KO2's - wth?

[TJM]

So I've got new wheels, and I'm looking to get tires for them. Naturally I'm interested in the BFG T/A KO2's, the reigning champs of AT. I've had them on my last build and loved them.

Every place I call or email tells me "we can't get that manufacturer, is there another brand you're interested in?" -I'm sorry, tire store, did you just tell me you can't get BF Goodrich tires??- or they quote me ridiculous prices (one told me they go for $430 per tire for 275/70/17; WTF???).

Am I missing something? Is this all because of the supply chain or something? I've got a set of Method 305's waiting on new shoes and nothing to dress them in. Getting frustrated.

 

[mrblah]

All the popular tires are like that , I had to wait 5 months for Ko3 and yoko g003. It’s unfortunate

 

[02SE]

Inflation has been on the rise for over a year. Devaluing the dollar has that effect...

 

[Pedro367]

My guess is that since you are looking at an in between size like the 275/70 is there is much less supply vs. a 265/70 or 285/70 which you won't have issues finding at all. They are way more popular sizes.

 

[repo]

Try Discount Tire for Goodyear UltraTerrain AT. They are like a mix of KO2s and Duratracs. Get the E rated they ride much nicer than KO2 Es. They are exclusive to DT and they seem to have a good supply of them.

But yes the problem is from money printing = more demand. My KO2s were made in USA and my UltraTerrains made in Brazil so doesn't seem to be the supply chain, unless it's the import supply of rubber I suppose.

 

[2021nightshade4x4]

Discount Tire / America’s Tire, too? My Discount Tire app has 275/55R20 (which should be a MORE expensive size) at $279.

Your tire size, 275/70R17, is $286.

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[RobS10]

Inflation has been on the rise for over a year. Devaluing the dollar has that effect...

Since tires are made from petroleum, high oil means high tire prices. "Regular" inflation is probably at work too, since everyone expects prices to be going up for just about everything these days.

 

[TJM]

My guess is that since you are looking at an in between size like the 275/70 is there is much less supply vs. a 265/70 or 285/70 which you won't have issues finding at all. They are way more popular sizes.

285s lead to adding spacers and/or modding the wheel well (unless I'm mistaken) which I'm trying to avoid. I want to keep it simple, like my brain.

 

[TJM]

Discount Tire / America’s Tire, too? My Discount Tire app has 275/55R20 (which should be a MORE expensive size) at $279.

Your tire size, 275/70R17, is $286.

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I checked that, but when I try to order them they say they don't have any

EDIT: Okay you, I don't know what kind of voodoo you're working over there, nightshade, but I rechecked discount tire and they're in, for $286 per! Now if I could just find that big duffle bag full of $100 bills... No? Nothing? Well it was worth a shot.

Order placed, got my wheels ready to go, and should have these mounted up and ready for photos next week.

Thanks T4R!

 

[02SE]

Since tires are made from petroleum, high oil means high tire prices. "Regular" inflation is probably at work too, since everyone expects prices to be going up for just about everything these days.

Yep, and oil prices have been on the rise for over a year. For the same reason that inflation in general has been on the rise...

 

[Pedro367]

285s lead to adding spacers and/or modding the wheel well (unless I'm mistaken) which I'm trying to avoid. I want to keep it simple, like my brain.

For sure. I don't disagree with your size choice and I may do the same size one day. Just pointing out a potential reason.

FWIW, Falken shows the AT3W available in that size on Amazon. But, I'm like you and love my KO2s.

 

[2021nightshade4x4]

Since tires are made from petroleum, high oil means high tire prices. "Regular" inflation is probably at work too, since everyone expects prices to be going up for just about everything these days.

It is not “acceptable” for tire prices to double on this fact alone. They are not as price elastic as gasoline. Consumers can step down in tire to meet a price point and that’s just not possible with fuels.


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[M_RED]

Same Damn Problem

Finally ordered tires so I can take my snow tires off, and immediately after ordering I get a call saying that they are not actually available... 2nd choice... also not available... Discounttire website is not accurate at all..

balls

 

[RobS10]

It is not “acceptable” for tire prices to double on this fact alone. They are not as price elastic as gasoline. Consumers can step down in tire to meet a price point and that’s just not possible with fuels.


