Price of Tyres etc in Latin America
 

My partner and i are about to enter Mexico on our way south on a DR650 and KLR650. We are considering purchasing tyres before leaving the US, as we expect prices in Latin America to be significantly higher... but the decision will depend on just how expensive tyres are once you leave the US...

So - what's the consensus among those who know... is it worth lugging a lump of rubber 1000's of k's to save a few $$???

Thanks!!

Tyresin Mexico
 

If you do a google search for motohouse you should find their site. They are the best and cheapest place to get tyres in Mexico. They will ship to anywhere in Mexico for a very reasonable price.
I don't have info about anywhere further south.
Hope this helps.

tires
 

most of the time the price will be a bit higher but too bad , the problem will be more with the lack of inventory or specific size ( rear KLR) , if you are noo choosy you will find some pretty good tires.If you leave with new tire you could arrive to panama and change them very easily in Panama.

As Hendi mentions Panama is a good place to sort tyres out (especially if you are waiting there and arranging transport further South)

for comparison I paid $78 usd for a rear Pirelli MT 90 Scorpion in Barranquilla, Colombia and $41 usd for a front Pirelli MT60 in Lima, Peru - both on a DR650 - earlier this year.

Suerte

And if you leave the US with good tires and you find they last you through all the exploring in Mexico but won't last to Panama there is always Guatemala City where there are plenty of tires available in a variety of bike supply stores along 7 Avenida in Zona 4 in city center

Don't!
 

Whatever you do, DON'T carry tires with you. You are riding on 18" and 21" tires and you can get them in EVERY country in CA and SA. The prices are decent, maybe 20% more than you can get them on sale in the US.

Pirrelli makes great ON-OFF tires and they are made in Brazil and shipped throughout SA. I recommend the MT21 RallyCross. Knarly on the off road, wear well and you wouldn't believe how smooth they run on asphalt! Especially for those two bikes. They are less in SA than in the states!

Do not fear! Ride On!

Excellent - thanks very much for all the advice, guys... definitely sounds like there's no reason to carry tires with us... we'll both have pretty good rubber when we leave the US, so it should last us at least to Panama.

Thanks again - all the best!

Blog!
 

Well, keep us informed as you ride!

:mchappy::mchappy::mchappy:

Hi Sjoerd, I beg to differ I'm afraid. I fitted new Michelin T63's just as the dirt started in Baja and finally replaced them in Bucaramanga, Colombia 16k km later. (The rear was balder than me but that doesn't matter in Latin America!)
Having ridden down from the US I'm currently in Peru. So far Colombia has been by far the cheapest and easiest place to find tyres.


Carrying tyres is indeed a pain in the arse. Bigmalcy's bikes use 17" not 18" which will make them easier to find in some places and more difficult to find in others. In Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia the police ride DR650's and KLR650's and so 17" tyres are easy to find but it's a different story in Peru. The only place I could get a 17" rear was in Lima.
I was with an English couple in Quitio, Ecuador who were kicking themselves for not replacing their tyres just prior to leaving Colombia. They had a real struggle to find 18" tyres in Ecuador.


The Brazil made Pirelli MT21's and MT60's are indeed great value/performing/wearing tyres.

er .... Jedi ....how are you disagreeing with my statement ?I can't find it.
As you demonstrate different riders have different priorities and needs re: tire wear rates.
I don't like to replace tires either unless they are worn out and I will go into Mexico and CA on half worn out tires knowing that I will find something . I do not worry about paying a few bucks more for a tire than at home , the difference would be eaten up by having them removed prematurely then remounted later to use them up.The trick then is to be home when you do need to replace tires again. Personally I don't think I am very hard on tires, no deep dirt and rock work, wheelspin, or road race style riding so anything round and black will keep me going:scooter: in an emergency. Prices for the well known brand name tires in Cd. Guatemala are in my experience no higher than in Ontario and installation done at tire shops is really cheap. Depending on one's route and time available somebody could easily do 16000km within Mexico alone so a tire might eventually be needed.
Souds like you are on a really good trip, Enjoy!!!:thumbup1:

Prices MT 60 in the southern half of SA
 

I payed the following prices for a Pirelli MT 60 rear:
Paraguay: € 61,-
Bolivia: € 64,-
Chile: € 105,-
Argentina: € 155,-
No kidding! And when I gasped in Tucuman, Argentina, the guy told me that I'm lucky 'cause they'd raise the prices next week! This was 3 months ago.

Those tires are cheaper in Paraguay and Bolivia than in Mexico.

And if you think tires are expensive in Argentina, don't bother looking in Brazil.

