From little runarounds to big electric SUVs, why tyres cost what they do — and what might happen by 2035.
THE SUNDAY DRIVE | ARTICLE 1
Real articles for real people.
By Debbie Mearns | Tyres 4 U Wirral
Put the kettle on. We’re talking about tyres.
I know. Not necessarily the first subject you’d choose for a relaxing Sunday morning.
But bear with me, because somewhere between the price of a cup of tea, the cost of a new car and the wheels underneath it, there’s a surprisingly interesting story.
Why have tyres become so expensive? Why can two tyres that look almost identical have completely different prices? And what on earth might we be paying in 2035?
I’ve spent years watching the way people choose tyres, and one thing I’ve learned is that there’s rarely one simple answer.
So, tea ready? Let’s get into it.
Have tyres really become that expensive?
Remember when £40 could buy you a tyre? Depending on the car and how far back your memory goes, perhaps it could.
But are tyres really getting more expensive, or does everything just feel that way?
According to the Office for National Statistics, between 2015 and 2025, tyre prices rose by 47.2%, compared with 38.4% for general consumer prices.
So yes, tyres have risen faster than overall inflation over that decade.
In 2022 alone, the increase in tyre prices was 10.6%.
Raw materials, energy, manufacturing and shipping all play a part. And conflicts around the world can affect those costs too, particularly when oil supplies or shipping routes are disrupted.
I’ll spare you a full economics lesson. It is Sunday, after all.
Because the really interesting part isn’t just what’s happened to prices.
It’s what’s happened to our cars.
When did our wheels get so big?
One of the biggest changes I’ve noticed is the cars people are buying.
Someone might have driven an older car with 14-inch wheels for years, then treated themselves to a newer model with 19-inch wheels.
And why wouldn’t they? The new car looks lovely, it’s comfortable and probably has enough technology to launch a small spaceship.
What it might not tell you is how much four replacement tyres will cost.
We see this with newer cars, electric vehicles, Ford Rangers and larger 4x4s. Customers can be genuinely surprised by the difference.
And I understand why.
When you’re buying a car, you’re thinking about the purchase price, insurance, monthly payments and whether it’ll fit on the driveway.
You’re probably not standing in the showroom asking the salesperson for a quote on four new tyres.
Although perhaps we should start!
Larger wheels aren’t automatically more expensive, but tyre construction, low-profile designs, load ratings and vehicle-specific requirements can all affect the price.
And sometimes the first time someone discovers that is when they need a replacement.
Same tyre size. Completely different lives.
Here’s something that might surprise you.
Two customers can walk into a tyre centre needing exactly the same tyre size, yet the conversation can go in completely different directions.
Because size is only the beginning.
There are budget, mid-range and premium tyres, different speed and load ratings, extra-load (XL) versions, run-flats and sometimes specialist requirements.
And there can be a surprising number of suitable choices.
But before discussing brands and prices, there’s a question I think matters just as much:
“How many miles do you actually drive?”
We once had a customer who drove around 2,000 miles a year in a little runaround. She wanted new budget tyres.
Now compare that with someone covering 20,000 miles a year, regularly travelling on motorways, perhaps with the family and luggage.
Or someone who enjoys a performance car.
Same tyre size, potentially. Completely different lifestyles.
For someone doing 2,000 miles a year, paying more purely in the hope of getting enormous mileage out of a tyre might not offer the value they’d expect. Tyres age as well as wear.
For a high-mileage driver, durability, comfort, noise and wet-weather performance might be bigger priorities.
Neither situation automatically tells us which tyre to buy.
And this is where an honest conversation with your tyre garage really matters.
A good tyre garage should ask how you use your car, explain the suitable options and offer recommendations based on your circumstances.
And if that conversation isn’t happening, don’t be afraid to ask.
You deserve to understand what you’re buying and why one option might suit you better than another.
Some customers drive expensive vehicles and don’t think twice about premium tyres. Others are keeping an older car on the road, sometimes one worth little more than the cost of four replacements.
For them, the decision can be much harder.
And that’s why there’s no universal answer to the budget, mid-range or premium debate.
A more expensive tyre isn’t automatically right for everyone. Equally, the cheapest isn’t necessarily the best long-term value.
Wet grip, efficiency, noise, durability and price can all differ.
And not every tyre with the correct dimensions is suitable for every vehicle. Load ratings, speed ratings and other requirements still matter.
