I've been in the tire industry for nearly 12 years now and yes there has been quite an increase in tire prices, especially in the last 2 years. In 2011 alone, we probably saw an average of at least 15% (that may be low for some tire brands) increase on most tire lines. If you haven't priced tires since 2005, then you would definitely have sticker shock. It's like most any other product....groceries, etc. that have increased you just notice the big ticket items more. Raw material prices have skyrocketed. One big factor is the increased price of natural rubber. Consider that only a few families or companies control the natural rubber industry in the entire world. The rubber is produced from rubber trees, which take time to produce. So, the tire manufacturers basically have to pay a premium for this natural rubber, and along with oil prices have driven the prices upward.
