Sourcing earthmover tyres from China

Earthmover tyre duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 3 October 2026, heading 4011 covers new pneumatic rubber tyres. Earthmover tyres of a kind used on construction, mining or industrial handling vehicles and machines fall under 4011 80 00 00. The table shows different applications sharing that code.

The supplied tariff facts show 4% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension on this line. The UK Trade Tariff attaches import and export waste controls. Environment Agency guidance for England says waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. For a shipment from China, ask your customs broker to confirm the attached control's requirements before dispatch.

Confirm the commodity code using the tyre construction and intended machine, rather than the supplier's catalogue name. For agricultural applications and the wider heading context, see agricultural tractor tyres.

Specify the machine, rim and working surface

Give the factory the machine model, tyre size, rim profile, radial or cross-ply construction, and tube-type or tubeless requirement. Agree the load and speed ratings, inflation guidance and valve arrangement against the machine manufacturer's specification. A tyre offered for a loader may be unsuitable for a dumper travelling under load.

Describe the working surface, sharp rock exposure, travel distance and stationary loading work. Agree tread pattern, tread depth, compound and supporting test reports for the exact tyre model. Ask for production-date and batch identification, and agree how substitutions will be approved.

Use competent staff for removal, replacement and inflation, as HSE advises. Plan arrival checks with the tyre fitter rather than treating inflation as a warehouse inspection task.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 30 earthmover tyres; illustrative order, FOB value and freight under 4011 80 00 00, 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: compare sidewall size, construction, load and speed markings, production date and batch identification with the order and supporting documents.

Condition: inspect beads, sidewalls and tread joins for cuts, distortion, exposed reinforcement, bulges and shipping damage.

Dimensions: compare tread depth, section width and bead dimensions with the agreed drawing and sample.

Fit and leakage: have the competent fitter check rim compatibility, seating and air retention using the agreed procedure. Record defects before releasing the batch.

What goes wrong

A matching size marking can hide a different construction, rim fit or load capability. An unsuitable tread or compound can also undermine the intended application. Tie acceptance to the agreed specification and reports for the supplied model, and investigate substitutions before fitting.

Compressed packing can damage beads, while cuts and distorted sidewalls may be missed during unloading. Photograph affected tyres and keep their batch identification with the inspection record. Arrange quality inspection before shipment as well as checks on arrival.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.