Tire Prices - February 2022

[daboo]

About every six months, I check the prices of tires/tyres to see what changes are happening, and if I can discern any trends. With the supply chain broken, tires are the weakest link to any travel I'd like to do.

I also like to watch for rebates. What I feel is an overpriced tire at the normal price, can be a bargain when a rebate is applied. Michelin has a $50 rebate currently till March 7th. On March 8th, the Michelin tires will move from the middle of the list to the bottom where the most expensive tires are sorted. FWIW, in the past, Dunlop had a rebate starting around April I think and lasting through the summer. Continental has a rebate in May/June. What will happen this year, is unknown.

Tire prices below are for my BMW F800GT.  120/70-17 and 180/55-17.

It is worthwhile to shop around. I included prices from two sources this time. Dennis Kirk and Revzilla. I used to think all the online tire prices were the same. Not true. I purchased my last tires from Dennis Kirk at a nice discount from the Revzilla price.

My personal belief is that the tires on the chart above are very close in actual performance. The Owner Rating from Revzilla buyers is a reflection of what owners feel about the tire. The least expensive tires, seem to have a loyal following that like those tires. So buying a premium priced tire, doesn't necessarily mean you'll get any better performance.

One "bargain" I'm seeing is the Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE from Dennis Kirk. The Revzilla price makes it a very pricey tire. The Dennis Kirk price makes it a very tempting opportunity to buy a tire that is supposedly far better than the older model.

Chris

[Instinct28]

1 hour ago, daboo said:

About every six months, I check the prices of tires/tyres to see what changes are happening, and if I can discern any trends. With the supply chain broken, tires are the weakest link to any travel I'd like to do.

I also like to watch for rebates. What I feel is an overpriced tire at the normal price, can be a bargain when a rebate is applied. Michelin has a $50 rebate currently till March 7th. On March 8th, the Michelin tires will move from the middle of the list to the bottom where the most expensive tires are sorted. FWIW, in the past, Dunlop had a rebate starting around April I think and lasting through the summer. Continental has a rebate in May/June. What will happen this year, is unknown.

Tire prices below are for my BMW F800GT.  120/70-17 and 180/55-17.

It is worthwhile to shop around. I included prices from two sources this time. Dennis Kirk and Revzilla. I used to think all the online tire prices were the same. Not true. I purchased my last tires from Dennis Kirk at a nice discount from the Revzilla price.

My personal belief is that the tires on the chart above are very close in actual performance. The Owner Rating from Revzilla buyers is a reflection of what owners feel about the tire. The least expensive tires, seem to have a loyal following that like those tires. So buying a premium priced tire, doesn't necessarily mean you'll get any better performance.

One "bargain" I'm seeing is the Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE from Dennis Kirk. The Revzilla price makes it a very pricey tire. The Dennis Kirk price makes it a very tempting opportunity to buy a tire that is supposedly far better than the older model.

Chris

I feel like I just got a good deal but it's  from the Amaconn who I dumped a couple years ago because of their political beliefs and free speech suppression of Parler so I got a friend to check and he found this for 135 shipped. Hey, you got to save however you can these days.

[betoney]

1 hour ago, daboo said:

It is worthwhile to shop around. I included prices from two sources this time. Dennis Kirk and Revzilla. I used to think all the online tire prices were the same. Not true. I purchased my last tires from Dennis Kirk at a nice discount from the Revzilla price.

Thanks for the info.  I also keep an eye out for seasonal sales or rebates.  Prices are definitely going up, last year I paid $240 for a set for Bridgestone T32's and now they are over $280 at Dennis Kirk and Rocky Mountain, about $410 at Revzilla. 

Chaparral Motorsports https://www.chapmoto.com and Rocky Mountain MC https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com can also have decent prices at times like Dennis Kirk, I find Revzilla to have a good selection of tires but also one of the most expensive, however Revzilla will price match when you find the tires cheaper elsewhere.

[bamarider]

Revzilla still has the metzler roadtech z6 for around $160. I installed a set last fall and have been pleased so far.

[PhotoAl]

On 2/19/2022 at 5:08 PM, betoney said:

Thanks for the info.  I also keep an eye out for seasonal sales or rebates.  Prices are definitely going up, last year I paid $240 for a set for Bridgestone T32's and now they are over $280 at Dennis Kirk and Rocky Mountain, about $410 at Revzilla. 

Chaparral Motorsports https://www.chapmoto.com and Rocky Mountain MC https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com can also have decent prices at times like Dennis Kirk, I find Revzilla to have a good selection of tires but also one of the most expensive, however Revzilla will price match when you find the tires cheaper elsewhere.

Better check those prices again as they probably went up 4 times today LOL.  Really only half kidding.  Seems like stuff is going up by leaps and bounds these days.  Was talking to a fella at a gas station and he said they have been changing prices multiple times a day.  I understand why - LIFO type inventory/pricing versus FIFO but still the stuff on the shelf or in the tank didn't change in cost just the cost to replace.  Looks like we are headed back to a place where if you find a great deal it makes sense to buy a couple of sets.

@daboo thanks for the chart it is a big help even if I  generally buy from my local CycleGear as I can put my hands on the tire before I get it.  But that big of a difference is substantial.  I'll probably keep on buying from them - for me if they are close with mounting and balancing its good as I like to keep local folks employed.  CycleGear, Reveille and JP are all owned by the same company and they all have the RPM program which gives discounts and bucks back on stuff you buy.  That ma explain some of the price discrepancy.  Before the world changed in 2019 everyone was pretty close in price but in the new world we are in seems like lots more price variations.

