fronts.
I picked up a couple of Toyo T1-Rs for the TVR yesterday for just over £100 each. Admittedly, these were front tyres, but the rears are only about £160 a go.
HeatonNorris said:
20 years ago, a family saloon would be running about on tyres sized something like 195/60R14.
Nowadays, the equivalent car is probably running on 225/??R17 or R18.
A branded 195/60R14 costs less than 50 quid (Uniroyal Rain Expert).
No idea how much the 225s are, but I suspect around double that.
Was just thinking the same, my Father in Laws Insignia runs 245/40R18 and that's not even the largest fitted to that car. My old Saab uses 215/55R16 and I suppose is a similar class of vehicle.Nowadays, the equivalent car is probably running on 225/??R17 or R18.
A branded 195/60R14 costs less than 50 quid (Uniroyal Rain Expert).
No idea how much the 225s are, but I suspect around double that.
Rolling diameter between both sizes is more or less the same, tyre cost for me? Around £90 for something decent, FIL will have to pay 30-40% more.
HeatonNorris said:
20 years ago, a family saloon would be running about on tyres sized something like 195/60R14.
Nowadays, the equivalent car is probably running on 225/??R17 or R18.
A branded 195/60R14 costs less than 50 quid (Uniroyal Rain Expert).
No idea how much the 225s are, but I suspect around double that.
Exactly. Tyres for my old Xsara (rollin' on 14s) range between £70 and £35 which seems fairly similar to what I paid when I had it.Nowadays, the equivalent car is probably running on 225/??R17 or R18.
A branded 195/60R14 costs less than 50 quid (Uniroyal Rain Expert).
No idea how much the 225s are, but I suspect around double that.
I have a friend who owns a tyre place. He aims for
£12 profit on the tyre size the OP states. On something like a 195 50 R15 he will be making around about £5.
He's just bought a new removal/fitting machine and a new balancer. That was a £14,000 investment. There is no money in tyres whatsoever. Prices have risen massively over the last few years. See how high they get when the Chinese domestic market begins to register 25,000,000 new cars every year, year in, year out. These will be remembered as the good old days!
£12 profit on the tyre size the OP states. On something like a 195 50 R15 he will be making around about £5.
He's just bought a new removal/fitting machine and a new balancer. That was a £14,000 investment. There is no money in tyres whatsoever. Prices have risen massively over the last few years. See how high they get when the Chinese domestic market begins to register 25,000,000 new cars every year, year in, year out. These will be remembered as the good old days!
I've just bought 2 new tyres for my 520 BMW , did my usual check on the Internet for a going price ,then rang around the usual suspects.
The most worrying thing for me is that no one had the tyres in stock , some retailers where quoting 2 days for delivery.
Kwik fit ended up giving me the best price and quickest supply.
Their invoice showed over £240 discount netting it down to £509 , how many punters just pay the first price quoted ?
Tread carefully when buying....pardon the pun.
The most worrying thing for me is that no one had the tyres in stock , some retailers where quoting 2 days for delivery.
Kwik fit ended up giving me the best price and quickest supply.
Their invoice showed over £240 discount netting it down to £509 , how many punters just pay the first price quoted ?
Tread carefully when buying....pardon the pun.
I know it's American based, but a quick google throws this up:
http://link emoved as gc8 says it throws a Trojan warning
New one below:
http://www.tyrepress.com/News/business_area/70/ind...
http://link emoved as gc8 says it throws a Trojan warning
New one below:
http://www.tyrepress.com/News/business_area/70/ind...
Edited by j44esd on Sunday 22 July 12:10
I've had the same thing. It's really bizarre becuase its only some sizes.
In 2009 I paid £150 each for 2 265/35/18 Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymetric's.
In 2010 they were £165 each.
In February I just bought 2 Eagle F1 Assymetric 2's after exhuastive shopping around for £199 each fitted - this was the absolute cheapest size. The only thing I can think of is that since 2010 they have been standard fit size on the current shape E Class Sport. Price gouging because new Merc owners just pay whatever?
By contrast on the other car the 235/45/17's have remained constant at £110ish for years and years and have not really increased in price since I first bought a set in that size in 2006.
I'd 'get it' if all tyres had gone up but it seems to be just certain sizes getting ridiculous. If its oil prices, carbon permits and whatever why are some tyres no more expensive?
I'm now witnessing my front tyre size rocketing up too - 235/40/18 - seems to be touching £170-£180 each where it was always £140.
In the meantime just 10mm narrower - 225/40/18 - is readily available for quite a lot less money.
In 2009 I paid £150 each for 2 265/35/18 Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymetric's.
In 2010 they were £165 each.
In February I just bought 2 Eagle F1 Assymetric 2's after exhuastive shopping around for £199 each fitted - this was the absolute cheapest size. The only thing I can think of is that since 2010 they have been standard fit size on the current shape E Class Sport. Price gouging because new Merc owners just pay whatever?
By contrast on the other car the 235/45/17's have remained constant at £110ish for years and years and have not really increased in price since I first bought a set in that size in 2006.
I'd 'get it' if all tyres had gone up but it seems to be just certain sizes getting ridiculous. If its oil prices, carbon permits and whatever why are some tyres no more expensive?
I'm now witnessing my front tyre size rocketing up too - 235/40/18 - seems to be touching £170-£180 each where it was always £140.
In the meantime just 10mm narrower - 225/40/18 - is readily available for quite a lot less money.
I have no idea how much mark up there are on the tyres from my supplier, but like mentioned above we add £12.50 on to the price of tyres. Realistically I will take about £9 from that after costs. For that £9 I have to pay for all the equipment, wages and advertising. So it certainly isn't the fitters that are bumping up the cost.
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