burnthesheep

I didn't want to get into this part of the topic with posters........but I used to drag race imports. Legally at the strip. I had a 500+ whp turbo car. I specifically would drive the car to the strip with the drag tires in the back on the spare wheels and use my electric impact at the track to swap them on/off. A trailer and tow vehicle was out of question at the time. I didn't run full slicks but did run a "legal" drag radial on those. In like 2007 they cost like $250 each. They'd last me maybe 10 visits to the dragstrip with quite a few runs each.

I think there's misconception in here about the "performance tires" folks are putting on their factory BMW and utilizing for a relatively long time versus "competition tires" and what those cost and last. Some of the costly bicycle tires being tossed around actually get raced by pros. In competition. Cute high mileage "performance" tires on a person's mid-level junior executive sporty car simply do not compare.

A GP5000 bike tire is closer to probably a Michelin Pilot Sport Cup. Not to some kind of 30 or 40k mile rated sports car tire. If you want the comparison to the 40k mile car tire, you're going to have to get into the performance touring bike tires instead.

Pilot Sport Cup tires are like $500 each and most online users saying "about two track days". So $2000 for two track days worth of actual "use". Aka.......not driving your sports car to and from work at 35mph, but actually using the tires.

livedarklions

You get about the same as I do out of the GP5k. I don't think the comparison to car tires makes a lot of sense because of stuff I said in an earlier post. Basically, car tires get longevity by being made out of a lot of material, and bike tires need to be thin enough so that their weight is suitable to the human motor. I mean you could probably build a bike tire designed to go 30.000 miles, it would just be too thick and heavy to be used on a human powered bike.

livedarklions

So basically, you're laughing at them for saying they "can't afford it" when they really mean "I don't want to buy it because I'd rather spend the money on making my car nicer than I need". You're right, their need to rationalize it so it doesn't sound like it's a choice they're making is kind of funny.

livedarklions

Also, PSI for a bike racing tire just isn't comparable to the 40k mile tire.

I think we're comparing horse shoes to Nike shoes. It's an object with the same name and an analogous function, but it's just completely different in composition and design.

mschwett 

yes. agreed. i rode on gatorskin hardshells for a while and i think they would have gone about 12k.

it’s just surprising to me how far in the direction of “light and small” many mainstream-seeming bike components are - brake pads especially. i totally get your point about tires, but would it make the brakes significantly heavier if the pads were twice as thick?

seypat

Different priorities for different folks. Here's a fine example. Look at all the different opinions:

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycl...ttle-cage.html

Koyote

Just a tip, and nevermind if you've already thought of it or tried 'em: I've been running some Rene Herse Bon Jon Pass (35mm) tires on one of my bikes, and they are smooth and supple -- and last a surprisingly long time. I replaced the rear at 3300 miles, and it wasn't even worn through; front is still running strong at 5300 miles.

mschwett 

i hear you; i used to track my ‘02 s2k (boosted at the time, mostly legally) at laguna seca and sears point. all these pastimes have a range from casual to bleeding edge… sometimes you just don’t know which end of the range you’re headed towards 😂

livedarklions

Weight vs. durability vs. cost vs. aerodynamics is definitely the multivariate trade off that bike designers have to consider. Other kinds of vehicles, you just adjust the power of the motor. I have no idea what the optimal thickness for a brake pad should be.

burnthesheep

What is it with the RH fanbois on this forum? I'm sure there's something to some of their products, but sometimes I almost wonder if BF is just one big orchestrated RH marketing page.

andrewclaus

You bring up a good point. I did find someone on eBay I think selling four sets of compatible brake pads for my bike for $10. There was a comment that they last about 800' of descent. I passed on that deal.

Since I cycle much more than I drive, I tend to go cheaper on the car maintenance. With my light use, I've never worn out any brake parts I've installed.

Koyote

Have you tried any of their tires?

Wildwood 

Parts is parts.

Pay your money, play the game(s).
....the cost of owning & maintaining a good polo pony has gone though the roof, the old nag still eats hay & grass.
edit: ....and don't get me started on race horse costs!

GhostRider62

I've spent a stupid amount of money on various Herse and Compass tires. They are comfortable. They are not too slow especially if using latex tubes. The sidewalls are easily damaged and they flat easily. They are about $90 per tire plus $14 shipping. Is there a better tire than wider ones (38 mm and up) run at lower pressures? In thee 28-35 mm range, I no longer buy them because there are better options. YMMV

Troul 

more stable of a sport imo.

Mojo31

What timing. I just got a call that my wife's car needs new front brakes to the tune of $1,400.

I'd rather buy bike brakes.

seypat

seypat

Whew! Good thing my neighbor's last names are Williams and Smith.

GhostRider62

Yikes.

Not hard to replace front rotors and pads.

That $1400 seems about standard stealership pricing on an S Class Mercedes for front. Parts are less than half that (akebono pads and OEM quality rotors like Zimmermann or Brembo) and it takes maybe an hour to replace them. I usually get 100,000 miles out of rotors and 50K from pads. On bike....haha.

Koyote

That’s under $200 per axle on a Honda, usually.

Mojo31

It is dealership pricing, but from that company based in Stuttgart. If I were to do it myself, I'd "f" it up. And, then it would cost more.

Mojo31

Maybe so, but she doesn't want to drive a Honda. Nothing wrong with doing so, but that's not where we are, and it just is what it is.

phughes

I love these threads, that start with a person completely misunderstanding manufacturing, ad thinking the cost involves only materials, when in fact the overhead, building, equipment, etc., as well as labor actually make up the majority of the cost of an item. Let's not mention the part that demand for said item affects the cost.

GhostRider62

Independents would cost a lot less than $1400. I do my brakes now because I have more time than money. I think my high end Indy used to charge me around 7-750 for front brakes. Zimmerman rotors and he used different pads but IIRC, parts were well under $400 and he charged 2 hours labor. I can buy the parts for less than that and it takes an hour to do the job.

Unless it is an AMG, $1400 is high. They are making a fortune for just fronts.

GhostRider62

Like pills only cost 2 cents because that is the cost of the raw materials. Forget development costs, costs of the other 100 drugs that failed, cost of clinical trials, costs to pay the health authorities, constructing purpose built facilities, etc.

But that is not really the case with most car parts. Consumers can generally buy the same wear item part direct without paying dealer markup and one can have it installed at an independent service facility. I admit to having my BMW serviced (fluids) at the dealership but I would never spend $1400 an axle for brakes. I do think bike brakes cost about the same per mile.....Good pads for carbon rims are around $50 and I go thru a couple sets a year. I should do the math. Bike tires are way more expensive per mile. I used to go thru 6 sets a year but only 2-3 sets now.