What matters is understanding the choices and deciding what works for your own priorities, lifestyle and budget.
That’s why two customers with the same tyre size might leave with completely different brands.
And both could have made perfectly sensible decisions.
Is the cheapest tyre always the cheapest?
Here’s a little calculation that surprised me.
Imagine two suitable tyres with different prices and lifespans.
| Budget example | Premium example | |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | £60 | £150 |
| Assumed lifespan | 15,000 miles | 25,000 miles |
| Cost per mile | 0.4p | 0.6p |
In this example, the cheaper tyre actually wins on cost per mile.
Interesting, isn’t it?
Of course, those mileages are made-up examples, not predictions of how long budget or premium tyres last. A different set of assumptions could reverse the result.
And cost per mile isn’t everything.
Wet-weather grip, braking performance, noise, comfort and efficiency can all matter. Tyres also age, regardless of how many miles they’ve travelled.
There’s a safety consideration too. In the UK, the legal minimum tread depth for most passenger cars is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread, around the entire circumference.
A tyre can also need replacing because of damage or deterioration, even when it still has plenty of tread.
So choosing a tyre isn’t just about how cheaply it covers the miles.
And a bargain isn’t much of a bargain if it isn’t suitable for the car.
What about electric cars?
We’ve all heard that electric cars wear tyres out faster.
They’re often heavier because of their batteries, and many have instant acceleration. Both can influence tyre wear.
But that doesn’t mean every electric car eats tyres for breakfast.
Driving style, road conditions, pressures, alignment and tyre choice all make a difference.
And petrol and diesel cars aren’t immune to tyre wear either.
Some electric vehicles have particular tyre requirements relating to load, noise or efficiency, but that doesn’t mean every EV needs an expensive EV-branded tyre.
The more useful question is:
“What does this particular car need, and what will replacing its tyres cost?”
That’s worth asking whatever powers your car.
So, what might tyres cost in 2035?
Now for the crystal ball.
Unfortunately, I don’t have one. Just a calculator and another cup of tea.
Nobody knows exactly what tyres will cost in 2035, but let’s imagine a tyre costs £100 in 2026.
Depending on future annual price increases:
| Annual price increase | Illustrative price in 2035 |
|---|---|
| 2% | £120 |
| 3.5% | £136 |
| 5% | £155 |
These are examples, not forecasts.
Prices could rise faster, slower or even fall for certain tyres.
New manufacturing methods, competition and materials could all influence what happens next.
And tyres themselves may change.
Manufacturers are already exploring airless designs, more sustainable materials and technology that can communicate information about tyre conditions.
Some of those ideas are closer to becoming everyday products than others.
But it does make you wonder what we’ll be driving on in another ten years.
One question worth asking before buying your next car
I’m certainly not suggesting you choose your dream car based entirely on the price of its tyres.
That would take some of the fun out of car shopping.
But alongside insurance, servicing and fuel or charging costs, perhaps add one more question:
“How much will four new tyres cost me?”
Find out the size, check the suitable options and whether the car has any particular tyre requirements.
It’s a small question that could prevent a rather expensive surprise.
And you can still have the lovely wheels.
So, where does that leave us?
Tyres have become more expensive, but our cars have changed too.
We’ve moved from smaller wheels on simple family cars to bigger, heavier and more sophisticated vehicles with a wider range of tyre requirements.
And the choices we make aren’t just about the car.
They’re about how far we drive, what we can afford, what matters to us and what we need from our tyres.
The person driving a brand-new electric SUV and the person keeping an old runaround on the road might have very different budgets.
But both deserve clear information and the freedom to make their own choices.
As for 2035?
Perhaps technology will surprise us and tyres will offer better value than ever.
I rather hope so.
Whatever happens, those four round things underneath our cars still have exactly the same important job.
Keeping us connected to the road.
Until next Sunday,
Debbie Mearns
The Sunday Drive
Real articles for real people.
Cars • Costs • Safety • The Future
About the figures
Historical price comparisons are based on Office for National Statistics annual-average Consumer Prices Index data for tyres (L7FM), overall consumer prices (D7BT), and annual tyre price inflation (L7R2), comparing 2015 and 2025.
The 2035 examples are mathematical illustrations based on a £100 tyre in 2026, not industry forecasts. The cost-per-mile examples use hypothetical prices and mileages, not measured tyre lifespans.
Sources:
