Price of 16" tyres much higher then 15" - why?

groovebox, Jan 24, 9:50am
Looking at a Cefiro to replace the wifes one which has standard 15" alloys 205/65/15 - the one we are looking at has 16" alloys.

Anyhow the back 2 are probably going to need replacing - phone Firestone - we normally get Firehawk TZ700's cause of the long trips/rough roads.

"How much are 2 x 16" please!" - answer (considering the 15' TZ700 are around $150-ish from the same guy) - "oh $280 each" (balanced on the car) - WTF! and "hard to come by 16" tyres like that".

What am I missing! (standard profile tyres) is the price gap really that much!

I see heaps of cars with 17" and so on rims - admittedly all performance cars with low profiles.

Appreciate any input. (Have not phone anyone else yet as my local F/Stone is generally spot on.)

Thanks for reading.

arrithedog, Jan 24, 9:55am
I had a Cefiro with 16's on. Don't recall them being that much more. But I got them from Beaurepaires I think. It was either them or Goodyear.

pebbles61, Jan 24, 10:00am
if it's like anything like motorcycle's 16" is a rarer/uncommon size. Hence the cost.

groovebox, Jan 24, 10:01am
Thanks - it seemed like quite a price diff - I would have thought maybe $30 extra or something like that. But not $120 dearer per tyre.

I'll make another couple of calls in the morning.

vr4_legnum, Jan 24, 10:07am
What size 16's! 215/55x16!

Can't see how they will that dare, It only a Firestone tyre and nothing at all great about them, Be better off looking at other better brands like Goodyear, Falken, GT Radial Champiro, Shouild be able get those brand of tyres around $200-$230ish

groovebox, Jan 24, 10:10am
Thanks everyone. Appreciated. I hate ringing around as I am sure they get hosed off with people ringing every 5 minutes!:)

franc123, Jan 24, 10:17am
Lack of volume is why they are expensive, 16's generally have never been popular OEM or aftermarket.By contrast 205 65 15's were factory fitted to a whole heap of medium to large cars from Asia and Australia, hence tyre manufacturers produce them in big numbers. Its the same with 235 45 17's these days, common as and cheaper than 16's.

stevo2, Jan 24, 5:04pm
Correct. Here's a site that will give prices for heaps of tyres but they dont price Firestone/Bridgestone etc. http://www.adenstyreshop.co.nz/advanced_search_result.php!Width=25&Diameter=56&keywords=Enter%20keywords&sort=0d&page=1

beart0y, Jan 24, 6:48pm
Just put a set of 205-55 x 16 on at $125 ea all up.

phillip.weston, Jan 24, 11:20pm
I think it must have been the specific size you were after was obscure, rather than being a 16" tyre. I would be looking at 205/60 R16 or 215/60 R16 which are the common 16" tyre sizes for larger vehicles. 205/55 R16 and 205/50 R16 are other common 16" sizes but would be too small of a rolling diameter for the Cefiro, though you may be able to get away with 205/55 R16.

elect70, Jan 25, 2:18am
My last BMW(635csi ) had 14"wheels/tyres, was cheaper tofit 17"rims & tyresasthe man said- not much call for that sizethese dayshenceprice . But kept origonal 14 "basket weaves & sold them with the car .Even my 328 has 18 " on itnow .