“How many tires fit in a container?” is the first question almost every new buyer asks us, and it is the right question — freight is a fixed cost per container, so the piece count decides your landed cost per tire. Here are the real numbers we load from Japan, by tire type.
The short answer
- Passenger car tires (PCR), 12–17 inch, 40ft container: around 3,500 pieces
- Truck & bus tires (TBR), 11R22.5 only, 40ft container: around 288 pieces
- Mixed PCR + light truck, 40ft container: around 2,000–2,200 PCR plus 500–550 LT pieces
- 20ft container: roughly half of the above — we offer it for a first trial order
Those are working figures from containers we actually load, not theoretical maximums. The final count always depends on the exact size mix, so treat them as a planning baseline and ask us to confirm once you have chosen your sizes.
Why the count varies so much
1. Doubling and tripling
Used tyres are not loaded loose. Smaller tires are pushed inside larger ones — what the trade calls 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 (doubling and tripling). A container of 15 inch passenger tires stuffed 3-in-1 carries far more pieces than the same container loaded flat. We normally do tripling or 4-in-1 depending on the size mix you order.
2. Rim diameter
Every extra inch of rim diameter costs you pieces. A 40ft container of 12–17 inch PCR runs to about 3,500 pieces; push the mix towards 17–18 inch and the count falls. The same applies on the commercial side: 22.5 inch truck tires take far more space per piece than 17.5 inch light truck tyres, which is why an 11R22.5-only container stops at around 288 pieces.
3. Whether you mix types
Mixing is usually the most efficient way to fill a container, because small tires occupy the gaps that big ones leave. We can load TBR together with LTR, and LTR together with PCR. Not every combination is available every month, so tell us the mix you want at the quotation stage rather than after booking.
A truck-tire container we ship regularly looks like this:
- 11R22.5 — 150 pieces
- 225/80R17.5 — 180 pieces
- 245/70R19.5 — 50 pieces
Do not plan on volume alone
A 40ft container that is full by volume can still be over the road weight limit at your destination, and the limit differs from country to country. Used truck tires and casings are heavy enough that weight, not space, decides the load. Tell us your destination port and any axle or gross weight limit that applies on your side, and we will build the loading plan around it.
Planning your first order
The information we need to give you an accurate piece count and a CIF price is short:
- Tire types — PCR, LT, TBR, casings, or a mix
- Sizes, and roughly what share of the load each should be
- Container size — 20ft for a trial, 40ft once you are settled
- Destination port
We ship from Ishikari, Tomakomai, Hachinohe, Akita, Sendai, Niigata, Kashiwazaki, Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe and Moji on CIF terms, with insurance arranged by us on every shipment.
FAQ
How many used tires fit in a 40ft container?
Roughly 3,500 pieces of 12–17 inch passenger car tires loaded 2-in-1 or 3-in-1. For truck tires the figure is far lower — about 288 pieces of 11R22.5 in a 40ft container.
How many tires fit in a 20ft container?
Approximately half of the 40ft figures. We accept 20ft for a first trial order so you can check the quality before moving to 40ft.
What does 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 loading mean?
It means smaller tires are pushed inside larger ones so the container carries more pieces. It is standard practice in used tire export and it is how the piece counts above are achieved.
Can I mix tire types in one container?
Yes. TBR can be loaded with LTR, and LTR can be loaded with PCR. Availability changes month to month, so confirm the mix with us before booking.
Who arranges the freight and insurance?
We do. We trade on CIF terms only and insure every shipment. Freight is normally prepaid in Japan, or collect at your port if that suits you better.
Get a piece count for your order
Send us your sizes, quantities, container size and destination port and we will come back with a loading plan and a CIF offer. 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.