I spent about US$1500 on tires on a yearlong trip. That's 6 rears and 4 fronts: 2x USA, Nicaragua, 2x Peru, Chile, 2x Argentina, 2x Brazil. Brazil was the most expensive; the cheapest was probably the USA, but after a certain point I don't really care. You can always find a tire sooner or later, but if you're picky about needing an MT-21 or a TKC-80 you might search long and hard in some places--or have to wait a week. Contrary to one poster above, I saw lots of 17" rears in Ica and Cuzco (Peru), and assume they were available elsewhere as well. However, note that I'm not picky.

Brazil, where all those Pirelli's are made, was for me the most difficult place to find tires to fit my KLR in addition to being the most expensive. I didn't try to buy in French Guiana, Suriname or Guyana, but it probably means something that no one in those countries had ever seen a KLR.

Hope that helps.

Mark

Brazil gets the award for the most expensive tires. In Rio I saw a Pirelli MT-90 150x18 for $550 USD! IIRC correctly, in Rio I paid about $200 USD for a 140x18 MT-90. and almost $100 for a 21" Michelin Sirac, and that damned tire would start to get the wobbles over 100 mph.

About 17" tires. My experience was that they are more common than 18" tires just about everywhere in SA. In Peru I saw 17's in Cajamarca, Trujillo, Cuzco, Puno, and just about every large town in Bolivia, FWIW. Of course since I was looking for 18" tires I saw 17's everywhere. :-)

Lima, Peru: Pirelli MT60
 

Update to my previous post:

Got a new set of Pirelli MT60 for my BMW R1200GSA in Lima, Peru:

Importer:
DIRELI S.R.L.
VictorAlzamora 304
Surquillo, Lima
Tel 01-2423912
S12°06.901'
W77°00.746'

The only shop that can balance motorcycle tires is
Honda MOTOPERFORMANCE
Ricardo Rivera Schreiber (speaks English)
Av. Rep. de Panama 5329
Surquillo, Lima
rrivera[at]motoperformanceperu.com
tel 01-2412132
cell 99-4230925
S12°07.038'
W77°01.092'

Price is the same in both shops:

front 100/90-19
179 Soles = €48,-
back 140/80-17
285 Soles = €77,-

Don't know how much mounting and balancing is, haven't paid that bill yet.

These size tires work well on the 1200 GSA, although they differ from the permitted size. I use MT60 for 35000 km now. Front tire last at least 12000 km, back tire only around 6000 km. Very good on gravel, dirt and asphalt, didn't have much sand an mud so far.

Next tire Change was 10 Dec 2011 in Cali, Colombia:
Got a MT 60 rear tire for 200,000 Colombian Pesos, a little more than US$ 100.
Ask Mike at http://casablancahostel.wordpress.com/contact/
The tire was delivered free of charge to the hostel, I had it mounted a couple of blocks down the road for a few Dollars.
When I was in Calle 15 later - a street full of mechanics and bike shops - I checked the price: In the 2 shops I asked I was quoted 240,000 Pesos, so Mike's connection is your best bet.

Equador: I checked in a couple of places in Quito and north. They have the MT 60 but not my size. 140 seems not to be available in the country, they have 130 though.

Panama: Price of Pirelli MT60
 

Just to keep this thread going:
I was looking for some Michelin Anakee2 for two days in Panama City. No luck.
Finally I got me another set of Pirelli MT60 for the BMW 1200GSA today at [url=http://www.mphmotopartes.com/]MPH
Front 100/90-19 US$ 77
Rear 140/80-17 US$ 133

BTW, the BMW dealership does not (!) stock any tires. And the place where they sent me to get Michelins is not a shop but a warehouse - no-one around. I went there twice, no luck. When I was at mph (the only brand they sell is Pirelli) two days ago I was told they didn't have anything my size. When I was there again today they suddenly found the ones I needed. Lesson learned: don't trust a sales person in Panama. Make them allow you to go into the warehouse and have a look-see yourself!

Pirelli are smart and gaining a lot of sales in Latin America.
Prices are coming down on Pirellis at many bike shops in Mexico, the new Pirelli plant is now open for business in Mexico and that means more savings and availability. They used to be pricey, now they are much cheaper.

Pirelli MT60 MT90 Tyre Prices Lima 2012
 

I just bought a rear tyre from Desert Sport - Honda in Miraflores (460-480 Narcissa Colina, Miraflores).

Tyres here (Peru) are very reasonably priced, slightly more costly than in Bolivia though.

Here are the prices in Soles quoted for Pirelli MT60 and MT90:

MT90 Scorpion 120/90/17 (64S): 215.35
MT90 Scorpion 90/90/21 (54V): 142.57
MT60 90/90/21 (54T): 137.05

MT60 120/90/17 they did not have.

They did have a range of other sizes including size 18.

Changing the tyre was an extra 20 Soles.

Cu on the road.

