World's 7 Most Expensive Tyres - Read, See and Gasp
For most of us, while buying a car, the focus is usually on the cost of the car. We rarely bother to find out the price of the set of tyres.
Perhaps the only time we even consider the tyre cost is when tyres need to be replaced. And even in such a scenario, we explore multiple avenues (online or offline) to get the best deal on tyres. In fact there are several online tyre retailers who guarantee the best quality tyres at the lowest prices.
Even if this behaviour is prevalent in 99% of the tyre buying population, there is still the 1% that is different. And this 1%, ladies and gentlemen, is the group that buys some of the most expensive tyres in the world.
What Makes a Tyre Expensive?
The really expensive tyres are usually present on expensive vehicles like super cars that are super performers. Hence they need specific design characteristics to support such high performance and withstand the resultant wear and tear.
Or they may be used for specific applications that require additional engineering and design efforts, thus pushing up the cost.
Or they may be one of a kind or exhibition/showcase pieces created to coincide with a special event.
In any way they are expensive. Period.
Feast your eyes on the top 7 most expensive tyres in the world.
1929 Leyland Lion Bus Tyres at the Lincolnshire Transport Museum
These tyres cost the museum £3,000
For one of its most valuable exhibits, 1929 Leyland Lion Bus (the only surviving model of its kind in the world), the Lincolnshire Transport Museum paid £3,000 for a set of six tyres to get the bus on road to mark the Museum's 50th anniversary in November 2009.
The buses original tyres were severely cracked and a completely new set of the 24 inch tyres had to be specially imported from abroad.
Jewelled Special Edition Cooper Tyres
The sparkling Cooper logo in diamonds and crystals
To celebrate the diamond jubilee of its association with the British Formula 3 series, Cooper Tyres created a special diamond and Swarovski crystals studded tyre. This tyre was used solely for a photo-op and media publicity. So no prices were revealed.
No prizes for guessing that this tyre would be a top contender for the most expensive tyre in the world. See image below, doesn't the tyre take your breath away?
Michelin Tyres for Caterpillar 797
Michelin tyre for Caterpillar 797
To ably support a total weight of 1,375,000 pounds of truck and load, the Caterpillar 797 dump truck uses specialized Michelin tyres that weigh close to 12,000 pounds and are about 13 feet tall. With a size of 59/80R63, these XDR tyres are the largest in the world and one of the most expensive at close £27300 per tyre.
Let us now consider some of the most expensive tyres fitted on to supercars.
Michelin Tyres for the Bugatti Veyron - Most Expensive Tyres for a Supercar
The Bugatti Veyron tyres - expensive
A set of 4 new tyres for the Bugatti Veyron cost £23,500, easily making them the most expensive.
This super car is capable of a top speed of 253 mph and the tyres should be able to provide adequate handling and braking abilities for that speed.
Hence, Michelin had to create specific customized larger size tyres for this car pushing up the costs.
Pagani Zonda R Supercar Tyres
Pagani Zonda R Supercar
A set of tyres for this supercar cost around £3800. The required tyre size is 255/35/19 in the front, while the rear tyres have a size of 335/30/20.
The Ferrari 599 GTO Tyres
The Ferrari 599 GTO
Keeping in line with the trend of expensive tyres for supercars; a set of tyres for the Ferrari 599 GTO cost around £3500. This particular car requires the front tyres to be of the size 285/30ZR20, while the rear tyre size is 315/35ZR20.
Michelin Pilot Super Sport Blackwall Tyres for the Ferrari 12 Berlinetta
This showcar Ferrari F12 Berlinetta sported Pirelli P-Zero tyres. But Michelin have confirmed that they are OE tyre suppliers for this car.
Unveiled in April this year, the F12 Berlinetta is Ferrari's most powerful production model yet. Equipped with a V12 6262 engine, it promises to deliver 740 hp power, catapulting you from 0 to 62mph in a mere 3.1 seconds. The maximum achievable speed is 211mph.
To support this fantastic performance and keep the vehicle 'grounded', so to speak. Michelin has customized the Pilot Super Sport Blackwall tyres to size 255/35ZR20 for the front wheels. The rear tyres are of the size 315/35ZR20. A complete set is priced at close to £1000
In our list of the most expensive tyres in the world, we have covered such exorbitantly priced tyres from No. 1 to No.6 that £1000 actually seems on the lower side. Did you get that feeling?
Well, as they say, it is all about looking at things in the right perspective. Hope you enjoyed reading this piece.
Did we miss out any tyre? Do tell us in the comments section.
This article is written by Azzam Sheikh (who also provided the images) on behalf of National Tyres and Autocare, the UK's No.1 Fast fitter provider for Tyres and Automobile parts.