The safest bulk order is built before the proforma invoice
Most expensive tyre-import mistakes start as small ambiguities: a size without an axle position, a price without an Incoterm, a brand without an exact pattern, or a container quantity that was never checked against real dimensions. A disciplined process turns those ambiguities into written decisions before money moves.
The sequence below applies to truck tyres, PCR, OTR, agricultural and motorcycle orders. The technical fields change by category, but the control points remain the same.
Reviewed 2026-08-26 · For wholesale planning; final specifications and import requirements must be confirmed for each order.
1. Turn demand into an itemised buying list
List every required SKU on its own row. For road tyres include size, construction, load index or load range, speed symbol, axle or service application and quantity. For OTR and agricultural tyres add machine type, position, tread or service code, ply or star rating, rim, tube requirement and operating conditions.
Separate must-have specifications from preferences. A required load capacity is not negotiable; a preferred brand may allow an approved alternative. That distinction lets a supplier suggest stock without silently changing the safety-critical requirement.
1Count current stock and open customer orders.
2Estimate demand through the next replenishment cycle.
3Add safety stock according to lead-time and sales volatility.
2. Request and normalise quotations
Ask each supplier for the same fields. A low unit price under EXW cannot be compared directly with a CIF price that includes ocean freight and insurance. Currency, payment fees, inland transport, port charges, inspection, documentation and destination clearance can change landed cost materially.
Line item
Exact brand, pattern, size, markings, application, quantity and unit price.
Trade basis
Incoterm 2020 rule plus the named place or port, currency and quotation validity.
Timing
Stock or production status, readiness estimate and shipment assumptions.
Quality control
Technical sheet, production-date agreement, inspection scope and substitution rule.
Create a landed-cost model only after the commercial basis is clear. Keep uncertain costs as separate estimates so they do not look like confirmed supplier charges.
3. Verify the supplier and the product
Match the company name on the quotation, invoice and bank beneficiary. Confirm contact details through a known channel if payment instructions change. For a first order, consider a live video call, product or warehouse evidence and an independent inspection appropriate to the order value.
Review the exact technical information. A familiar brand name does not replace size-level checks. Sidewall markings, load and speed references, construction, pattern and application must match the agreed line. Destination-market compliance should be confirmed with the importer, broker or relevant authority before shipment.
4. Approve the container and documents
Before loading, approve the final SKU list and loading plan. After loading, compare container number, seal number, quantities and photographs with the packing list. Review draft shipping documents early enough to correct spelling, consignee, notify-party, product description and destination details.
Keep one order file containing the RFQ, quotation, proforma invoice, approvals, payment evidence, inspection records, loading photos, commercial invoice, packing list, transport document and correspondence. This becomes the evidence base for clearance, reconciliation and any claim.
5. Receive, inspect and learn
On arrival, check the seal before opening, photograph the unloading sequence and reconcile quantities against the packing list. Quarantine any visibly damaged or mismatched items before distribution. Record actual landed cost and sales performance by SKU.
The next order should use evidence from the first: which sizes sold, which patterns were requested, which documentation caused delays and where container space was lost. Bulk buying becomes more profitable when every shipment improves the next forecast.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum order for wholesale tyres?
Minimums vary by product, brand, stock status and supplier programme. Send the size mix and quantity so the commercial team can confirm a workable order.
Should a first-time buyer order a full container?
That depends on demand, capital, freight economics and the supplier's mixed-load options. Do not increase volume only to reach a lower unit price if sell-through is uncertain.
Can I approve alternative brands?
Yes, but define acceptable alternatives in writing and require approval of the exact brand, pattern and technical specification before substitution.
Send a quote request that can be priced properly
Include your tyre sizes, quantities, preferred brands or quality tier, destination port and target timing. Thai Tire can then confirm current availability, a practical size mix and the next export step.