Checked out for Pirelli MT60 / MT90s in Barranquilla Colombia today. Eventually found a place with an MT60 120/90/17 in size. (Though didn't check any Honda dealer directly yet)

The marked price was 215000.00COP but the guy offered it at 180000.00COP
This translates to about 100USD

The tyres looked fine, only noticed that the TWI imprints on the sidewalls were a bit faint or distorted but I recon this is likely a factory batch defect of no consequence. (I cannot imagine there is a big market for counterfeit MT60s...)

This was in the bike district around intersections Carrera 43/44 and Calle around-mid-40s. Going to check out a Honda mechanic in the same area, recommended to me by a local friend and fellow biker.

2x MT60 18"/21" $US 120 in Sucre Bolivia Then two dollers to fit them.

got tyres here for you in antigua guatemala, no worries guys.

Cool we will be down to see you for a front 21" for Maya, our MT21 in evaporating in the heat.

Where can we find you?, we will be in Cuba for a couple or 3 weeks ish then heading across to Guatemala for Spanish in Xela.

We are currently in Playa Del Carmen.

Cheers Andi

i am in Antigua , ask for Taz. 2nd avenida sur #16
i have a MT21 waiting for you, i have scorpions too ,if you want to change profile.
Cheers

Taz

Heidenau in Mexico
 

Has anyone been able to get Heidenau in Mexico or am I being
way to picky ? :helpsmilie:

I don't know about Mexico, but you can get Heidenau in Guatemala and even cheaper in El Salvador .

Any suggestions of places in particular I should look for heidenau in Guatemala, I'm planning a week in Lago de Atitlan for spanish lessons and go to visit Antigua and maybe Guatemala City ?:scooter:

Bavaria Motors (BMW) in Guate city or contact fellow inmate marior97 on ADV for tires in San Salvador ; he has the better price :clap:

BTW, Spanish classes are better in Antigua then in San Pedro ; there are also much more options for day rides out of Antigua then from the lake .
But don't get me wrong, the lake is spectacular !! I was just talking about Spanish lessons

lesson learned
 

Thank you very much guaterider for the info :D
I will start a account at ADV and contact him.

This is the FB link for the Heidenau place in San Salvador

Motorider, S. A. de C. V. | Facebook

Heya Taz

We only need to get to Bogota where we will change the rear out and prolly zap a new front K60 then too (I like those :clap:).

Being a local what do you recommended for CA road surface we will encounter?

We will be another week and a half in Mex then a week in Belize then to Guatemala to school up on Spanish, look forward to meeting you guys.

Cheers Andi

i did some investigation, there is no heidenau in guatemala, only in el salvador, i was at bmw in guate city today and they dont have them.
the best option here is pirelli scorpions, great milage and grip, and price worthy.
will see you guys pop up here ,

ride safe

cheers

Taz

ps,
BMW did not even have the castrol 20w50 , 10W50 or even the gearbox oil , i do have it here in Antigua.

Heya Taz

Our MT21 has been quickly destroyed itself on the Belize coarse roads so we might not make it to Antigua.

Can you please email us at twomotokiws@gmail.com and let us know what options for tires you have with the cost, also is there any option to have it sent up to San Benito?

Many thanks Andi

VRC is the OFICIAL Pirelli importer and their price is the same all over the country. There is one in San Benito or close by. They will get the tires for you if they are in anywhere in Guatemala. 24/48 hours.

Dirección: 5a. Avenida 6-07 Zona 1 Locales La Hermita, San Benito, Peten

Motoshop VRC | VRC Petén

Check out this place , they have all kind and brand of tires for big bikes


OGRISMOTO

We say three times in three emails 21 inch then they come back and they have one that will fit which is 18 inch!!??? :eek3:

Hmmm they are in Guate City?, if we make it that far we will see Taz.

Hey Guaterider, that is a great stock of items at the Ogri place. Very helpful to know.:thumbup1:
I can remember reading Ogri back in the '80's.

RIf you can keep air in your tires until you get to San Benito
you should be okay, there are a number of bike and parts shops there
If they have nothing suitable in stock ( probable) they can order in tires from Guatemala City and they will arrive in a day or2 or3
while you lolligag around Flores. If the tires are still up to it you could visit Tikal
for a day.
Among others , see Mercado Ferretero El Campesino on the main business
street , Calle 4 Z 1 heart of San Benito. Be prepared to work with brands of tires other than your favored Pirelli.
Most any bigger town with bike shops can order them in .
If you do manage to get to La Capital ( Guatemala City) go to
Av7 in the Zona 9 and Z 4 boundary area , simply head for the tall steel frame tower
which straddles that street and you will be in the
area which has clusters of motorcycle related shops.
Immediately at the tower base you will find Repuestos Total (RT) shop
which sells Kenda tires, perfectly good rubber, but will send you to another
shop called Cadisa to have them installed.RT will see to it that the tires are
brought to Cadisa, you do not have to drag them there on your
bike .And Cadisa is located at the south end of the city on CA 9 highway entry,
easy enough to find but it takes time.
Actually Cadisa is a big business, import and distributor of bikes and
parts and would probably save some time if you spoke to them first.
Figure on spending the night in Guatemala City , save your nerves by not
needing to rush out . You can get a good room for $25 or less in Hotel Clariss
at 8 Av 15 -14 Z 1 with secure guarded parking across the street, restaurant, wifi

