Difficulty importing used tires?
 

I am considering importing a set of used Fuchs with rubber on from the States. Has anyone ever run into trouble with border services with regard to used tires? I checked their site and it appears that if the tires have a DOT symbol on them and they are clean (no dirt as per agriculture and food inspection agency) there should be no problem.
Anyone had trouble with doing this?

The way I understand it, you can't import used tires into Canada not because they are afraid of unsafe, non-complying, or dirty tires. But because used tires are an unwanted item in the garbage stream.

I recall about 15-20 years ago that there was a mountain of tires around Maple Ridge that caught on fire. When this happens, it is extremely difficult for the fire dept to put it out. And at the same time, a river of creosote flows from it. It took weeks for the fire dept to get control of things. An investigation showed that the tires were all imported from the USA. The land owner was allowing the tires to be dumped on his property for a small fee. It was after this investigation that brought on the ban on importing used tires.

I have been asked by customs, when importing wheels, if they have tires on them. Because of that, I always make sure to get the tires removed. Once I even walked away from a set of 7&9x16 Fuchs for $400 because they still had the completely bald tires on them.

I imported a set of wheels with tires about 4 years ago, I had no issues at all at the border. I told them what they were, paid my taxes and went on my way. Seemed like no big deal at the time.

I would recommend calling the border crossing you plan on using and asking them directly, maybe that would get you a better answer?

I spoke to an agent at Border Services and he also spoke to a colleague at Transport Canada and there is no issue with the tires as long as they are clean and DOT approved. As I am having to use a customs broker, they are playing it by the book and the Fuchs are subject to 6% duty because they do not fall under NAFTA (German made), plus GST and PST on the lot. Plus brokerage fees. Plus the shipping.
The real concern arose when the Customs agent said he couldn't say whether or not they would be flagged for inspection, ie: to search for contraband that might be hidden inside the mounted tires. If there is no x-ray equipment at the entrance point they migt be dismounted to inspect. That would be just too much to pay for re-balancing them.
Bringing them across personally is a much better way to go, so I have enlisted my brother in law to do just that for me.
Shipping them "by the book" is just too expensive.
Carrying them over in person is much simpler, but they're 1000 miles away.

I brought in a set of used tires last year, and other than the usual fedex over charges for importing, there were no issues.

Rob, were they mounted when you shipped them? I think that is where the uncertainty arises. Even CBS couldn't tell me what would happen with mounted used tires. Chances are they would pass right through... but if some young border agent looking for a commendation decided they might be concealing something, it would end up costing too much. This is why I decided to not risk shipping them via courier... the uncertainty.

your looking way to deep they dont give a dame at the border they got lots of other **** to do bing in tires all the time

Fuchs haven't been installed on a car for 20 years now. Check the date codes on the wheels. If they are 25 years old, or your car is 25 years old, you can import them duty free since there's no duty on antique auto parts.