You’re making perfection the enemy of good. Nobody said bikes themselves were free - everything requires some maintenance and parts.
And if we are comparing bike tires to car tires, they are still a lower volume of petroleum based rubber, and cheaper (especially given that you need two rather than four). A new bike tire is generally anywhere between $50-100, so that’s $100-200 to change the pair you are riding. And new car tires are about $150-250 depending on brand and size, so that’s $600-$1000.
You’re making perfection the enemy of good. Nobody said bikes themselves were free - everything requires some maintenance and parts.
And if we are comparing bike tires to car tires, they are still a lower volume of petroleum based rubber, and cheaper (especially given that you need two rather than four). A new bike tire is generally anywhere between $50-100, so that’s $100-200 to change the pair you are riding. And new car tires are about $150-250 depending on brand and size, so that’s $600-$1000.