How Much Does It Cost to Ship Tires? 2026 Per-Tire and Set of 4 Rates

2026 cost to ship tires: one unboxed passenger-car tire (about 29 x 29 x 9 in, 25 lb) is billed as 55 lb and costs $72.22 to $164.19 by FedEx Ground to a business, or $288.88 to $656.76 for a set of four, including Additional Handling and fuel (Zones 2, 5 and 8). UPS Ground is within $1.68 per tire. Each tire ships as its own package and is charged separately.

Quick answer: Tires are priced on dimensional weight, and UPS names tires that are not fully encased in a corrugated box, and FedEx names tires among round or cylindrical items, as packages that get the Additional Handling – Packaging charge ($26.50 to $33.75 per tire in 2026). The example truck/SUV tire goes over 105 inches in length plus girth and pays the higher Additional Handling – Dimensions charge instead. USPS takes a boxed passenger tire but charges nonstandard fees, and larger tires only at its flat oversized price. Multiply everything by four for a set.

Sources: UPS Ground daily rates, Additional Handling rules and tire packaging instructions from the 2026 UPS Rate and Service Guide (Daily Rates), updated September 7, 2026; FedEx Ground list rates and surcharges from the FedEx Service Guide, effective January 5, 2026 (updated September 11, 2026); USPS retail prices from USPS Notice 123, effective October 4, 2026 (temporary holiday prices scheduled to end January 17, 2027), and DMM 101. Fuel: UPS fuel surcharges and FedEx fuel surcharges, checked November 3, 2026.

2027 update: UPS Daily Rates rise an average net 5.9% on December 21, 2026. In the UPS 2027 daily rate preview, UPS Ground at 55 lb (the passenger tire) goes to $31.39–$99.13 (Zones 2–8) and at 82 lb (the truck tire) to $50.57–$112.88. Additional Handling – Packaging rises to $29.25–$36.75, Additional Handling – Dimensions to $32.75–$44.00 with a 50 lb minimum billable weight, and the Ground residential surcharge to $7.10. FedEx list rates rise an average 5.9% on January 4, 2027, when its packaging charge becomes $28.50–$36.25, its dimension charge $31.75–$43.75 and its Ground residential charge $6.90. Sources: UPS 2027 daily rates preview; UPS 2027 value-added services preview; FedEx 2027 surcharge changes. See 2027 Shipping Rate Increases: UPS, FedEx and USPS Compared.

Tire sizes and billable weight

The sizes and weights below are examples for a common passenger tire and a larger truck or SUV tire, not carrier figures. A tire is measured like a box: diameter x diameter x tread width. Measure yours and check it in our dimensional weight calculator.

UPS lists “any article that is not fully encased in a corrugated cardboard shipping container, including tires” under Additional Handling – Packaging, and its packing instructions for tires end with “An Additional Handling charge will apply.” FedEx’s packaging criteria include any package that is not fully encased in an outer shipping container or “is round or cylindrical,” naming tires. UPS assesses only one Additional Handling charge per package, in the order Weight, Length plus Girth, Length, Width, Cubic Size, Packaging, so a truck tire that meets both the size and packaging criteria pays the dimension charge. FedEx’s guide does not say how it bills a package that meets both; the FedEx figures below assume the single dimension charge. A tire over 50 lb actual weight pays Additional Handling – Weight instead: $46.50–$58.75 at UPS and $46.00–$58.75 at FedEx. See UPS Additional Handling – Packaging 2026: $26.75+ Fee and FedEx Additional Handling Surcharge – Packaging 2026: What Counts as Non-Standard.

Cost to ship one passenger tire (29 x 29 x 9 in, 25 lb)

Boxing the tire does not save money at UPS or FedEx. A box an inch larger each way pushes length plus girth from 105 to 110 in and the dimensional weight from 55 to 65 lb, so UPS charges $7.21 to $13.46 more per tire before fuel than for the taped, unboxed tire. At USPS the box size matters even more: at or under 108 in length plus girth the tire pays by weight plus nonstandard fees ($4.50 for a side over 22 in and $21.00 over 2 cubic feet for Ground Advantage), and over 108 in it pays the flat oversized price.

Cost to ship one truck or SUV tire (32 x 32 x 11 in, 40 lb)

Cost to ship a set of 4 tires, all-in

Each tire is a separate package with its own base rate and surcharges, so a set costs four times the single-tire price. The estimates below apply the current fuel percentage (UPS Ground 30.25% effective November 2, 2026; FedEx Ground and Home Delivery 29.25% for November 2–8, 2026) to the whole charge, and add $6.50 (UPS) or $6.45 (FedEx Home Delivery) per tire for a home address. UPS lists Additional Handling and Residential surcharges among the charges fuel applies to (UPS accessorial fuel list). USPS prices include fuel and home delivery.

For the passenger tire, FedEx comes in under UPS in every zone by $0.72 to $1.68 per tire to a business and $0.84 to $1.82 to a home, and both are well under USPS retail. For the truck tire, UPS and FedEx are within 83 cents of each other in every zone, so the cheaper one depends on the zone and on your account discounts. USPS is the most expensive of the three for both tires at retail prices.

Peak season adds more. UPS adds an Additional Handling demand surcharge of $8.75 per package through November 21, 2026 and $11.90 from November 22 to December 26, 2026; FedEx’s Demand – Additional Handling Surcharge is $8.80 to $11.85 during its 2026 peak. On a set of four that is $35.00 to $47.60 at UPS (see UPS Peak Surcharge 2026: What It Means on Your Invoice and FedEx Demand Surcharges 2026: Peak Season Fees, Dates and Amounts).

