Sourcing solid rubber wheelchair tyres from China
Solid rubber wheelchair tyres from China carry 2% UK duty under 4012 90 20 00, with no trade remedy listed for that line. Demonstrate product safety compliance before sale and confirm the tyre's intended use and fit. Cambridge China Bridge sources solid rubber wheelchair tyres.
Duty on solid rubber wheelchair tyres
Heading 4012 covers retreaded or used pneumatic rubber tyres, solid or cushion tyres, tyre treads and tyre flaps. This guide concerns separate solid rubber wheelchair tyres. The table shows buying variants within the same solid-or-cushion-tyre commodity line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, solid or cushion tyres under 4012 90 20 00 carried 2% duty on goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty, suspension or import control for this line. For related products within the heading, see solid rubber scooter tyres.
Give your broker the rubber composition, cross-section, fitting method and confirmation that the shipment contains separate tyres. Ask them to check complete wheels or tyres made from other materials separately. See finding your commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid rubber rear-wheel tyres for manual wheelchairs | 4012 90 20 00 | 2% | None |
Specify the tyre against the wheelchair rim
Specify the wheelchair model, wheel position, rim profile, fitting diameter, outside diameter, width and retention detail. Send a rim drawing and an existing tyre sample where available. Agree dimensional tolerances, rubber hardness, tread profile, colour and floor-marking performance. Ask for load and wear evidence for the intended wheelchair application.
Approve a fitted sample on the actual rim. Check retention, rolling effort, clearance and parking-brake contact where the brake acts on the tyre. Compare grip and floor marking on the surfaces your customers use. Agree fitting instructions and packaging that avoids distortion.
For Great Britain sales, confirm whether the offered tyre is a replacement component or a medical-device accessory. MHRA bases borderline decisions on stated intended purpose and mode of action. Applicable product-specific regulations must be followed; where none apply, general product safety regulations apply. Demonstrate safety compliance before sale and use testing and certification support to plan the evidence.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of solid rubber rear-wheel tyres for a wheelchair repair business under 4012 90 20 00, invoiced at £3,500 free on board, with £910 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,410. Duty at 2% is £88.20. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,498.20, so it is £899.64. Import taxes total £987.84; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £88.20 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Dimensions: measure fitting diameter, outside diameter, width and cross-section against the approved drawing, including the retention groove or bead.
Rubber: compare hardness and finish with the approved sample; look for cracks, voids, embedded contamination and uneven moulding.
Fitted performance: check that sampled tyres stay seated, run without visible wobble and preserve brake contact and wheel clearance on the specified rim.
Identification and packing: check model references, batch identification and fitting instructions; inspect cartons for distorted tyres and keep arrival findings with your inspection records.
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What goes wrong
A matching size name can conceal a different rim profile. A loose tyre can creep or leave its seat; an overly tight tyre can be damaged during fitting. Changes in outside diameter or tread shape can affect parking-brake contact. A harder replacement compound can increase vibration, while a soft compound can wear or distort.
Do not approve a replacement from photographs alone. Compare fitted samples with the original tyre, keep the agreed compound and drawing attached to the order, and check repeat batches for changes. Test non-marking claims on the customer's flooring before accepting them.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on solid rubber wheelchair tyres from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 2% for 4012 90 20 00, read on 2 October 2026. It lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty for this line.
Will a solid tyre fit any wheelchair rim with the same size marking?
Do not rely on the size marking alone. Compare the rim profile, fitting diameter, tyre cross-section and retention detail, then approve a sample fitted to the actual rim.
How do I check which product safety rules apply?
Confirm the intended use and whether the tyre is offered as a component or accessory. MHRA bases borderline decisions on intended purpose and mode of action. Demonstrate applicable safety compliance before sale.
What should I test before ordering replacement wheelchair tyres?
Check rim retention, rolling effort, clearance, parking-brake contact, rubber hardness, grip and floor marking. Use the intended wheelchair and representative flooring.