Creative Uses of Used Tires You Can DIY

Did you know that around 280 million tires are discarded each year in the US? Tires are non-biodegradable, which means each tire must be recycled or repurposed. While around 30 million tires are reused, there’s still a lot more left to deal with. The good news is that tires are very durable, which means there are several ways you can repurpose them for your own home.

What To Do With Old Tires

Here are popular ways you can recycle old tires by yourself:

Tire Planters

If you have a green thumb, you can always use old tires to make large planters. All you have to do is cover one side with plastic and then fill it with soil before adding your plants. You can even spray-paint the tire to give it a colorful look.

However, don’t use them for vegetables or other edible plants. Tires can release toxic chemicals that can contaminate the soil and your plants.

Hose Caddy

Keep your garden hose organized by turning a used tire into a hose caddy. On one side of the tire, cut the sidewall with a saw or knife and then drill drainage holes on the other side.

Tire Swing

An easy way to recycle an old tire is to turn it into a tire swing. All you have to do is tie a rope to a tree and then attach the other end to the tire.

Pet Bed

You can also make a pet bed out of a recycled rubber tire. Give the tire a thorough clean before adding a thick cushion or blanket inside. If you want to give it a pop of color, make sure to use pet-friendly paint.

Garden Steps

If you have a hill or uneven terrain in your yard, you can recycle old tires to make stairs. Just dig holes in the ground for the tires to fit into. Don’t place them too far apart, or you might end up slipping on the steps instead.

Sandbox

One of the most common uses for old tires is a DIY sandbox. You can fill one big tire with sand or cut smaller tires to form a border.

Outdoor Chair

You can use an old tire to create an outdoor chair for your garden. You can use it as the base for the seat or backrest, depending on what you want. Just make sure to add enough padding to make it comfortable.

Ottoman

If you wrap an old tire with sisal rope, you can make your own ottoman. You can even experiment with the rope and try out different patterns.

Table

Because it’s so heavy, an old tire can be a great base for a table. Stack them to your desired height, paint according to your chosen color scheme, and then finish with a glass or wood table top.

Exercise Equipment

You can use an old tire as equipment the next time you work out. Use one for tire flips, or create an obstacle course with multiple tires.

Other Uses of Recycled Tires

Here are other ways tires are recycled:

Doormat

This is another common product of rubber tire recycling. While some doormats are made of cloth and nylon, doormats made out of old tires are much more durable. They last long and come in different colors.

Home Decks

Create an eco-friendly home deck by using recycled tires. Turning old tires into rubber-polyethylene resin boards gives you the perfect material for a deck. They can withstand various weather conditions, require little maintenance, and last around 25 years.

Concrete Blocks

Old tires can also be used to make concrete blocks. Mixing rubber from the tire into the concrete makes the blocks fire-resistant and more durable. They can last for over 200 years, making them great for erosion control, flood control, and sub-foundation stabilizers.

Ground and Railroad Materials

Because rubber is durable and can absorb vibrations, it can be used to make railway lines and road asphalt. Old rubber tires can also be recycled to create rubber floors, which are non-porous and easy to clean.

Tire-Derived Fuel

Tire-derived fuel, or TDF for short, is a type of fuel made from recycled car tires. It burns 25% more efficiently than coal, but it also releases harmful emissions. Because of this, it’s only used in paper factories and cement kilns, where they have special machines that reduce these emissions.

Retreading

Around 16 million recycled rubber tires are used to retread tires. Doing so uses less oil than manufacturing a brand-new tire.

What Happens to Old Used Tires?

Most used tires are bought by companies that recycle tires to create new products. Here’s a brief explanation of how recycling plants repurpose used tires:

Steel Liberation

Tires contain steel wires that must first be removed before the rubber can be broken down. These wires are usually recycled as well.

Whole Tire Processing

Recycling plants will typically shred the rubber tire into small pieces before turning them into fine powder. Once it turns into powder, it can then be used to make new rubber or mulch.

Screening

Any leftover wire or contaminants can affect its usability, so manufacturers have to check if each recycled rubber passes their standards before cleaning it.

Cleaning

All that’s left is to thoroughly clean the recycled material with water and special cleaning agents. Once it’s all clean, the recycling plant sells it to different organizations that will use the recycled rubber, mulch, or powder to manufacture new products.

Benefits of Recycling Car Tires

Recycling car tires can seem like a tedious process, but it’s worth it for all the benefits it brings. Here are the different benefits of recycling used tires:

Create a Variety of Products

You’d be surprised by just what you can make from old tires. From household items to construction materials, old tires can be recycled into all sorts of products.

Convert Waste to Energy

Instead of letting old tires rot in landfills, some convert them into TDF. TDF isn’t exactly environmentally friendly, but it shows how you can convert waste into an energy source.

Save Energy and Natural Resources

Recycling old tires uses less energy than sourcing and creating new rubber. It also reduces the demand for rubber, which means fewer rubber trees are chopped down.

Reduce Pollution

Did you know recycling 4 old tires can reduce around 320 pounds of carbon dioxide? By recycling your used tires, you can help reduce your carbon footprint and keep them from polluting bodies of water.

Where Can I Get Rid of Used Tires

If you don’t want to recycle your old tires yourself, you’ll have to leave them with the right people. The proper disposal of used tires calls for a trip to the nearest recycling center, where they’ll have the proper equipment to safely recycle the tires. You can also leave your old tires with the auto shop the next time you get new tires.