What freight class are tires?

Tires have traditionally rated class 70 under their own NMFC item; rated purely by density, loose tires often measure 4 - 8 pcf. The exact class depends on the measured density of your packaged shipment.

How do I find the exact class for my tires shipment?

Measure the packaged dimensions and weight, compute pounds per cubic foot, and read the current 13-band NMFC density scale - or use the free calculator on this site. Confirm the NMFC item number with your carrier for the BOL.

Did the 2025 NMFC changes affect tires?

Docket 2025-1 (July 2025) moved roughly 2,000 commodity listings to density-based classification and rebuilt the density scale to 13 bands, so most freight - including this category - now classes primarily by measured density.

Freight Class for Tires: Typical Classes & How to Verify

Why tires rate where they do

Tires are a case where the NMFC item, not raw density, has historically set the class: passenger and light-truck tires have long been associated with class 70 even though a stack of tires is mostly air. Measured purely as density, palletized tires often come out at 4 - 8 pcf.

Worked example. A banded stack of 16 passenger tires: 48 × 48 × 48 in, 480 lb. That is 64.0 cu ft and 480 lb → 7.50 pcf → class 125. Run your own numbers →

Relevant class pages: class 70 · class 125 · class 175.

What moves the number

Because classification reform keeps moving items toward density rating, quote tires with care: confirm the current NMFC item with your carrier rather than assuming the legacy number, and band stacks tightly - loose tires roll, and re-stacked pallets get re-measured.

Measure, don't assume. Since NMFC Docket 2025-1 (July 2025) most commodities class by measured density on a 13-band scale. The ranges above are typical, not guaranteed — your packaging decides your density. Calculate your actual class →

Freight class for tires

Why tires rate where they do

What moves the number