What is happening with bicycle tire prices?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
What is happening with bicycle tire prices?
I bought a GP5000 clincher tire a month or so ago at $47, and saw one at REI today for $82. That's a pretty significant price increase. Anybody know why prices are suddenly so high in bike tires?
Dave
Dave
Last edited by bonsai171; 03-18-24 at 06:45 PM.
#2
Resident PIA
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: City of Oaks, NC
Posts: 858
Bikes: Gunnar Roadie, Look 765 Optimum, Spesh Aethos
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 220 Post(s)
Liked 361 Times
in
190 Posts
82 is pretty much the going price for current GP5000s.
.
.
__________________
--
Shad
I knew where I was when I wrote this
I don't know where I am now...
05 Gunnar Roadie Chorus/Record
67'er
--
Shad
I knew where I was when I wrote this
I don't know where I am now...
05 Gunnar Roadie Chorus/Record
67'er
Likes For Shadco:
Likes For Jughed:
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: South Shore of Long Island
Posts: 2,809
Bikes: 2010 Carrera Volans, 2015 C-Dale Trail 2sl, 2017 Raleigh Rush Hour, 2017 Blue Proseccio, 1992 Giant Perigee, 80s Gitane Rallye Tandem
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1094 Post(s)
Liked 1,034 Times
in
728 Posts
Rei tends to price things a little high, finding these around 70.00 isn't too hard most of the time, but with a little time and patience they pop up as sale items on a regular basis for 50.00. Buying from Europe can save some good money on them as well.
Likes For Russ Roth:
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bastrop Texas
Posts: 4,499
Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 977 Post(s)
Liked 1,638 Times
in
1,052 Posts
And its not just the price. The quality of the tires, even with respectable manufacturers, is questionable.
I had to send a new Passela tire back when I noticed its wire bead was exposed. I never saw anything like that in the old days...
I had to send a new Passela tire back when I noticed its wire bead was exposed. I never saw anything like that in the old days...
__________________
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
#6
Thread derailleur
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Glendora, CA
Posts: 652
Bikes: Croll '94 & Cannondale Supersix '15
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 370 Post(s)
Liked 470 Times
in
269 Posts
#7
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,344
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3907 Post(s)
Liked 4,853 Times
in
2,239 Posts
One must shop sales when they happen. And they do happen.
I have successfully purchased from bikeinn in the past. 3 times (I think) with no problems. But not any one purchase over $150.
I have successfully purchased from bikeinn in the past. 3 times (I think) with no problems. But not any one purchase over $150.
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,519
Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE
Mentioned: 144 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7658 Post(s)
Liked 3,500 Times
in
1,849 Posts
Prices went up. Seems simple enough.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,322
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8298 Post(s)
Liked 9,088 Times
in
4,492 Posts
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,322
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8298 Post(s)
Liked 9,088 Times
in
4,492 Posts
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,448
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 630 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 404 Times
in
278 Posts
roadmrankr Posted: You experienced success with bikeinn? Great prices listed, but I could never finalize an order. Seems like a scam to me.
Last edited by Rick; 03-18-24 at 10:34 PM.
#14
Senior Member
That's car tire prices. I won't spend that on bike tires unless I was a bonafide racer. The material cost, tooling cost, and perhaps even labor cost, are vastly less than for car tires. The prices are high because that's what the market will bear, and bike prices are way up, so it's not surprising that the top tire brands raised their prices. But is there in an inprovement in the technology? I don't think so. The key is if there are alternatives, that aren't functioning like a cartel to keep prices high. Elasticity in supply.
Likes For Duragrouch:
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 8,507
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4445 Post(s)
Liked 4,905 Times
in
3,036 Posts
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,312
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18443 Post(s)
Liked 15,655 Times
in
7,364 Posts
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,519
Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE
Mentioned: 144 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7658 Post(s)
Liked 3,500 Times
in
1,849 Posts
Basically, a little over a decade back, manufacturers began to wake up to the fact that a lot of cyclists were willing to pay ridiculous money for upgrades, or for the "latest and greatest" parts and products. Cycling went from toys and sports equipment to luxury items .... and suddenly bikes cost more than motorcycles (which are still considered transport---except for Harleys and those other big cruisers.)
We did it to ourselves. We (bike and bike parts/gear consumers) just kept paying higher prices ... and for a lot of people, paying a lot of money for a hobby wasn't evaluated as would be most purchases ... we acted as if bicycles were luxury items, where cost and value have a very different relationship (though we thought we were buying status and/or performance.) If consumers had slowed their purchasing when the prices started skyrocketing .....
Of course, inflation has also added to the cost increase .... but that is a small percentage of the increase in bike/parts/gear prices over the past decade or so.
IMO.
We did it to ourselves. We (bike and bike parts/gear consumers) just kept paying higher prices ... and for a lot of people, paying a lot of money for a hobby wasn't evaluated as would be most purchases ... we acted as if bicycles were luxury items, where cost and value have a very different relationship (though we thought we were buying status and/or performance.) If consumers had slowed their purchasing when the prices started skyrocketing .....
