Buying car tyres from China: fitter checks
Before ordering, get your UK tyre fitter’s written confirmation of the exact tyre specification for each axle, wheel compatibility and load and speed ratings. Match the offered tyre to approval documents, label evidence and manufacturing identification. Factory evidence can be coordinated by Cambridge China Bridge.
Get an exact specification for your vehicle
Give the fitter your vehicle identification, handbook, tyre placard photographs and details of any wheel or suspension changes. Ask them to confirm the specification against the actual vehicle and fitted wheels. Copying the tyres currently fitted can carry an earlier mistake into your order.
Request the complete size designation, including section width, aspect ratio, construction and rim diameter, alongside load index and speed symbol. Record front and rear requirements separately, including reinforced or run-flat requirements where applicable. Put the fitter-approved specification into the purchase order and require written approval before any substitution.
Confirm load and speed ratings together
Ask the fitter to translate the proposed load index and speed symbol into a suitability decision using the vehicle manufacturer’s information, permitted axle loads and intended use. Include loaded operation and towing where relevant. A matching size alone does not resolve these checks; ask the fitter to assess any proposed change in ratings.
Have the fitter identify the required inflation settings for the agreed tyres and loads, and confirm whether the offered tyre needs reinforced construction. If a sidewall shows alternative load descriptions, ask which applies to your wheel arrangement. Obtain tyre-maker technical data when the supplier’s description is incomplete.
Match approval markings and tyre-label evidence
Request readable sidewall photographs and the associated type-approval documents. Ask the fitter, with a tyre approval specialist where needed, to identify the relevant approval markings, including the circled capital or boxed lower-case approval letter and adjacent approval number. Have them confirm coverage of the offered tyre type and size, including the approval evidence for noise, wet grip and rolling resistance. Resolve missing or inconsistent markings before ordering.
For ordinary new road-car tyres, obtain the tyre label showing fuel efficiency, wet grip and noise classification. Ask for the supporting test evidence for the exact model and size, and confirm the appropriate label format for delivery in Great Britain or Northern Ireland. Use our report coverage guide and test-report verification guide for the document checks.
Record manufacturing identity and condition
Tyres sold in Great Britain must have their manufacturing date marked on the sidewall. Ask for photographs of the sidewalls on both sides so the fitter can locate and interpret the date code. Record the tyre brand, model, manufacturer, production site and batch references alongside the supplier’s explanation of the manufacturing codes.
Agree an acceptable manufacturing date range and storage condition with the fitter before ordering. Ask how the factory will identify the supplied batch and provide photographs from that batch. Keep these records with the order rather than relying on catalogue images. Our sample-to-production guide covers carrying the approved specification into shipment checks.
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Approve the wheel and axle arrangement
Ask the fitter to confirm rim width, diameter and profile compatibility, valve suitability, pressure-monitoring compatibility and clearance during steering and suspension movement. Record any intentional front-to-rear size difference. Have them check directional and asymmetric fitting instructions, run-flat arrangements and vehicle-maker guidance on matching tyres and rolling circumference, particularly for all-wheel drive.
Different tyre structures, such as radial-ply and cross-ply, must not be mixed on the same axle. Ask the fitter to record the intended tyre at each wheel position and confirm compatibility with retained tyres. Obtain written acceptance of the proposed tyres and fitting work before paying the supplier. Cambridge China Bridge’s own staff in China can coordinate factory photographs and documents against that specification.
Frequently asked questions
Can I order tyres using only the size on my current tyres?
Ask the fitter to check that size against your vehicle and actual wheels, then confirm load index, speed symbol and any reinforced or run-flat requirements. Existing tyres may reflect an earlier substitution.
Does a tyre label prove the tyre fits my car?
The label describes fuel efficiency, wet grip and noise. Have the fitter separately confirm vehicle fit, ratings and wheel compatibility, and match the label evidence to the exact offered tyre.
Can my car use different tyre sizes front and rear?
Ask the fitter to confirm whether your vehicle and wheels support that arrangement. Record the approved specification for each axle and check vehicle-maker guidance on rolling circumference and matching tyres.
What photographs should I request before buying tyres from China?
Request readable photographs of the sidewalls on both sides, size and ratings, approval markings, manufacturing date code and tyre label. Ask for batch-linked images before shipment as well as the proposed model photographs.