Managing the tires of any vehicle can be tricky, but the disposal of an old one is a real menace. Old, worn out tires can pose severe threats to the safety of the vehicle as it can often burst causing accidents and leading to fatalities.
Old tires come with significant environmental costs as the scrap tires are often dumped at landfills, which leads to the emission of poisonous fumes which can trigger health and safety issues. Rubber which is the chief constituent of a Tire is known to be a major pollutant, non- biodegradable and a long-lasting material, much like plastic.
So here are some 18 brilliant and creative DIYs provided by Ritely, that will help you reuse those tires and make your home look aesthetic and enhance your beautify your garden, without engendering any health and environmental hazards.
1. TIRE SWINGS
Now that’s the most easiest and obvious way to make use of worn out tires. We have all swung in a Tire swing as kids. So why not do it for your own? Get to work; scrub those tires nice and clean. Paint them with bright colors, your kids will love it. Now make holes at two points of the Tire, and attach small rings to them. Then use ropes and pass them through the rings to hang the Tire in a vertical position. Hang the Tire to the branch of a sturdy tree in your backyard and watch your kids rejoice.
2. HANGING TIRE PLANTERS
Plants will grow anywhere, even in Tire planters. Paint the old Tire and tie it with chains and hang on the wall in your room. Put the soil in the Tire, plant some small garden plants and flowers, and don’t forget to drill few holes at the bottom of the Tire to allow the water to drain.
3. TIRE COFFEE TABLE
This requires a round wooden table top and four wooden or iron legs. Attach all these items by drilling them together.
4. TIRE OBSTACLE COURSE
If you have a pet and a backyard, this can be an efficient way to re purpose the tires. Paint them and hang the tires at varying heights according to a set pattern.
5. TIRE TUBE SETTEES
These innovative settees are an excellent place for kids watching television. Just repair the Tire of any holes, use some flashy fabric like satin or ribbons and wrap the Tire with it. Add a cushion for comfort.
6. COMFY CHAIR
Arrange two tires on top of one another, and add some sponge to the hollow space. Use some colorful, soft fabric to cover the tires with and add a cushion to complete the look. You could match with the color scheme of your room. Place it by the window and it can serve as your reading chair on a rainy afternoon.
7. PET BED
This is a good option if you want to avoid extravagant money on your pet’s maintenance. Just add some cushions and blankets and decorate with your pet cat or dog’s favorite toy. The hollow round shape of the Tire will give your pet a cozy feeling.
8. HOSE CRATE
The hose crate or a candy is the need of the hour when it comes to gardening. Cut the Tire in two parts, and then use it to neatly store the garden hose. Then put the candy inside a cabin, or just put in a corner of the garden.
9. TIRE-ROPE OTTOMAN
You just require a round, thin plywood to fill the top of the Tire. Then use a rope to paste the entire surface of the Tire in a circular motion. Place the ottoman by a corner of the room or by the fireplace.
10. GARDEN POND
Hollow out a round space in your garden the size of the Tire put it in the hole. Place some water retaining sand at the bottom of the Tire and a layer of pebbles at the side to decorate it. Now pour water into the Tire. Add some plants by the pond to add a dash of greenery.
11. SAND PIT
If your kid has been whining for a sandbox for summer, this is the best and low cost way of fulfilling your kid’s wish. Use a tractor Tire, put some generous amount of sand, paint it and stash an umbrella and your kid’s favorite toys.
12. SWING LADDER
This is a non traditional way of climbing the steps to a swing. But you must exercise precaution because the kids might take a tumble while climbing. Arrange the tires in an ascending order towards the swing. Paint the tires to match with the swing. This is advisable if the height of the swing is not very high.
13. TIRE MIRROR
One cannot imagine what an old Tire can do, like creating a mirror stand. This one could prove a bit dangerous and challenging because it involves fitting the mirror the size of the Tire. Use an old bike Tire, because it is thinner which is ideal for mounting the mirror.
14. TIRE UMBRELLA HOLDER
This might sound slightly bizarre, because how can you possibly fit umbrellas into round tires? Not really. All you need is a rubber cutter device, and cut the Tire according to the circumference of an umbrella. Make three to four holes. Now place the Tire in an upright position and put the umbrellas in them. Place the umbrella holder in a corner.
15. TUBE TIRE TEETER TOTTER
A teeter-totter is a kind of a see-saw with one handle affixed. Cut the Tire into two halves. Cut a rectangular piece of wooden plank which will serve as the seating place and fasten an iron handle for support. Paint it with your kid’s favorite color.
16. BOOK SELF
Cut the Tire into the shape of a pie, and attach the tires with screws and bolts into the corner of a wall. Make three to four tiers of shelves and paint each of them in different colors. Place your books one on top of the other.
17. HANGING TIRE LAMPS
This one is very easy and effective. Paint the tires, preferably small in size; hang them by a chain from the ceiling. Attach a bulb or a lamp from the center of the cavity of the Tire and fix the electric wires and your hanging lamp are ready.
18. HANDY STORAGE CASE
We always struggle with where to put our laundry clothes throughout the week. This is the most effortless way to achieve that. Just fix two to three tiers on top of each other. Attach a round board both at the bottom of the pile and the top. Append a handle on the top board in order to facilitate its opening.
There you have it, 18 brilliant ways to repurpose old car tires.
Isabel Speckman is a North Carolina-based freelance writer and work-from-home mother of two. In her 10 years as a professional writer, she’s worked in proposal management, grant writing, and content creation. Personally, she’s passionate about teaching her family how to stay safe, secure and action-ready in the event of a disaster or emergency.