Make something amazing with recycled tyres

Used tyres are a versatile craft material and have been used to make recycled consumer goods for years. Children’s toys, beautiful works of art and entire homes have been made from tyres that have reached the end of the road. The following projects can be completed at home, so here are our top DIY uses for old tyres.

Garden planters

This is an easy and effective starter project. Simply paint a car tyre in the desired colour and fill with compost and flowers, to add some rugged charm to your patio or driveway.

Sand pit

Make their day by building this classic playground feature in the garden. Paint a tractor tyre in bright colours and fill it with sand. Top it off with a child’s beach umbrella, buckets and spades and you’re practically on holiday! Tip: used tractor tyres can be found online using free classifieds ads.

Chic ottoman

To make a rugged, industrial looking ottoman, keep the tyre bare. Clean it and thread thick cord through the sidewalls to make a netted platform for your feet to rest on. For a kitsch ottoman, cover the tyre with fabric and bolt wooden legs to the underside – nobody would ever guess your ottoman has done a two minute lap of the Silverstone track!

Garden pond

Use an old tractor tyre to make a larger, more affordable pond than the preformed tubs available from garden centres. Dig a hole, place the tyre inside and line it with pond sheeting. Fill this with water, plants and even fish! For an authentic finish, surround the pond with gravel, rocks and shrubs.

Seesaw

A car tyre, plank and two handles will make an effective toddler’s seesaw. Cut the tyre in two halves. You only need one half, so attach this to the centre of the plank. The plank will become the seats, so attach handles at either end. Paint the seesaw in your child’s favourite colour and become their upcycling hero.

Terraced garden

You will need a garden with at least two levels. Dig steps into the hillside where your terraces will be. Place a row of car tyres at the bottom and fill these with earth. Repeat this on each row until all rows are filled. Now you have your terraces. To make garden stairs ascending the terraces, leave a line of tyres without foliage or plants and lay small paving stones inside each one. With an eye for detail and a little sweat, you will have a beautifully landscaped garden – for a fraction of the price.

Classic tyre swing

Take a tyre, wrap a rope around it and tie it to a high tree branch. What could be more simple and fun? To make it extra special, consider a colourful rope or personalise the tyre by painting it with spots, stripes or whatever you want! Make sure you have adequate clearance for the tyre to swing its widest possible arc, and secure the rope to the strongest branch of the tree you intend to use. The tree itself should be mature and healthy.

There you have our top tips for recycling old tyres to make something functional, fun or luxurious. Full length instructions can be found online for many projects, but it is equally fun to go your own way and put a personal stamp on any DIY creation.

Wyatt Auto Services offer complete car servicing and repairs in the Barnsley and South Yorkshire areas. Our family run garage is dedicated to sustainable motoring and keeps cars of every make and model running smooth for thousands of miles. Tyres are essential to maintain and we can provide advice on the legal tread depth limits, so you can pass your MOT inspections without a hitch. For more information on all our maintenance and repair services, get in touch with our friendly team today.