Copied from Advrider

According to online tire industry publications, Dunlop’s motorcycle tires are going to see a price hike in North America this fall.

If you’re shocked that there are multiple online tire industry publications, well, we’re kind of surprised ourselves. Nevertheless, both Rubber News and TireBusiness.com are reporting on different aspects of this story. Alas, both websites are paywalled, but here’s the gist of it: Sumitomo Rubber North America (SRNA), the parent company behind Dunlop’s motorcycle tire business, is facing rapidly rising costs. As a result, it’s increasing prices again, boosting the MSRPs for moto rubber by 15 percent effective October 2021.

A call to SRNA’s offices was not returned, so we are unable to positively confirm this news.

This follows two earlier price hikes in 2021 for various SRNA passenger vehicle tires. It also comes as the US’s Consumer Price Index inflation rate is officially pegged at 5.4 percent from September of 2020 through September of 2021. That’s already quite high, but some prophets of economic doom say the situation is far worse. American inflation rates are purposefully under-reported, some economists claim, and actually reach into the double-digit range, around 15 percent—which would match up with Dunlop’s moto tire price increases.

With motorcyclists already feeling other supply chain pinches (restricted parts availability, rising costs of gasoline, long waits for new machines), the news that tire prices are rising is most certainly unwelcome. To paraphrase General George S. Patton, “I can eat my belt, but my bike’s gotta have tires.”

However, it’s unsurprising to see the price hikes. Some of Dunlop’s tires may be made in Asia, but its New York-based plant is the only motorcycle tire factory in North America … and therefore subject to the same economic woes the rest of our continent’s industrial sector is currently facing. Shipping snarls, raw material shortages and price increases, labor turnover, not to mention the constant presence of COVID-19—it’s all happening now.

That's not good. I don't need tires at the moment and hope that when I do this supply chain issue will have resolved.

(11-11-2021, 04:04 PM)Grumpy Goat Wrote: That's not good. I don't need tires at the moment and hope that when I do this supply chain issue will have resolved.

Are you expecting them to lower prices once "supply chain issues" are resolved?

(11-12-2021, 07:02 AM)TriangleRider Wrote: Are you expecting them to lower prices once "supply chain issues" are resolved?

Not "expecting" as much as "hoping". Anything to do with motorcycles comes at a premium especially in North America where people ride for pleasure and have, on average, more disposable income. Vendors know this and price their goods accordingly knowing that they would still sell.

Inflation and supply chain problems will probably continue for a year or two. I don't need a new car, I don't need a new motorcycle, I don't need a new hemet, etc. I will need gas and tires but as long as they are available I'll be in a good position to pay the going price. My concern is that at some point supply will be scarce, not just prices going up, shelves will be empty.

I do have 4 used rear tires that fit both bikes (they use exactly the same tires) in my garage. They have been nicely patched and for me are perfectly fine. I just have no used front tires, and I do have to get a handle on using my tire changer ...

(11-14-2021, 05:59 PM)runnerhiker Wrote: My concern is that at some point supply will be scarce, not just prices going up, shelves will be empty.

Supply would also be my biggest concern for tires.
I have two rear tires in the garage with a couple thousand miles of tread left but that would not work for a trip.