Let's Get Crafty! How You Can Repurpose Old Car Tires

April 29, 2022

It's time to put a fresh set of tires on your vehicle, but what should you do with the old ones? Instead of tossing them out or letting them collect dust in your garage, repurpose them! Check out these unique ways you can reuse your old car tires.

Turn Them Into Colorful Garden Planters

Landscaping with tires is a brilliant way to save them from your local dump, and it's amazing what a little outdoor paint can do. Clean off your tires with soap and water, then paint them in your favorite vibrant shades. Arrange your colorful tire planters in your garden or yard, and simply plant within the ring. If you're not placing your tires directly onto the soil, you'll need to create a base for your planter using cardboard or plywood. Add drainage holes to the base, fill with soil, and you're ready to plant in your new tire lawn art.

Because DIY playground equipment has strict safety guidelines, it is not recommended to repurpose your old tires this way. Instead, why not create tire swings for your plants? Create some drainage holes in the bottom of your tire with a drill, suspend your tire planter with a rope, and add some potting soil and your plants of choice.

Create Outdoor Seats or a Coffee Table

Instead of spending a fortune on outdoor furniture, upcycle tires into a statement-making seating area! First, wash and paint your tires the color of your choice. To create comfortable seats, you'll need to cut two pieces of wood into circles that fit over the tire opening. Attach one of the wooden circles to the tire using heavy-duty glue and let it dry overnight. Create a custom tire seat cushion by covering the second wooden circle with foam and the outdoor fabric of your choice. Place the cushion on the tire and you've got a perfect spot for sitting in the sunshine.

Next, create a matching tire coffee table using two tires and a round piece of glass. To create a table that is the appropriate height for your chairs, stack two tires on top of each other and glue with rubber cement. Then, finish the table by placing your circular piece of glass on top as a tabletop.

Suspend Them on the Wall for Rustic Shelving

With a few pieces of wood and an old tire, you can create wall shelving units perfect for the garage or a car lover's bedroom. Cut two wooden boards to the diameter of the tire opening, and then cut the third board two inches longer than that. Wedge the shorter boards into the bottom and top of the tire opening and wedge the third board into the middle to create three shelves. Secure everything by drilling screws through the side of the tires and into the wooden boards. Hang your new tire shelving unit and voila!

Transform It Into a Mini Sandbox

Using old tires to create swings or a climbing structure isn't safe, but you can use them to create a kid-friendly sandbox that stays safely on the ground. Choose a shady place in your yard and dig a very shallow hole that will fit your tire. Line this shallow hole with a permeable geotextile and nestle the tire into the depression. Fill your tire with clean sand, and you've got an easy and budget-friendly way to occupy your little ones for hours. Don't forget to cover your sandbox with a tarp or other cover when not in use.

Turn it Into a Simple Dog Bed

If your dog loves curling up somewhere cozy, your old tire might just be their new favorite dog bed. Clean your tire thoroughly and add a coat of non-toxic paint. Once your tire is completely dry, simply stuff a round dog bed into the opening. If you're worried about your floors getting roughed up by the tire tread, add a few felt furniture pads to the bottom.

Use Stacked Tires as a Garbage Can

Not totally sold on tire furniture or tire decorations? Consider using them as outdoor garbage cans. Stack three tires on top of each other and secure them with rubber cement. Then, line the stacked tires with an extra-large garbage bag. In a few easy steps, you've got an easy way to keep your property clean and save your old tires from a landfill.

Create a Bike Rack in Your Garage or Outside

This is an ingenious idea for a family of bike riders. Using a chainsaw or circular saw, cut your tires into halves. Line up the half circles side by side, leaving only enough space between them to fit a bike tire. Drill the halved tires to your ground anchor of choice - this part may require some creativity that will vary depending on where you're installing the bike rack.

Stow it in Your Garage to Use as a Simple Hose Caddy

If you've got a sabre saw or jigsaw handy, you can easily turn your old tire into a basic but wildly useful hose caddy. Cut off one sidewall of the tire so that the inside is exposed. Using a power drill, add several drainage holes to the opposite sidewall (which will become the bottom of your hose caddy). Wind up your hose and nestle it into the tire for an easy, space-saving way to store it in your garage or shed.

Hang Lights From It to Fashion a Chandelier Fit for a Car Lover

You may not want an old tire hanging in your dining room or foyer, but an old tire can become a one-of-a-kind light fixture for your outdoor space, garage, basement, or man cave. Cut holes into your tire to insert post lights, hang pendant lights and reflective crystals from the center - play around with different ideas and have fun with it.

Ready to be out with the old and in with the new? Find new tires for your INFINITI today! And don't forget to visit INFINITI Parts & Accessories to find other tire compatible parts you might need.