Almost every new buyer asks whether to start with a 20ft or go straight to a 40ft. The honest answer is that a 20ft is a test, not a business, and we treat it that way — we accept 20ft for an initial trial order so you can judge the grading before you commit.
What each container holds
- 40ft, PCR 12–17 inch: around 3,500 pieces
- 40ft, TBR 11R22.5 only: around 288 pieces
- 40ft, mixed PCR + light truck: around 2,000–2,200 PCR plus 500–550 LT
- 20ft: roughly half of each figure above
These are working numbers from containers we load, not theoretical maximums. The exact count depends on your size mix — see how many used tires fit in a container for the full breakdown.
Why freight favours the 40ft
Sea freight is charged per container, not per tire. A 40ft does not cost twice a 20ft, but it carries roughly twice the pieces — so the freight component of your landed cost per tire is meaningfully lower on a 40ft. That is the single strongest argument for moving up as soon as you are confident in the goods.
When a 20ft is the right call
- You have not bought from Japan before. Half the volume is half the exposure while you check that the grading matches what you were told.
- You are testing a size mix. If you are not yet sure which sizes move in your market, learn it on a smaller load.
- Your yard or your cash cycle cannot absorb 3,500 pieces at once. Selling through the first container matters more than the unit economics of it.
When to go straight to a 40ft
- You already import used tires and know your sizes
- You are buying truck and bus tires, where the piece count is low anyway — 288 pieces of 11R22.5 in a 40ft is not a large quantity to move
- You intend to buy every month, in which case the trial is a delay rather than a safeguard
Shipping every month
We are a wholesaler and we ship monthly, so a regular programme is normal rather than exceptional. Once your first container has landed and sold, settling into a monthly 40ft is usually the cleanest arrangement — it gives us a stable picture of the sizes to hold for you, and it gives you a predictable arrival.
FAQ
Do you accept 20ft containers?
Yes, for an initial trial order. After that we work in 40ft.
How many tires fit in a 20ft container?
Roughly half the 40ft figures — so around 1,750 pieces of 12–17 inch PCR, or about 144 pieces of 11R22.5.
Is a 40ft cheaper per tire?
Generally yes, because freight is charged per container rather than per piece.
Can I ship every month?
Yes. We are a wholesaler and monthly shipment is our normal pattern.
Can I mix tire types to fill the container?
Yes — TBR with LTR, or LTR with PCR. Availability changes month to month.
Decide with real numbers
Tell us your sizes and destination port and we will quote both a 20ft and a 40ft so you can see the difference per tire before choosing.
See also our category pages for used passenger car tires, used light truck tires, used truck & bus tires and used tire casings, or read how to import used tires from Japan for the full buying process.
