It would make sense that the cost per unit on a specialty tire would be higher. They have a small, almost boutique like run of tires. They must amortize the cost over a small run, and costs might also include licensing fees. New cars don't run these sizes and as is so often the case, the specialty company buys the molds / tooling that may be on its last legs, dresses them out and hopes they don't end up on the autobahn. Once sold they often sit around and dry out over 10 years in the field, turning occasionally on nice days.
I wish they still made the tires I had on my '67, Firestone FR-480s. Back in '92 I put on a set of P195/75R14 premium Firestone whitewall radials after removing the old Firestone E78-14 from the seventies & sandblasting the original 14x5 wheels. The whitewalls were the right orientation and width, and even the sidewalls didn't bulge out the way radials do. They looked like the stock bias plys in size, shape and detail but were so superior in every way. Never dicy on the highway. They carried the Firestone logo, just like my car rolled off the line with.