How to ship tires

• Ship each tire as its own package. UPS and FedEx price per package, and two tires taped together form one larger package with a larger length plus girth and dimensional weight.
• For UPS and FedEx, a taped, unboxed tire is usually cheapest. UPS’s packing instructions say to run a wide band of pressure-sensitive tape through the center and around the body of the tire so the tape sticks to itself, put the address label on the tape where it covers the tread and cover the label with clear tape. Expect the Additional Handling charge either way.
• For USPS, box the tire as tightly as you can. At or under 108 in length plus girth, Ground Advantage prices the passenger tire by weight plus nonstandard fees; one inch more each way and it pays the flat oversized price.
• Weigh tires mounted on wheels. A tire and wheel over 50 lb pays Additional Handling – Weight ($46.50–$58.75 at UPS in 2026), and over 70 lb USPS will not take it.
• Check the drop-off point. UPS Access Point locations accept packages up to 44 lb, 38 in long and 130 in length plus girth, which covers both example tires.

Declared value for tires

UPS and FedEx cover $100 per package without a declared value. Because each tire is its own package, the charge is per tire: declaring a $200 tire costs $5.10 at UPS and $4.95 at FedEx in 2026 ($20.40 and $19.80 for four). See What Does UPS Declared Value Mean? Cost per $100 & Limits (2026) and FedEx Declared Value Fee 2026: Cost per $100, Limits and What It Covers.

Cheapest way to ship tires: summary

• Passenger tire, to a tire shop: FedEx Ground at $72.22 to $164.19 per tire, fuel included; $288.88 to $656.76 for four.
• Passenger tire, to a home: FedEx Home Delivery at $80.56 to $172.52 per tire; $322.24 to $690.08 for four.
• Truck/SUV tire: UPS or FedEx at about $101.07 (Zone 2, FedEx) to $192.24 (Zone 8, UPS) per tire to a business; compare both.
• Before you ship: measure the tire, run it through the dimensional weight calculator and compare with your account rates; see UPS vs USPS vs FedEx 2026: When to Use Each Carrier.

UPS rates here are Daily Rates, the published rates for account holders. The UPS Store and other retail locations charge UPS Retail Rates instead, and UPS says the Ground fuel surcharge does not apply to UPS Ground packages from the 48 states billed at Retail rates (UPS fuel surcharge page). FedEx Ground rates are FedEx list rates. USPS commercial prices through shipping software are lower than the retail prices shown; see USPS Ground Advantage Pricing for Businesses: 2026 Commercial Rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to ship tires in 2026?

For an unboxed 29 x 29 x 9 inch passenger tire weighing 25 lb, FedEx Ground costs $72.22 to $164.19 per tire to a business and UPS Ground $73.45 to $165.87, including Additional Handling and fuel, across Zones 2, 5 and 8. A set of four costs four times that: $288.88 to $656.76 by FedEx Ground.

What is the cheapest way to ship tires?

For the example passenger tire, FedEx Ground (or FedEx Home Delivery to a home) was cheapest in Zones 2, 5 and 8 including fuel, with UPS Ground within $1.68 per tire to a business and $1.82 to a home. Ship each tire separately, taped rather than boxed, and compare your account rates.

How much does it cost to ship a set of 4 tires?

Each tire is a separate package. For the example passenger tire, a set of four costs $288.88 to $656.76 by FedEx Ground and $293.80 to $663.48 by UPS Ground to a business, including fuel. A set of 32 x 32 x 11 inch truck tires costs about $404.28 to $768.96.

Do UPS and FedEx charge extra to ship tires?

Yes. UPS lists tires not fully encased in a corrugated box under Additional Handling – Packaging, and FedEx applies the same charge to round items including tires. In 2026 it is $26.75 to $33.75 at UPS and $26.50 to $33.75 at FedEx. Larger tires pay Additional Handling – Dimensions instead, $29.50 to $40.75.

Should I box tires for shipping?

Not for UPS or FedEx. A box adds an inch or more to each side, which can push length plus girth over 105 inches and raise the dimensional weight. For the example tire, boxing in a 30 x 30 x 10 inch carton costs $7.21 to $13.46 more per tire at UPS before fuel. USPS prices assume a box.

Can you ship tires with USPS?

Yes, up to 70 lb and 130 inches in length plus girth. A passenger tire in a box no larger than 29 x 29 x 9 inches costs $89.90 to $206.65 by Ground Advantage retail, including nonstandard fees. Larger boxes over 108 inches pay the flat oversized price, $128.25 to $301.75.

Related Reading

• UPS Additional Handling – Packaging 2026: $26.75+ Fee
• FedEx Additional Handling Surcharge – Packaging 2026: What Counts as Non-Standard
• What Does UPS Additional Handling – Dimension Charge Mean?
• FedEx Dimensional Weight 2026: The 139 Divisor and How to Calculate It
• Cheapest Way to Ship Heavy Boxes in 2026: 20 to 100 lb Rates Compared
• How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Bike? 2026 USPS, UPS and FedEx Rates

Get a free shipping invoice audit

If you ship tires or other odd-shaped items, D’Arrigo Consulting checks UPS and FedEx invoices for Additional Handling and dimensional weight charges billed on the wrong measurements or packaging type. Request a free invoice audit.

This article is for informational purposes only. Carrier rates, surcharges, and policies change frequently — always verify current terms directly with the carrier for your specific situation. Have questions? Reach out to us — we're happy to help.