Transport Canada · Motor Vehicle Tire Safety Regulations
Tires new and used tires
Tires imported for sale are declared on every shipment as meeting the safety standards: US standards for tires from the US, Canada's for tires from anywhere else. Used on-road tires for sale come in only from the US, except some truck tires. Retreaded and off-road tires can come from any country. Every used tire must be clean, with no soil.
To import tires
Before you buy
- Used on-road tires for sale: export them from the US. From other countries they're refused, except truck tires that meet the conditions below. Retreaded tires from any country are declared as meeting the standards, like new tires.
- New tires for sale from outside the US: built to Canada's standards. Each must meet Canada's tire safety standards.
On every shipment
- Tires for sale: the tire details on the declaration. The manufacturer, brand, size, class and quantity, and that the tires comply. Filed electronically, these details count as the declaration that they comply.
- Tires for your own vehicle or your fleet: a safety mark on each. Canada's National Safety Mark, the US DOT symbol or Japan's JIS symbol on the sidewall.
At the border
- Used tires: clean, with no soil. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency requires it of every used tire, retreads included.
Are your tires covered?
Documents you may need
| Document | When you need it | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Declaration of complianceFrom the manufacturer or its authorized representative | New tires for sale from outside the US, released on paper | If it applies |
| Transport Canada authorization letterFrom Transport Canada | Tires that don't meet the safety standards, or tires for exhibition, demonstration, evaluation or testing | If it applies |
What stops tires at the border
These apply to tires imported for sale; the soil rule applies to every used tire.
| Stops it when | What to know |
|---|---|
| Used on-road tires, other than truck tires, exported from outside the US | Not admissible. CBSA refuses entry. This doesn't cover retreaded tires or off-road tires. |
| Used truck tires from outside the US that miss a condition | Each needs a safety mark (Canada's National Safety Mark, the US DOT symbol or Japan's JIS symbol), a rim diameter over 16 inches, and a load range of at least D or a ply rating of at least 8. Otherwise CBSA refuses entry. |
| Used tires with soil on them | They are refused entry where they arrive and must be removed from Canada at the importer's expense. Retreaded tires count as used for this rule. |
| Scrap tires that could still be used | Tires for scrap rubber come in only if they are made permanently unusable by the time they enter, for example by slashing or puncturing the sidewall. |
| Off-road tires without an off-road marking or design | The sidewalls must be permanently marked for off-road use, or the tire must be plainly built for it. Otherwise CBSA refuses entry. |
Also check for these goods
| Also check | Who | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Food, plants and animals | Canadian Food Inspection Agency | Some of the same HS codes |
Questions
Do tires on a vehicle count?
No. These rules cover tires imported on their own, not tires mounted on a vehicle or its spare.
What about tires for my own vehicle or my company's fleet?
They need only meet Canadian, US or Japanese safety standards and carry that country's safety mark.
Sources: Memorandum D19-12-2: Importation of tires, CBSA, modified 2020-12-09.
Reviewed November 10, 2026.
Adhoc is not affiliated with Transport Canada or CBSA.
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