When a tyre order goes wrong, it is rarely because anyone was dishonest. It is usually because the enquiry said "20 loader tyres" and three suppliers quoted three different things. One quoted a 16PR bias tyre, one a 20PR, one a radial, and the cheapest got the order. Six months later the site is asking why the new tyres did not last.
This checklist is for procurement officers, project managers and fleet managers buying OTR, truck or trailer tyres in quantity. It is designed to get you comparable quotes, and the tyres your engineers actually meant to order.
1. Write a proper specification
For every line on the order, specify:
- Size, exactly as on the sidewall, including the dash or R (17.5-25 is bias, 17.5R25 is radial)
- Ply rating or star rating (for example 20PR, or two-star)
- TRA code or tread type for OTR tyres (L3, L5, G2, E3)
- Tube-type or tubeless, and whether tubes, flaps or O-rings are included
- Machine or vehicle and axle position
- Quantity
The quickest way to collect this is to ask each site for a clear photo of a sidewall from every machine type. Our guide to reading OTR tyre sizes explains each marking.
2. Decide which brands and alternatives you will accept
If your engineers require a particular brand, say so. If you are open to alternatives, say that too, and ask suppliers to state the brand and origin of each tyre they quote. Otherwise you are comparing prices for products you have not seen.
3. Ask about manufacture dates
Tyres carry a manufacture date code, usually the week and year. A tyre that has sat in a hot yard for a long time may have aged before it is ever fitted. Ask suppliers to state manufacture dates, or a maximum age, in their quote, and check them on delivery.
4. Be clear on delivery
- Delivery location: city, site address, and any access limits for a delivery truck
- Single consignment or scheduled batches
- Who unloads, and with what equipment (large OTR tyres need lifting gear)
- Required delivery date, and the cost of missing it
For long projects, batch deliveries timed to replacement schedules often work better than one large delivery stored on site.
5. Inspect on arrival
On delivery, check each tyre against the order before signing: size, ply rating, tread code, brand, and manufacture date. Look for storage or transport damage, especially to beads. Record serial numbers; you will need them for your tyre log and any warranty claim.
6. Agree documentation up front
Tell suppliers what your accounts department needs: purchase order references on invoices, tax registration details, delivery challans, warranty paperwork. Agreeing this at quote stage avoids payment delays later.
7. Compare on cost per hour, not just price
Once quotes are like-for-like, price matters. But where your records allow it, compare expected cost per working hour. A tyre that costs more and lasts proportionally longer is not more expensive. If you do not yet have records, start a simple tyre log with this order. Our article on cutting cost per hour includes a template.
A one-page enquiry template
| # | Size | Ply / star | TRA / tread | TT / TL | Machine & position | Qty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23.5-25 | 20PR | L3 | TL | 5 t loader, all | 8 |
| 2 | 14.00-24 | 16PR | G2 | TT | Grader, all | 6 |
| 3 | 12.00-20 | 18PR | Lug | TT | Tipper, drive | 24 |
Add delivery location, required date, acceptable brands, maximum tyre age and documentation needs underneath, and you have an enquiry any serious supplier can quote accurately.
You can send exactly this kind of list through our bulk quote form, or by WhatsApp. We will price it as one order and tell you upfront if any line needs an alternative.
Need a price on these tyres?
Send a sidewall photo or your size list. Quotes usually within one business day.