If you have a pile of old tires lying around, don’t throw them away just yet. There are plenty of ways to give them a second life. Here are 20 advanced uses for them, divided into two groups: common uses and uses in case of emergency or disaster.
Common Uses
- Raised Garden Beds: Stack old tires on top of each other and fill them with soil to create a raised garden bed.
- Playground Equipment: Cut old tires in half and turn them inside out to create swings, seesaws, and other playground equipment.
- Flooring: Cut tires into small pieces and use them as flooring for outdoor play areas.
- Planters: Cut the top half off a tire, fill it with soil, and plant your favorite flowers or herbs.
- Furniture: Use a tire as a base for a coffee table, or create a seating area by stacking and gluing tires together.
- Exercise Equipment: Use a tire for tire flips, sled pushes, or as a weight for squats and other exercises.
- Pet Beds: Cut a tire in half and place a cushion inside to make a comfy bed for your furry friend.
- Outdoor Decorations: Paint tires and use them as outdoor decorations. Also use them as plant holders, garden sculptures, or birdhouses.
Emergency or Disaster Uses of Old Tires
- Roof Shingles: In an emergency, they can be cut into sections and used as roof shingles.
- Sandbags: Fill old tires with sand and use them as sandbags to protect against flooding.
- Fire Starter: Cut them into strips and use them as fire starter kindling.
- Heating Fuel: Burn them as a heating fuel in a stove or fireplace.
- Emergency Stretcher: Cut a tire in half and use it as an emergency stretcher to transport injured people.
- Anchor for Boats: Fill tires with concrete and use them as anchors for boats.
- A barrier for Road Safety: Place them on the side of the road to create a barrier for road safety in case of an accident or emergency.
- Water Collection: Use tires as a container to collect and store rainwater.
- Garden Protection: Cut a tire in half and place it around young plants to protect them from animals.
- Emergency Toilet: In case of emergency, use a tire as a toilet seat by placing it over a hole in the ground.
- Insulation: Use tires for walls or floors in a makeshift shelter.
- Energy Production: Burn them to produce energy for cooking or heating water.
In addition, with great intentions and a little creativity and ingenuity, old tires can be turned into useful items in everyday life or emergencies. Don’t just throw them away; instead, repurpose them to help reduce waste.