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Call it Mature Corporate Capitalism, Power of Monopolies, Greed, whatever you want. But it's the way of the world we live in. Robert Reich is definitely on the Liberal side of things, but you can't say he isn't right...
Robert Reich (The Hidden Link Between Corporate Greed and...)

 

[Jetboy]

FWIW - about 5 gallons of oil are needed for the feed stock to make 1 tire according to the interwebs. So $100/bbl oil = roughly $11.90 worth of oil per tire. It's basically meaningless in terms of production cost.

My guess is the problem is transportation. Global shipping is still a colossal cluster right now. I'm trying to get a container from northern Utah to Anchorage and what used to cost $5-8k or so was quoted to me recently for $30k. FML. So there's probably some additional shipping costs and also shortage due to shipping not being available. I'd guess Goodyear and Cooper would be more likely to be available in the USA. But who knows. Costco might be a good place to check to see if they've got any.

 

[toyorgy]

Through the four 4runners and many other 4wd trucks and suvs and the many tires i've gone thru, my favorite tire is the Firestone destination MT.

 

[HanginInUtah]

It's not the oil pricing, as was pointed out above. It's the rubber shortage from Asia, where most of it comes from. I've heard of rubber tree infestations, or rubber trees burning, but whatever the reason, the supply is short.
In fact, Goodyear is starting to use soybean oil in place of petroleum with some of their tires. The ones I buy for my Police Interceptors are using soybean oil in their compound.
You think getting new shoes for your ride is hard? Try racing... I know of a few local circle-track (Sprint car and Modifieds) that are second-guessing if they will have rubber to race with this summer.

 

[2021nightshade4x4]

Call it Mature Corporate Capitalism, Power of Monopolies, Greed, whatever you want. But it's the way of the world we live in. Robert Reich is definitely on the Liberal side of things, but you can't say he isn't right...
Robert Reich (The Hidden Link Between Corporate Greed and...)

A person’s politics don’t turn me away from their ideas. I’ve come to realize that neither of the two parties care about skilled labor. So I don’t expect too much from someone’s announced allegiance to either one.

I read the page from the link. Robert Reich (why did I initially picture Rob Reiner!) addresses the elephant in the room directly. Companies that go public put themselves on a treadmill, they live and die by the stock performance each quarter. There’s no reserves left to pull back the slingshot a bit, so to speak, and make a worthwhile investment that’s better in the long run.

(If we-the-plebeians are advised against day trading from every finance guru out there, why are shareholders allowed to be impulsive and demanding in ways that will ultimately either bankrupt a company or trigger stock buybacks? Is it really in the best interest of all involved to contract out labor for a short term savings, in exchange for losing tighter quality control and strategic vision?)

He has an interesting stance against monopolies. Stricter antitrust regulations. Geographic monopolies will be interesting to address. I work in utilities where it’s not practical to run three sets of power lines and three sets of gas lines in a neighborhood, from all different companies. It should be sufficient to either cap prices at an absolute ceiling (in cases where they’ve already run uncontrolled too long) or set maximum rate cap increases per year, as a preventative measure.


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[repo]

It is not “acceptable” for tire prices to double on this fact alone. They are not as price elastic as gasoline. Consumers can step down in tire to meet a price point and that’s just not possible with fuels.


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They go up to what ever price people are willing & able to pay. The fed printed more money in the last 2 year period than they did in entire previous 20 year period. It's get's in to people's hands through the stock market bubble, leverage from inflated house values, increased credit card limits, salary increases, business loans for doggy daycares and the like, and plain old mailing people checks. This is what you get. Now it is inflating needs (food) on top of wants (fancy tires) so the fed had to begin pulling the plug. Prices will go down when people stop buying them and "price destruction" sets in. It will start with KO2s, then the step down ones when people start running them bald because milk is $12 a gallon and they are underwater on their house.

 

[downshift]

Tire Rack has them for $253 with $70 off if you buy four.