Why are 18” tires so expensive!?!?!?!

[lowlypawn]

260$ Each for a BFG's one size bigger then stock, I forger the numbers not that it matters. Two questions…


Is it because 18” is relatively new size?

Do you think 18” will become MORE popular or less in the next 5 years?

[rgregory1965]

Id like to know also.......

[spoonman]

Well to answer question 2, i think they will become more popular. One reason is that the newer Titans and Tundras need a minimum 18'' wheel so i think that will help as 18 may become the norm in the future like 16-17's are now.

[NorCal 4x4]

Good point spoonman.

I was looking at the Toyo AT Warranty today ...

• P-metric sizes 50,000 mile.
• Light Truck to 17" 40,000 mile.
• 18" and above materials and workmanship

Makes me wonder if tread life is that much worse on an 18 than a 17. Strange.

[TravisDTD]

I was looking at this myself when I priced my tires. If you are looking at the 285.65.18's they are all 8 and 10 ply tires. Those are heavy load tires, more than our titans really need unless your towing often. It's probably a supply and demand thing too like spoonman was suggesting. Not only are the tires in this size heavy duty, there aren't too many manufactures making them, I think I was only able to compared 3 or 4 brands. Looks to me like there is an opportunity for a tire manufacture to build a light duty truck tire in this size. You could look at the 275.70.18 size too if you want to try to save $, The Terra Grapplers in that size are around $235 shipped (@discounttiredirect). They are 10 ply also, I almost bought those but I decided I wanted them a little wider.

[BayStateSuks]

You are also all neglecting that there is a lot of freakin' rubber on these tires. The sidewalls on a 285/65R/18 are pretty large and the tires are pretty wide. So it is not surprising that the more rubber on the tire, the more expensive it will cost.

[TravisDTD]

I'm sure the additional materials would amount to some added cost but I doubt that is whats holding the price up.

[CBURNS1101]

I paid 650 a tire for my 22's(40's Toyos) I know what u guys mean..it hurts the wallet, but the should last at least 2 years

[Blackbeauty]

I would think it's more a supply/demand thing as previously stated. When a new tire size is made, and especially up around the 22" and 24" realm, you not only pay for the tire, but have to pay a portion for the engineering, the machining, the tooling, etc.... They need to make new lines to make a small amount of tires = expensive.

Don't forget, you're talking about centrifugal forces and lateral strains here. The bigger the tire, the more rubber, the more it weighs, and the easier it flexes sideways and the more the centrifugal forces make it want to blow apart. All that needs to be considered in the design of bigger tires and therefore additional technology, strengthening, and new procedures need to be developed.

As the prominence of larger tires spreads, don't expect the prices to come down, either. Have 17" tires gotten cheaper than when we all had 15" wheels? I think not. Time, inflation, world issues, price of fossil fuels... it all plays into the equation of "You gotta pay to play"....

[BayStateSuks]

I have done a lot of patent work for companies that supply materials to tire manufacturers. And by increasing the tire size, the tires cannot be made in the same way to provide the same sidewall strength, etc. There is a lot of science involved not to mention the various materials costs have skyrocketed in the last five years. So use of increased amounts of the materials in different, more technologically complex processes could easily increase the tire cost $100 or more per tire.

Also, somebody has to pay for the high price we IP lawyers cost to protect these materials and processes. Guess that would be you guys. I suppose a Thank you is in order.

[bbomar]

You can get Revo's for $151 a piece!! 265/70/18

[kman]

Originally Posted by bbomar

You can get Revo's for $151 a piece!! 265/70/18

where? i was pricing tires this weekend and the best i could find was $175 or so. I priced them at Firestone, America's Tire, Big-O.

[juganaut]

YOU GET WHAT U PAY FOR!!!!!! tThe bfg's are by far the most durable tire on the market. They wear like steel. My tire guy told me there is about 7-10 more pounds of rubber in a bfg 285/65/18 depending on the sidewall 8 or 10 ply compared to other brands that are the same size.

[travelship]

Originally Posted by bbomar

You can get Revo's for $151 a piece!! 265/70/18

Don't forget that the 265/70r18 Revos are a P metric rating versus LT rating in the larger sizes. Ditch those 18s and get some 17 inch wheels, I bought LT285/75R17 TerraGrapplers for $200 each installed out the door.

[bbomar]

Originally Posted by kman

where? i was pricing tires this weekend and the best i could find was $175 or so. I priced them at Firestone, America's Tire, Big-O.

http://www.roadwaywholesaletire.com/index.htm