Of course, inflation has also added to the cost increase .... but that is a small percentage of the increase in bike/parts/gear prices over the past decade or so.
IMO.
Likes For Maelochs:
Likes For bboy314:
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: Eastern Shore MD
Posts: 902
Bikes: Lemond Zurich/Trek ALR/Giant TCX/Sette CX1
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 576 Post(s)
Liked 793 Times
in
415 Posts
And bang for your buck. Rolling resistance, handling, puncture resistance... these tires have it all. They are flat out fast compared to cheaper options. For $40-50 bucks more, over the course of just about an entire year - to me they are worth every extra penny.
#20
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 15,049
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6228 Post(s)
Liked 4,835 Times
in
3,334 Posts
Are you certain its the exact same GP 5000 tire? They have so many different versions of them. It's not just tubeless vs tubed. So maybe some are just such a niche market they command higher prices due to production costs for the smaller market group or willingness of those niche groups to pay.
Likes For Iride01:
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 8,507
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4445 Post(s)
Liked 4,905 Times
in
3,036 Posts
Are you certain its the exact same GP 5000 tire? They have so many different versions of them. It's not just tubeless vs tubed. So maybe some are just such a niche market they command higher prices due to production costs for the smaller market group or willingness of those niche groups to pay.
Likes For PeteHski:
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2023
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 584
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 376 Post(s)
Liked 282 Times
in
182 Posts
Here's a wacky analogy because I'm in a wacky mood:'
Your local garbage man has probably learned over the years the exact cycles of the trash collection industry. He knows there are easy days and hard days, and I imagine he can predict them quite accurately based on a myriad of observations - the economy, the weather, the season, how the holidays and sports line up, the start of school, the length of the days - who knows what else. He doesn't tell you what the easy days are going to be, because it isn't any of your business.
So too with everything bike - it's a cyclical business. Prices and profits go up, prices and profits go down. They don't need to tell you when or why. Just like the garbage guys will grab the extra hours at the coffee shop when they know they can, the bike companies will grab extra profits when they know they can.
Your local garbage man has probably learned over the years the exact cycles of the trash collection industry. He knows there are easy days and hard days, and I imagine he can predict them quite accurately based on a myriad of observations - the economy, the weather, the season, how the holidays and sports line up, the start of school, the length of the days - who knows what else. He doesn't tell you what the easy days are going to be, because it isn't any of your business.
So too with everything bike - it's a cyclical business. Prices and profits go up, prices and profits go down. They don't need to tell you when or why. Just like the garbage guys will grab the extra hours at the coffee shop when they know they can, the bike companies will grab extra profits when they know they can.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,312
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18443 Post(s)
Liked 15,655 Times
in
7,364 Posts
We did it to ourselves. We (bike and bike parts/gear consumers) just kept paying higher prices ... and for a lot of people, paying a lot of money for a hobby wasn't evaluated as would be most purchases ... we acted as if bicycles were luxury items, where cost and value have a very different relationship (though we thought we were buying status and/or performance.) If consumers had slowed their purchasing when the prices started skyrocketing .....
Gasp at the price of what you want then add to cart and go to checkout.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,666
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1250 Post(s)
Liked 1,329 Times
in
678 Posts
Basically, a little over a decade back, manufacturers began to wake up to the fact that a lot of cyclists were willing to pay ridiculous money for upgrades, or for the "latest and greatest" parts and products. Cycling went from toys and sports equipment to luxury items .... and suddenly bikes cost more than motorcycles (which are still considered transport---except for Harleys and those other big cruisers.)
We did it to ourselves. We (bike and bike parts/gear consumers) just kept paying higher prices ... and for a lot of people, paying a lot of money for a hobby wasn't evaluated as would be most purchases ... we acted as if bicycles were luxury items, where cost and value have a very different relationship (though we thought we were buying status and/or performance.) If consumers had slowed their purchasing when the prices started skyrocketing .....
Of course, inflation has also added to the cost increase .... but that is a small percentage of the increase in bike/parts/gear prices over the past decade or so.
IMO.
We did it to ourselves. We (bike and bike parts/gear consumers) just kept paying higher prices ... and for a lot of people, paying a lot of money for a hobby wasn't evaluated as would be most purchases ... we acted as if bicycles were luxury items, where cost and value have a very different relationship (though we thought we were buying status and/or performance.) If consumers had slowed their purchasing when the prices started skyrocketing .....
Of course, inflation has also added to the cost increase .... but that is a small percentage of the increase in bike/parts/gear prices over the past decade or so.
IMO.
#25
Junior Member
Always had good luck with them. Most orders seem to come from the Netherlands, so a bit of shipping time to be had. Definitely not a scam. In fact, I have one order from them now that arrived in Los Angeles customs, and is being transfered to USPS as we speak/post.