OTR Tire Buying Guides

Our OTR tire buying guides help importers, dealers and fleet managers pick the right tire, compare brands and ship tires across borders without surprises. Each guide is written by our export team from real orders, not theory.

Popular OTR Tire Buying Guides for Importers

The questions we hear most from buyers worldwide are about size, construction and cost per hour. Start with these topics:

• Reading tire sizes: how 23.5R25, 750/65R25 and 27.00R49 are built up, and what the star and ply ratings mean. See the OTR tire sizes index.
• Radial vs bias: when a steel-belted radial pays for itself and when a bias tire is the better buy. Compare radial OTR tires in our catalogue.
• Choosing a brand: premium, mid-range and value options side by side on the brands page.
• TRA codes: what E-3, E-4, L-3, L-5 and G-2 mean for your machine.

Importing Tires: Step by Step

Importing OTR tires is simpler than most buyers expect. You confirm sizes and quantity, we quote with freight, you pay the deposit, and we load at Laem Chabang. Your forwarder or our partner handles customs at your end.

For terms of sale, the Incoterms overview explains FOB, CFR and CIF. Tire standards are set by the ETRTO in Europe and the TRA in North America.

Cutting Tire Cost per Hour

The cheapest tire is rarely the cheapest to run. Correct inflation, matched duals, the right tread depth for the job and regular cut checks add hundreds of hours of life. Our guides cover simple routines your workshop can follow.

Storing Tires After Delivery

Keep tires out of direct sun, away from electric motors and off oily floors. Stack large OTR tires upright and rotate them every few months. Rubber ages slowly if stored well.

Best OTR Tire Buying Guides by Region

Buyers in each region face different conditions: heat in the Middle East and Australia, wet clay in Southeast Asia, long haul roads in Africa. Our export market pages list the tire types most often shipped to each country.

New guides and market news are added here regularly. Have a question that is not covered? Send it through the contact page and our team will answer, and may turn it into the next guide.

OTR Tire Buying Guides Worldwide: Common Mistakes to Avoid

Most problems we see on first orders come from a few simple mistakes. Buyers order the right size but the wrong TRA code, so a loader gets a smooth L-5S tire meant for underground work instead of an L-3 rock tread. Others pick the ply or star rating from the old tire without checking the load on the new machine.

Another mistake is ignoring the production date. Tires are best fitted within a few years of manufacture, so ask for the DOT or week code on the quotation. We list it on every packing list.

Checking Tires on Arrival

When the container is opened, count the pieces against the packing list, check each sidewall for the ordered size and rating, and take photos of anything that looks wrong before unloading further. Report issues within seven days so they can be settled quickly with the factory or the insurer.

Planning Your Next Order

Track hours or kilometres per tire on each machine. After two or three orders you will know which brand and tread give the lowest cost per hour on your site, and you can buy with confidence instead of chasing the lowest price.

Ask Our Team

If you would like a guide on a topic not listed here, such as tire chains, foam filling or retreading, send us a note. Our export team answers buyers from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and the Americas every day and is happy to share what works.