The cost of wheels and tires.

Rubber is **** these days... sucks

Not really, we just want it to do different things. If you want to run 40 year old bias ply's go right ahead, but they weren't making 200 treadwear AA traction and A temp rated tires that are rated for 168 mph for a street car back then either.

Really the problem is not putting enough miles on your car, I try to wear out my tires before they "time out".