Sourcing steel tyre protection chains from China

Zero duty, with classification checked

Heading 7315 covers chain and its parts, of iron or steel. For tyre protection chains, distinguish the protective mesh assembly from skid chains and separately supplied repair parts. The table lists classification candidates for this purchasing family, rather than interchangeable codes. Welded-link construction alone should not replace a review of the complete assembly.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, all supplied lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, steel measure, suspension or attached import control. Import VAT is normally 20%; zero customs duty does not mean zero import tax.

Give your customs broker assembly drawings, photographs, the link construction, intended use and a separate description of repair parts. Confirm the commodity code before shipment. For the wider heading and traction-chain comparison, see vehicle snow chains.

Specify tyre fit and protective mesh

Specify the tyre make, model, size marking, tread condition and actual fitted dimensions, together with the machine model and available clearance. Agree tread and sidewall coverage, mesh pattern, wear-link profile, connecting rings, side chains and tensioning arrangement. Ask for a fitting drawing and a sample trial on the intended tyre.

Agree steel composition, heat treatment, hardness test locations and the evidence supporting wear and breaking-strength claims. Specify replaceable wear links, repair connectors, fitting tools and packing that keeps matching components together. Use factory verification to check whether the supplier makes and heat-treats the chains or buys finished assemblies.

HSE states that suppliers must supply safe work equipment. For these chains, request fitting, tensioning, maintenance and removal instructions, with the manufacturer's operating restrictions. Make the instructions and trial-fit results part of the purchasing specification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 12 complete welded-link tyre protection chain sets, assuming classification is confirmed under 7315 82 00 00, invoiced at £21,000 free on board, with £2,400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £23,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £23,400, so it is £4,680. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: trial-fit the approved assembly on the intended tyre; check tread coverage, sidewall position, tension adjustment and clearance through steering movement.

Links and treatment: measure wear links and connecting rings against the drawing; inspect welds for cracks and incomplete joining, and match material and hardness reports to the delivered batch.

Closures and repairs: operate the tensioner and joining closures; check that repair links fit the mesh and that retaining parts remain secure during the agreed fitting trial.

Arrival: check for rust, distorted mesh, sharp edges and missing components; match tyre identification, instructions and repair parts to each assembly. Agree these checks through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A chain ordered from the tyre size marking alone can fit poorly when tyre shape or tread wear differs from the sample. Loose mesh can move across the tread; misplaced side chains or protruding closures can foul nearby machine parts. Resolve fit and clearance with an actual assembly trial before approving production.

Weak welds and inconsistent heat treatment can cause links to crack, stretch or wear unevenly. A hardness report without batch identification gives little assurance about the delivered chains. Require records linked to the shipment, compare production samples with the approved assembly and check replacement connectors before accepting stock.

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.