Sourcing solid skid steer tyres from China

Duty on solid skid steer tyres

Heading 4012 covers retreaded and used pneumatic rubber tyres, solid or cushion tyres, tyre treads and tyre flaps. This guide concerns solid rubber tyres for skid steer loaders. The table shows product variants sharing the same solid-or-cushion tyre code, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, solid or cushion tyres under 4012 90 20 00 carry 2% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty, suspension or import control for this line. Other tyre types have different measures; see the solid and retreaded tyres guide.

Confirm the construction, material and whether the shipment contains tyres alone or complete wheel assemblies before declaring it. Give your broker the specification and photographs, and use finding your commodity code to check classification.

Specify the loader, rim and working surface

Send the factory the loader model, rim drawing, existing tyre designation and the machine maker's load and speed data. Specify outside diameter, width, fitting dimensions, tread pattern and rubber hardness with agreed tolerances. State whether you need tyres alone or tyres fitted to wheels, and identify the working surface and any non-marking requirement.

Employers must ensure work equipment, including vehicles, is suitable for its purpose. Before ordering replacements, check compatibility with the loader maker and trial a sample on the actual machine. Include turning, loaded travel and floor marking in the trial, and agree acceptance criteria before production.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 20 solid skid steer tyres; illustrative order, FOB value and freight under 4012 90 20 00, invoiced at £5,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,000. Duty at 2% is £140. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,140, so it is £1,428. Import taxes total £1,568; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £140 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match moulded size markings, compound designation and batch identification to the purchase specification and packing list.

Fit: measure outside diameter, width and fitting dimensions against the approved drawing; trial-fit a sample to the intended rim.

Rubber: check hardness against the agreed specification and inspect tread roots and sidewalls for cracks, voids, cuts and separation.

Performance: compare the production sample with the approved sample during loaded travel and skid turns; check chunking, rubbing and any non-marking claim. See quality inspection explained.

What goes wrong

A familiar size designation can conceal different fitting dimensions. Tyres may fit poorly, rub nearby components or differ from the approved sample in diameter. Hard or heavily filled compounds can crack or lose tread chunks; a claimed non-marking compound may still stain the working surface.

Keep the approved drawing and sample tied to the purchase specification. Require agreement before changes to the compound, mould or fitting dimensions. On arrival, separate suspect stock and record photographs, measurements and batch details before fitting or resale.

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.