Magazine for the professional tire industry
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MTD January 2016 Tire pricing and sizes MTD breaks down 50 years of popularity I n 1966, when 13-, 14- and 15-inch sizes were common- place at the replacement level, two of the most popular tire sizes were 6.95x14 and 7.35x14. Te 6.95x14 was original equipment on vehicles like the Chevy Chevelle, Ford Fairlane and the Slant 6 Pontiac Tempest; the 7.35x14 was standard on the Dodge Coronet, Plymouth Belvedere and the V-8 Tempest. Te tires cost an average of $31.53 and $32.70, respectively. Were those prices high or low in their era compared to today's pricing? To fnd out, we frst took the infation rate over the last 50 years into consideration. 1966 pricing 2015 pricing $31.53 (6.95x14) $230.96 $32.70 (7.35x14) $239.53 Ten we converted those bias-ply sizes to their modern-day radial, 60-series counterparts, courtesy of "Te Old Timers Tire Guide" from Tire Guides Inc. (www.tireguides.com): 6.95x14 = 215/60R14 7.35x14 = 235/60R14 Te average advertised price for a 215/60R14 tire in 2015 was comparatively more than $100 lower — $124.04, according to Tire Intelligence LLC. Te average price for a 235/60R14 tire was $122.26. Facts section: prices and sizes Chart 16 2015 AVERAGE ADVERTISED TIRE PRICES (in the U.S.) Size Major brand Low-cost Overall 205/55R16 $136.17 $77.02 $123.57 215/55R17 $152.84 $89.30 $137.41 215/60R16 $126.43 $78.23 $112.82 235/75R15 $125.03 $90.66 $113.53 275/65R18 $216.08 $146.62 $202.67 LT225/75R16 $181.00 $122.18 $165.50 LT245/75R16 $193.85 $134.72 $179.33 LT245/75R17 $210.60 $156.42 $199.09 31x10.50R15 $173.84 $130.56 $164.05 Source: Tire Intelligence LLC, www.tire-intelligence.com From March 1974: Dealers believed the third round of price hikes in four months was a refection of the U.S. economy. 1920 tire pricing Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. introduced the frst all- season tire, the Tiempo, in 1977. However, it was ad- vertising "all-weather tread casings" in 1920. Its size 30x3 clincher-style fabric all-weather tire cost $19.70 without the tube in 1920. Taking the infa- tion rate into consideration, that same tire would cost $233.78 today. 62