What's the Tariff on Tires (Passenger)?
Imported tires from China and Southeast Asia.
Current Tariff Rate
35%
Pre-2025 Rate
4%
Rate Increase
+31pp
Price Impact
+35%
+$210
Real-World Price Impact
Before Tariffs
$600
Set of 4 tires
After Tariffs
$810
Set of 4 tires
That's $210 more per unit — a 35% price increase paid by the American buyer.
Note: Price estimates assume full tariff pass-through to consumers. Actual retail prices may vary — manufacturers may absorb some costs, shift production, or adjust margins.
The Story Behind This Tariff
Passenger tires face a 35% tariff that echoes a 2009-2011 safeguard action — the US has tariffed Chinese tires before, and the playbook is well-known. China dominates budget and mid-tier tires through brands like Linglong, Sailun, and Hankook's Chinese plants. The tire market is uniquely price-sensitive because tires are a grudge purchase — consumers want the cheapest safe option. The 35% IEEPA tariff pushes Chinese tire prices above Southeast Asian alternatives, accelerating a shift already underway toward Thai, Vietnamese, and Indonesian production. Major tire companies (Michelin, Bridgestone, Goodyear) maintain US factories but focus on premium products, leaving the value segment dependent on imports. The tariff's most acute impact hits lower-income drivers who depend on affordable tires for safe transportation — a $200 price increase for a set of four tires is significant for households earning under $40,000.
📦 Supply Chain
Primary Origin
China
Made in USA
35%
Import Volume
$8.3B
Alternatives
Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia growing rapidly
📅 Tariff Timeline
2009
Section 421 safeguard on Chinese tires
35%2012
Safeguard expired, duties removed
4% MFN2019
Anti-dumping duties on some Chinese tire brands
20-40% AD2025
IEEPA blanket tariff on Chinese tires
35%👥 Consumer Impact
Households Affected
112M
Annual Cost Per Household
$75
💡 Did You Know?
- •The 2009 tire tariff was Obama's first major trade action and is studied as a case where tariffs raised prices but didn't create US jobs
- •Americans replace 300 million tires per year — roughly one per person
- •Thailand has quietly become the world's second-largest tire exporter, specifically to avoid Chinese tariffs
Tariff Details
- HTS Code
- 4011.10
- Current Rate
- 35%
- Pre-2025 Rate
- 4%
- Tariff Type
- IEEPA
Legal Authority
IEEPA Executive Order (April 2, 2025)
Effective: April 2, 2025
"Liberation Day" — broad tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act
The tariff on Tires (Passenger) is paid by the American importer at the port of entry and passed through to consumers as higher retail prices. The foreign manufacturer does not pay the tariff.
Who Actually Pays This Tariff?
Despite claims that tariffs are paid by foreign countries, the 35% tariff on Tires (Passenger) is paid by American importers — US companies that purchase these goods from abroad. The cost is then passed to American consumers through higher retail prices.
- ✓ The foreign seller receives the same price as before
- ✓ The US importer pays 35% of the customs value to CBP
- ✓ The retailer marks up the higher landed cost
- ✓ You pay more at the register: $600 → $810
Related Products in Vehicles
Sedan / Car
27.5%
Toyota Camry (imported): $28,855 → $36,785
SUV
27.5%
Volkswagen Tiguan: $30,995 → $39,519
Pickup Truck
50%
Imported pickup: $42,000 → $63,000
Electric Vehicle
127.5%
Chinese EV: $25,000 → $56,875
Auto Parts
25%
Transmission assembly: $2,500 → $3,125
Motorcycle
12.4%
Kawasaki Ninja 400: $5,299 → $5,956
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