Did tire prices recently shoot up?

[meangreen01]

I've been keeping an eye on a few different tires for the Durango, while at the same time trying to squeeze some more miles out of what's on currently.

Winter held off around here till a week or two ago, so all was fine. Now, we've had a few snowstorms that have me on the edge of moving this purchase up.

Having last checked prices around Thanksgiving, then checking again today, it seems prices have jumped 10-15% across the board. I've heard all the underlying rumblings that this may take place because of high demand, rubber shortages and whatnot, but can anyone confirm if this was a planned increase?

 

[HerrStig]

A modern tire has a lot of synthetic rubber in it which is made from OIL. Oil prices are up, as a raw material and as energy in the tire making process. I don't expect them to go down.

 

[K20FA5]

Another thing I noticed, shipping prices from Tirerack are crazy! Last time I priced tires from them, the shipping out of LA was only $40.00 something for 4 tires, not it's $90.00 something for the same 4 tires!

That doesn't make them any cheaper than the local guys now.

 

[JHZR2]

Shipping stinks. Also I believe there was a newly implemented tariff on Chinese tires. Many tire prices were artifically low because we were trading US jobs for cheap Chinese tires.

 

[meangreen01]

Originally Posted By: K20FA5
Another thing I noticed, shipping prices from Tirerack are crazy! Last time I priced tires from them, the shipping out of LA was only $40.00 something for 4 tires, not it's $90.00 something for the same 4 tires!

That doesn't make them any cheaper than the local guys now.



I agree. And it's particularly bad when buying big, heavy LT tires. The one thing the TireRack's of the world still have going for them is no sales tax, but on a $600 set of tires that's $30-$50. Crunching the numbers, they're far from the bargain they used to be.

 

[Rock_Hudstone]

Winter is not neccesarily the best time to be buying tires, lots of people are in the same boat, worn tires and the threat of snow storms looming.

That being said tires are defintely a negotiable item. Don't be shy, shop around, bargain hard, play one qoute off the other. Also, the tire dealers may not have much wiggle room on the tires per se but they can certainly deal on the install/road hazard cost.

Again, bargain hard, you've got money and they want the business.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: K20FA5
Another thing I noticed, shipping prices from Tirerack are crazy!...That doesn't make them any cheaper than the local guys now.


There are very few times I've looked at tires where Tire Rack is the cheapest option, when shipping is included. I don't know if they try to make money on shipping or if that's their actual cost, but once shipping is included, you're right: they're usually not any cheaper than a local brick & mortar store.

 

[dparm]

Winter tire prices are probably high now because of the sudden demand in some areas. While some places have had mild winters, others got slammed. Waiting until now is a surefire way to pay more and/or not get the correct size or brand you want.

I suggest getting a lightly-used set on Craigslist if you're in a bind. I've had relatively good luck with that in the early fall.

 

[daves87rs]

Considering I was told that one of the tires I am looking at (Cooper CS4) will be nearly 120 bucks by summer (currently about 85 now), tells me all I need to know....

 

[meangreen01]

Originally Posted By: dparm
Winter tire prices are probably high now because of the sudden demand in some areas. While some places have had mild winters, others got slammed. Waiting until now is a surefire way to pay more and/or not get the correct size or brand you want.

I suggest getting a lightly-used set on Craigslist if you're in a bind. I've had relatively good luck with that in the early fall.


After seeing this price spike I'm now strongly considering waiting. Most of the rebates that were running are over as well. I just wonder if waiting till Spring or early Summer will yield any better results. Case in point is if I would've pulled the string late last Summer/Fall I would've paid
There's still good enough meat on what I've got to get me through(5 or 6/32 IIRC) till spring. So, it's not like I'm running on slicks by any means. Snow and ice traction is down from where it was last year, though, so I figured since new tires are going to be needed why not get them now and enjoy the benefits of new tires for this Winter season.

Not really in a bind, just hate being the sucker that buys high, LOL.

 

[Ken2]

onlinetires.com has the best prices I've found. Discount tire matched the onlinetire print out I brought in.

 

[SubLGT]

Originally Posted By: meangreen01
.............Having last checked prices around Thanksgiving, then checking again today, it seems prices have jumped 10-15% across the board. I've heard all the underlying rumblings that this may take place because of high demand, rubber shortages and whatnot, but can anyone confirm if this was a planned increase?


Tire prices have definitely been increasing regularly during the last 2-3 years, because of raw material costs and speculators. Price reductions may occur in 3rd quarter of 2012, because of a glut of natural rubber (or not if manufacturers get greedy).

 

[Kestas]

Originally Posted By: meangreen01
Originally Posted By: dparm
Winter tire prices are probably high now because of the sudden demand in some areas. While some places have had mild winters, others got slammed. Waiting until now is a surefire way to pay more and/or not get the correct size or brand you want.

I suggest getting a lightly-used set on Craigslist if you're in a bind. I've had relatively good luck with that in the early fall.

After seeing this price spike I'm now strongly considering waiting...

Perhaps not. Last year I decided to put off buying winter tires until spring, hoping to capitalize on the sales. Instead of prices going down and finding sales, the price of tires shot up after March!

 

[HTSS_TR]

I checked the price the last few weeks, seems like many tires had went up about 20-30% in 1.5-2 years.

 

[oilstudent24]

You might look at Discount Tire Direct. They are pretty competitive with T/R but they ship for Free I believe. Calculate the total price and it might be cheaper there.

 

[user52165]

Originally Posted By: Ken2
onlinetires.com has the best prices I've found. Discount tire matched the onlinetire print out I brought in.


Their website sucks. Terrible compared to DTD or Tirerack.

 

[3311]

I just got a deal and only had to pay $2400

for garbage Continetal/Roadmaster 6 295-85r-22.5's. This tire/oil thing is in infuriating but at least we have all of those greeen jobs keeping the economy going.

 

[390pi]

Article recently is Wall Street Journal how the recent Chinese tire tariff gave all the tire makers a reason (excuse) to also raise domestic prices.

Goodyear was quoted that they got out of the low end market years ago.