Tyres in Bolivia
 

I am currently 1 day south of Salta, Argentina

My rear tyre has about 1000km left before it needs replacing

Will I be able to find a tyre (130-80-17 or 120-90-17) for my DR650 in southern Bolivia…..in Tarija, Tupiza or Potosí OR am i better off trying to buy it in Salta & carry it until the old one is done?

All opinions welcome

We had no luck finding tires in southern Bolivia April last year, looking for 140/80-17 and 150/70-17. I reached out to Robin at Uyuni motorcycle tours, figuring he'd have a good idea, and he was very willing help - if your are headed to Uyuni, I'd check with him and see if things have changed. We entered the country just a week after boarders opened (post-COVID) for the first time in two years, so supply situation may be different now.

Robin is a great guy - we ended up doing a three day tour with him on his bikes, saving ours form the salt bath. But he helped me with lots of info on tirers, road conditions, etc., long before I brought up the idea of doing business with his tour company. A helpful guy and he has a shop and can work on your bikes if needed, including I assume installing tires if they can be found.

https://www.uyunimotorcycletours.com/who-we-are/

Basic rule of travel - If you see it, and you need it now, or will need it soon - grab it - it might not be there at the next stop.
Personally I'd just change it now and be happy to have it on and done. That last bit of tread isn't worth the few dollars, considering it's also thin, and when you're most likely to get a flat, or have poor traction / water clearing in a rain storm.

Thanks for both of your replies

I contacted Robin who suggested that tyres “should” be available in Tarija

I then contacted a tyre place in Salta mentioned in another post & bingo! They have a pile of Dunlop 130/80-17’s.

Taking Grant’s advice that a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush, I will buy the tyre here in Salta. Given how much tread I still have, I will carry it to Tarija (about 600km) and get it fitted there

The tyre cost 70,000 pesos…about $188 or £155

The tyre shop is called Benavides Neumáticos (it’s right next door to KTM Salta)
The guy in charge is called Gonzalo Soler (Tel. +54 9 3873 043555)

Change it in Salta, there are a couple of good bike shops there and its the last outpost of civilisation before Bolivia

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk

Another vote for "buy now".

We needed tyres (4x4 not bike) in Bolivia and had to source them in La Paz, then wait for them to be delivered to Sucre.

Tyres are more available and a better price in Argentina.

My experiences was a bit different, although this was in 2017-2018 so things could have changed. First of all - all motorbike related stuff was insanely expensive in Argentina. At least for bikes bigger than 200-300 cc.

And I rode in/through Bolivia 3 different times and all of those times I needed and bought tyres there for a 650 bike. I bought a front tyre size 21’ 90/90 in Cochabamba, a rear tyre size 17’ 130/80 in Sucre and the last time through Bolivia I got another rear tyre in Santa Cruz. It didnt take much time to source those tyres either if my memory serves me correct.
The selection wasnt much to boast about however - so I couldnt be picky.

I concur. Most recently in 2019, but also in 2016, I bought tyres in La Paz (GPS coordinates on iOverlander app). Metzeler and Pirelli, both made in same factory in Brasil tyres for a bigger 650 single were available and in plentiful supply for a fair price. Also lots of other consumables. Also a Chinese/Taiwanese no name brand of tyre.

I found prices for bike parts in Argentina to be much higher, but it'll also depend on proper and Blue $ exchange rates.

Managed to get to Uyuni before the tyre needed changing.

Went out with Robin at Uyuni Motorcycle Tours on a couple of XR400’s & had a fantastic day riding in the mountains & then across the Salar

Robin fitted the new tyre in his workshop & gave the bike a full inspection (rear bearing was in need of grease)

Great guy, great service, very reasonable prices - highly recommended to anyone who needs work done or is looking for a tour in the Uyuni area

Contact: Robin Thomas +591 7877 3787
https://www.uyunimotorcycletours.com/

Wandering around Cochabamba today, I stumbled across not 1 but 2 shops selling tyres:

EuroBike - Calle Portales. Tel 7739 4191
Had a good selection of Michelin tyres
Anakee Wild (130-80/17) $140 (B 975)


ProRide - Calle Padilla. Tel 7791 0070
Had a good selection of Mitas tyres
E07+ (120-70/19) $196


So yes, tyres are available in Bolivia