Tires don't seem that expensive
I just replaced the tires on my VW. OEM Continentals are 1900.00 mounted and balanced and the first set lasted 24,000 miles. I opted for some far less sticky but less expensive Michelins (1500.00) which should last 40,000 miles. So I guess it's all relative.
Bike tires are not cheep, but they are high performance when compared to what Les Schwab or Manny, Moe, and Jack sell for the family four door. I remember how Dunlop K70's handled grooved highways and rainy weather, and I believe contemporary tires are a bargain by comparison. And I am under no illusion that riding a motorcycle makes pecuniary sense.
On the other hand, a set of new tires may be the best possible farkel--they make a bike more attractive, faster, more comfortable, and safer for a couple of hundred dollars. Sounds like a great deal to me.
Ken