Sourcing aircraft tyres from China

Aircraft tyre classification and duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 4011 covers new pneumatic rubber tyres. The supplied aircraft line is 4011 30 00 90, described as aircraft tyres, other. The table shows buying variants within this same commodity line.

This line carries 4% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension. Separately, HMRC makes airworthiness duty suspension conditional on an authorised release certificate. Ask your broker to check eligibility before budgeting for relief. The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. Environment Agency guidance says waste shipment controls apply only to waste; confirm the requirement for your Chinese consignment with your customs broker.

Confirm the exact goods and declaration treatment using finding your commodity code. For the wider heading, see car, van and lorry tyres. Keep aircraft suitability checks separate from the customs classification. For aircraft components moving in the reverse direction, see exporting aircraft components to China from the UK.

Specify the aircraft, wheel and tyre together

Give the supplier the aircraft model, wheel position, wheel assembly reference and exact tyre part number. Agree dimensions, radial or bias-ply construction, load and speed ratings, tube compatibility and the buyer's operating specification. Have the aircraft maintenance specialist confirm the proposed tyre before placing the order.

Request a sample of the release documentation before paying a deposit. Agree manufacturer identification, batch traceability, manufacture-date marking and storage instructions. Ask the maintenance specialist to assess the documents against the intended aircraft, rather than accepting a generic factory test report.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of new pneumatic aircraft tyres for a maintenance business under 4011 30 00 90, invoiced at £60,000 free on board, with £5,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £65,000. Duty at 4% is £2,600. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £67,600, so it is £13,520. Import taxes total £16,120; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,600 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match tyre part numbers, dimensions, construction and sidewall markings to the purchase specification.

Documents: reconcile manufacturer, batch references and release paperwork with the delivered tyres; query substitutions.

Condition: inspect beads, sidewalls and tread for cuts, cracks, distortion, contamination and handling damage.

Storage: check manufacture-date markings, packaging and the supplier's storage instructions; record arrival condition with photographs.

What goes wrong

A tyre can have the quoted dimensions yet be the wrong construction or part number for the intended wheel. Paperwork may describe a different batch, or a supplier may substitute a similar-looking tyre. Resolve discrepancies with the maintenance specialist before accepting the stock for installation.

Bead damage and distorted tyres can result from poor packing or handling. Agree packing and acceptance criteria before shipment, and retain batch records and photographs when raising a supplier claim.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.