Old tires, with or without steel-belted radials, have unlimited uses around the home and garden, and they also can be used for practical applications as well. Taking time to consider how to put old, worn and cracked tires to good use can give you a host of options without the need to spend money on other types of material. Let’s talk about a few interesting ideas from a prepping perspective that can make life a little easier for some every-day applications.
Planters
Tires make the perfect planters, and you can either use them for horizontal or vertical planting. All you need to do is place dirt, nutrients and your seeds/seedlings into the tire and you have a self-contained system. You can also hang them vertically and use them for herbs and other edible green items such as parsley and cilantro that do not require deep soil in order to grow. The possibilities are endless, but tires can help you to organize your garden while also maximizing space.
Steps
Tires, filled with stones, concrete or other sturdy material can be used as the basis for steps instead of the need to design and build standard stairways. If you have a path that leads up a hill, tires are an ideal way to create sturdy steps that will make climbing safer as well as less energy-consuming. Simply flatten the ground, lay two, three or four tires next to each other and fill them with the material that you want to use as the “floor”. The next step is to level the ground about six to ten inches above the first row of tires and repeat the process. The finished product will be a level, sturdy and easy to maintain stairway leading up to your property. You will never have to worry about slipping on uneven or wet and muddy paths again.
Roofing Material
Tires can provide a water resistant form of roofing material that can replace shingles or clay tiles. All you need to do is cut out the treads into segments and nail to the roof in a manner similar to laying decorative Spanish tile. This method requires some strength and good tools, but the end result can be the perfect solution to expensive material that may not be available in a SHTF scenario. Use your imagination and see how easily this can be to accomplish.
Household Items
Tires are strong and durable, and they make the perfect choice for building chair seats and backs, tables, baskets and even belts. The possibilities are endless, and you will find no trouble getting your hands on used tires that are just sitting in waste piles all over the country. Let your creativity run wild, and you will quickly see how many practical uses that they can have around the home. You can even fashion custom sandals from the rubber.
Play Areas for Kids
Don’t forget tires hanging from trees that make cheap, effective and fun swings. You can also build sea-saws and even sandboxes out of larger ones. Finding fun and entertaining ways to keep kids occupied in a off-the-grid situation is always a challenge, and tires can be used to provide a lot of options for hours of fun.
These are just a few examples to consider, and the more you think about the abundance and practicality of tires, you will be able to come with some great and ingenious ideas yourself. Turn a waste product into useful tools today, and you will never look at used tires in the same way again.