If anyone close to Birmingham, AL wants a Road 5 rear with 6,000 miles I've got one you can have.  Haven't worn out a rear in 4 years as I keep going on long trips and always start with a new rear and half the time a new front as well.  Therefore have 2 spares and working on cutting the clutter down.  

[Suzukiguy]

I just purchased a set of tires for one of my other bikes and the price increased $20 for the set, from Thursday afternoon to Friday morning! Luckily Rocky Mountain ATV M/C does price matching so I did get a small discount. They told me that tire pricing is changing almost daily right now. I guess the lesson here is "if you see a good price, jump on it!"

[peteinpa]

The Angel ST tires are cheap right now, wonder if they're going to be discontinued.

I bought 2 rears and 1 front of the now discontinued Dunlop RS2 tires last year. Earliest I'll need tires is late next year.

[bwringer]

Usually most of the suppliers are within a few bucks of each other; the cold hard truth is that behind the scenes they're usually drop-shipping from the same few supplier warehouses.

However, it's always well worth the time to check a few different sources, especially when things are in flux.

 

Also bear in mind rewards programs that can tip the scales a bit -- Rocky Mountain ATV/MC and Revzilla have 5% back, plus all kinds of other sweeteners pop up from time to time when you're on their mailing list.

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/

https://www.revzilla.com/

 

American Moto Tire was not mentioned yet, but is always worth checking. If you have older or oddball bikes, they're a fantastic resource for locating obscure tires, tubes, etc.
https://www.americanmototire.com/

The FJ/Tracer takes just about the most common tire sizes on the planet, so we have a ton of choices no matter who you're using.

MotoMummy sometimes has great package deals:
https://motomummy.com/

If you're really stumped by some strange one-off tire on your kid's scooter or the Tohatsu Runpet you pulled out of a shed, Tires Unlimited has an amazing selection of weird stuff. Decent prices on "regular" tires, but usually not the best. Worth a look: https://www.tiresunlimited.com/ 

You can sometimes grab one-off deals on scAmazon and fleaBay if you're not all that picky about brands and date codes and you're careful about vetting the seller a little. For example, dealers will sometimes sell off tires ordered for customers but never picked up, but sometimes it's just ancient stuff that's been gathering dust.

And of course overall, the fastest, best way to save heaps of money and make sure the job is done right is to learn to change your own tires if you haven't done so already. You don't need an expensive pain in the ass No-Mar tire changer, just an old car rim and a few basic materials and tools, and the skills to use them. There are tons of videos on Youtube on this topic.

Edited March 9, 2022 by bwringer

[bwringer]

Also, I really like the idea of this thread, a regular checkup on tire prices and options, and alerts for deals. Let's keep it going!

[Cogswell]

14 minutes ago, bwringer said:

Usually most of the suppliers are within a few bucks of each other; the cold hard truth is that behind the scenes they're usually drop-shipping from the same few supplier warehouses.

However, it's always well worth the time to check a few different sources, especially when things are in flux.

 

Also bear in mind rewards programs that can tip the scales a bit -- Rocky Mountain ATV/MC and Revzilla have 5% back, plus all kinds of other sweeteners pop up from time to time when you're on their mailing list.

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/

https://www.revzilla.com/

 

American Moto Tire was not mentioned yet, but is always worth checking. If you have older or oddball bikes, they're a fantastic resource for locating obscure tires, tubes, etc.
https://www.americanmototire.com/

The FJ/Tracer takes just about the most common tire sizes on the planet, so we have a ton of choices no matter who you're using.

MotoMummy sometimes has great package deals:
https://motomummy.com/

If you're really stumped by some strange one-off tire on your kid's scooter or the Tohatsu Runpet you pulled out of a shed, Tires Unlimited has an amazing selection of weird stuff. Decent prices on "regular" tires, but usually not the best. Worth a look: https://www.tiresunlimited.com/ 

You can sometimes grab one-off deals on scAmazon and fleaBay if you're not all that picky about brands and date codes and you're careful about vetting the seller a little. For example, dealers will sometimes sell off tires ordered for customers but never picked up, but sometimes it's just ancient stuff that's been gathering dust.

And of course overall, the fastest, best way to save heaps of money and make sure the job is done right is to learn to change your own tires if you haven't done so already. You don't need an expensive pain in the ass No-Mar tire changer, just an old car rim and a few basic materials and tools, and the skills to use them. There are tons of videos on Youtube on this topic.

I'm amazed to find another soul that knows what a Tohatsu Runpet is !

[bwringer]

2 hours ago, Cogswell said:

I'm amazed to find another soul that knows what a Tohatsu Runpet is !

It's my go-to when someone makes a forum post asking how to fix their motorcycle without revealing any clues as to what sort of machine it might be.

Just assume it's a Tohatsu Runpet, and suggest cleaning the plug, or trying a better brand of 2-cycle mix.

This often just makes people angry and they go away, but some understand the intent and provide the needed information. Either way, problem solved.

 

Yes, the Tohatsu Runpet is real:

https://ridermagazine.com/2019/07/11/retrospective-1960-1964-tohatsu-ca2-runpet-sport-50cc/

Edited March 9, 2022 by bwringer

[PhotoAl]

Thanks for the tires unlimited link.  Both of my scooter are 10" now but used to have a Honda Elite 110 which had a bigger tire in the front and a smaller in the rear.  Very hard to get tires for.  Sometime it is hard to find tires I like for the 10" rims on the Honda Metropolitian and the Kymco Compagnia

 

[Paladins31]

I always opt for an older version to save money.  I ran Dunlop RoadSmart 2's until I couldn't find them anymore, so now I'm on to RoadSmart 3's.  Always less expensive than the latest and greatest. (RoadSmart 4)