taking new tyres to own bike in USA
 

gidday world travellers,
i left my own foreign-registered bike in the usa at the beginning of the year. in august i am returning there - finally http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif. i would like to take a pair of tyres with me to fit them onto my bike there. anyone has got an idea whether i would have to pay any customs duty on them when entering the country?
cheers, d
www.2-mad.com

My guess is that it would be a judgement call by the individual customs inspector at the time you arrive. Most likely, if you explained (simply) what you intended to do, and that you intended to eventually export the bike, the inspector would just wave you through. The value of two tires can't be much more than USD 200, so what would the duty be on that? Perhaps USD 10 at most? Just make sure the tires are not made in Cuba.

Hi,
In January, I flew with two tires via Newark to Ecuador. I had to pass through US Customs. The customs officers just joked about the bulky parcel with the tires, and wished me good luck. They did not as if I would stay in the US or just changed flights.
Just do it

Werner