why is a 35x12.5-17 fifty bucks more than a 35x12.5-15??

[DonsBolt]

Been doing some research on tires
The 35x12.5-17 BFG Mud Terrains are $229
The 35x12.5-15 BFG Mud Terrains are $179

Since Both tires are the same height and width, and the 17's have a inch less rubber on the sidewall, why the hell do they charge $50 more for the 17's

To me you would think they 17's should be less money, or the same amount, but not more??

Come on BFG whats up?????????????

 

[Tito]

You should see the price on the new ones for 20's
Its stupid.

 

[JeepGuy]

Well that ones simple. 17's are popular. They can charge more and people will pay.

 

[scsm76]

You think thats bad, i bought 37x 14.50 -15 Toyo MT for the bronco found them on sale for $220 a tire normally ~$300. I liked them so I thought I would get a set of 285-75-16 for my work truck, but they wanted $345. Go figure.

 

[slider58]

Why do they charge more for a 17? Because they can. How many new pickups come with 17's?

 

[Broncitis]

No, I'd have to say it's because when they introduced these new sizes they were not popular and thus needed to sell them for more to make the low volumes profitable and worth making.

There are still a lot more 15's out there on the trail than all other sizes combined.

In a few years when 17's are as common or more so, they will THEN be priced higher because they are more popular! ;D

 

[Amac70]

be thankfull its only 50 bucks more. when i bought my 17's a few years back it was more then a 100 bucks more a tire.

 

[godsotherson]

325/60/20 BFG A/T on my pickup = $406 each, but I got to have them!!;D

 

[1975SPORT]

Well if we would just nuke their A$$ and take the gas then the price of tires and the petroleum products to make them wouldnt be so fricken expensive.

And what broncitis said

 

[Baja71]

Manufacturing volume and supply & demand. They don't sell nearly the volume in 17"ers. The 15s have been around for eons and the volume is there. Another factor is that the 15" market has much more competition, which also drives the price down.

 

[astark]

Have you seen the price on 19.5/54-20 Super Swamper Boggers

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/54-S...8QQihZ007QQcategoryZ66486QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[NVraider]

tires

I work in a tire shop and yes I have taken an economics class. Prices are set by the market. Popularity increases demand and the price along with it. Once supply catches up prices will come down some. A good example is flat panel tv's. In the beginning low supply high demand, high prices. Now demand is still high but supply has caught up and prices have come down. Wait untill the next big technology(some type of laser) comes out. You'll be able to pick up a 50" plasma for $5-600. A market economy is a beautiful thing.

 

[rob wilson]

Have you seen the price on 19.5/54-20 Super Swamper Boggers

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/54-S...8QQihZ007QQcategoryZ66486QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That car has to top the list of "Stupid things people do money" list. Last pic looks like they had the jack under the drag link.

 

[Baja71]

I work in a tire shop and yes I have taken an economics class. Prices are set by the market. Popularity increases demand and the price along with it. Once supply catches up prices will come down some. A good example is flat panel tv's. In the beginning low supply high demand, high prices. Now demand is still high but supply has caught up and prices have come down. Wait untill the next big technology(some type of laser) comes out. You'll be able to pick up a 50" plasma for $5-600. A market economy is a beautiful thing.

All true, but on top of that, the manufacturer is trying to recoup the initial investment ASAP. This includes R&D, Mfg. Equipt and costs, etc. During the initial release of a product, manufacturers almost always skim the market for this reason. Once these costs are covered, the supply and demand largely dictates pricing.

 

[mountainview68]

Aren't the 17s an 8 or 10 ply, more materials, longer assembly process????

 

[1owner66]

It is because people will pay for the BLING.

 

[45acp]

I build tires for a living (not for BFG). What do you want to know? ;D

There are a few variables as to why the 33x15 is so much cheaper than the 33x17, and i believe most were covered in this thread.

1- The 17" is built a little tougher. The beads have larger wire and are more rigid, the cord is thicker, there (probably) is a snow cap between the belts and the tread, and im sure a few other things.

2- The 15" has been around for ever. Right now you are paying for some of the R&D of the new tire.

3- Volume. You can set up several tire machines to build a 33x15 all day. Since the 33x17 is scarce, you only set up one machine and sometime during that day you change it over to another spec. When you can build 20,000 tires of one spec without ever doing a change-over vs. building 300 of the other spec then changing the machine(s) over it drives up cost. Alot.

4- Building. I can build say 300 33x12.50x15's in a 12 hour shift working hard. I can only get 270 a day on a 33x12.50x17. The machine runs slower on the 17", it pulls almost 7" more material on each tire 15 vs 17 so i also have to change out more rolls of material which takes up more time. Also, the 17" carcass is heavier than the 15" and wears me out faster.


Any other questions just ask. I may not know but i can find out.

 

[DonsBolt]

Any other questions just ask. I may not know but i can find out.

Thanks for answering some questions, Who do you build tires for??

 

[gddyap]

They're paying off the initial cost to develop and manufacture the tires. The tooling costs alone are staggering. Like said above, at the current volumes, it would take forever to pay everything off. So they have to charge more to make it worthwhile. Over on pirate4x4.com, lots of people have been asking for Interco to make, I think, a 42" TSL. Easy to ask for it, harder to produce it.

 

[1975SPORT]

Have you seen the price on 19.5/54-20 Super Swamper Boggers

My question would be WHY? But im sure someone has an answer