For what is worth, I have installed Maxxis and Rinaldi tires on my DP bikes, and was pleasantly surprise at their grip on both tarmac and dirt. the 90/90 21 are about $50-$55. Autocenter (I know the name is missleading) as they only sell moto stuff has them and are located in La terminal Z4. 3 calle and 5 Av. Zone 9.

March 2013: MT90 rear 120/90/17 - Barranquilla, Colombia - 180000COP
December 2012: MT60 rear 120/90/17 - Brazil, Boa Vista - 285BRL
June 2013: MT90 120/90/17 rear - Cuenca, Ecuador - 95USD
June 2013: MT90 90/90/21 front - Cuenca, Ecuador - 68USD
June 2013: Pirelli MT60A 90/90/21 Front Tyre - Trujillo, Peru - 124PEN (MT21 about the same price)

...it depends...
 

I left New Jersey with 3200 miles on a new F800GS, sporting Anakee 2 tires with a Heidenau K80 (?) rear and a Mofu something or another across the back seat. I had built a plywood platform for the tires to rest on, put all kinds of stuff in between the stacked tires (even crammed crap into the tires), and put a round wooden lid on top. The rig was plywood, making a platform base of two pieces, connected with a hinge. The forward piece "folded" back over the rear piece, exposing the passenger seat when needed.

The initial portion of the trip was basically a quick rip from New Jersey on highways to Panama. There was very little off road riding in Central America. Ok, there was a ride to Punta la Flur, NI, to see turtles come and lay eggs. That was about two hours on dirt/gravel road. The rest was asphalt, thru eastern Colombia, Venezuela and into northern Brazil.

When I close to Guyana, I switched to the Heidenau and Mofu (60/40 tires.) These tires got me through 275 miles of dirt, gravel and some stretches of sand in Guyana, a dozen or so miles of construction in eastern Suriname and ~60-80 miles of dirt/gravel east of Oiapoque, Brazil. I swapped the tires for the Anakees later than I should have, in Sao Paulo, BR.

In Buenos Aires, AR, I threw away the rear Anakee and put the Heidenau back on. There was some off road/long gravel road riding in Argentina and Boliva, which I was glad to have more aggressive tires available to mount. In Copacabana, Bolivia, I threw away the front tire and put the spare back on (I'm a little confused about what I was carrying and what I riding on at this point...I think it was the Anakee that was worn out.) I never changed the front tire again for the balance of the trip.

In Cusco, Peru, the Heidenau rear tire was worn out. Pocked up a Pirelli for $130 USD. It lasted for roughly the next 8,000 miles and was replaced with a Bridgestone in Mexico City ($230 USD), which got me back to New Jersey.

Up until Cusco, some where between 2/3 and 3/4 of the way through a 32,500 mile trip, I avoided spending time hunting for tires that would:

• fit my wheel rims (21" front, 17" rear)
• fit changing road conditions
• fit my budget

I had what I needed, when I needed it -- all tied on the back on the bike. A simple and light weight bicycle cable lock added security and piece of mind that the tires would so missing. For some riders carrying spare tires just doesn't work. Some bikes are easy to find replacement tires in distant lands, so they say. I only have limited experience shopping for tires and it wasn't the highlight of my trip. If you need a tire, buy it while you can. Just pay the "gun to the head price" and know that you are traveling safely on adequate wheels. If I were to do it again, and the road was a mix on thousands of miles of tarmac alternating with hundreds of miles of dirt, gravel, sand, then yeah, I just might carry my own spares again, but it will depend on the route, length of the trip, and budget.

PS: Riders in my MC have been going crazy for the Anakee3 tires.

all prices of tires have been jacked up in Guatemala, mexico and el salvador. dont expect any descent tire under $200

Taz

I mean the other one...
 

>PS: Riders in my MC have been going crazy for the Anakee3 tires.

...I meant to write "Karoo 3."

Personally I got a lot of mileage on Heidenau K60. It looks like they changed the design and the new tires lack the ridge on top, so I'm not so sure any more.

The Tai brothers at the "tai-ller" by the Arctic Cat dealer in z10 Guatemala city have Heidenaus from time to time - 200 bucks a pop.

The honda dealer sold me some great metzeler enduros for under a hundred bucks.

You can buy super cheap tires and just see how long they last. As long as they feel good and you aren't lazy about changin tires I am starting to think they are the most economical route. Then again tires that wear out quickly can add all kinds of expenses...