In the pages contained herein you will find boundless used tires tidbits and government drawl. Important and pertinent information, this site will tell you all that you need to know when going out to purchase used tires for virtually any vehicle that you might have. You’ll also find a wealth of links and information regarding the disposal of tires; you can’t just dump them anywhere these days so it’s important to know where you can take them, and what’s being done with that little fee you pay to get rid of the used tires. You’ll also find some fun and creative ways to use those old used tires if you’re feeling artsy… or just not wanting to pay the fee and need a place to put them!

Here is a picture with all the “proper” terms and markings found on tires. If you want to irritate some mechanic, ask him a bunch of questions about the tires, see if he really knows his stuff. Who knows you might be able to get some free work out of him if he gets it wrong! And remember… only you can prevent under inflation! Make sure to know what tire pressure you need, and check it every now and again. Under inflation will shorten the life of your tires! Manufacturers recommendations are there for a reason, heed their instruction.

Remember the old days when you were a kid and played with the tire swing? Well, why not make one for your kids. Tire swings back then used old fashioned rope. This time we will use sturdy chains. Make sure that the tire is in a horizontal position and not vertical, its much better that way!

Instructions on Making a tire Swing:

1. Pick the tire out. Make sure that the tire is not too bum or the kids wont be able to sit on it. Look at the tire and decide on which side looks better. The side that looks best will be used for the top. Then flip it over and drill holes into it around the edges, try to space it out equal.
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3. Then flip the tire again. You are now going to drill three holes, that together, are in the shape of a triangle. Then attach an eyebolt to each side. Thread the eyebolt with a net and fender washer. On the inside of the tire place another fender washer and lock washer with another nut.
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6. Attach the S hook through the eye bolt . Then use a pair of big vice grip pliers to squeeze the attached side of the hook. Do this on all the s hooks.
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8. Attach the chains, to each of the s hooks. Once you have attached the chain, make sure to use the pliers to close it in again.
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10. Then take the three chains and hold them together. Attach the top S hook to the three chains. Then use the pliers to close the bottom part again.
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13. You will need a few items for to attach to the top part of the hook : swivel, connector link for the, clip hook, ratchet
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15. Attach the swivel to the top of the S hook. Then use the pliers to close the s hook again.
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17. Take the connector link and attach it to the swivel, then attach the clip hook to the connector link.
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19. Then take another chain and swing it over the tree branch.
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21. Attach the two sides of the chain to the clip hook. Your done!
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Dumping and recycling tires, facts for the environmentally conscious owner.

How to help out the earth and be a responsible tire owner

Keep the tire healthy longer and prolong its life to delay forced replacement

• Make sure that the tires are always inflated to the proper amount. Make sure you always check the pressure in your tires when they are cold. You should do this at least once a month and before your long trips. You will see the label for the correct pressure in your car. Check the owners manual if you don’t see a sticker
• Check out your tires and inspect them for wear, misalignment, improper balance and improper suspension. Do this once a month
• Check for any objects that have become embedded into your tires. There may be glass, or stones which will cause a loss in pressure
• Rotate the tires around every 6,000 miles or earlier
• Drive carefully, avoid things like potholes, curbs, fast turns/ stoops that will harm your tire

Now for recycling

• Make sure you read up on your states laws about recycling your tire.
• Recycle and replace the tires with a facility in good standing. Always ask the facility manager what they will do with the used tires.
• You can also help out by supporting recycled tire products. You can purchase some of these products
• Make sure that you also contribute by reporting illegal tire dumping. To do this you may call your local/ state waste management. Call the office or the department of environmental quality. There is a booklet available online by the Environmental protection agency.
• With help from people like you, the United States can have a thriving tire reclamation program. It will continue to improve until there are hardly any more illegal dumpings or un-recycled tires. Moreover, one day we might be able to use a more earth friendly tire.

Some wild and crazy ideas for used tire use!

Tire sandals? Who would have thought of it? The soles can be made from old tires. I mean, you look at tires and they have some sort of 70,000 mile warranty, or some other grandiose labeling. Meanwhile your shoes are done after the 100th mile. What gives? Don’t you wish you had a shoe that was as durable as your tire? Well, why not put two and two together and make a tire shoe! No kidding. You can try moccasins, and rubber soles, but nothing is quite like a tire sole.

How to make the tire sandal:

First, Place either your left or right foot on a big piece of paper. Then trace around it. Next, take the pencil and draw a point down from your ankles. On each side. Also make a point from the bone behind your big toe.

Then take your foot off the paper. Then draw a bigger outline around your foot tracing. You should add about 3/8 of an inch for the toes and the sides, but not for the back. Then take out a ruler and draw a line extending 3 inches from the heel. This will help you draw the back tab. Then connect the marks you made for the ankles. Extend the line three inches outside the tracing on each side. Then extend a line from the point you made at the bone behind your big toe and extend the line three inches outside on each side.

Then with the 3 inches as a guide draw tabs. There should be two tabs at each side and one at the back. The tabs should be 1 ¾ of an inch across. For each tab sketch out a hole that will be used to place the thread strapping in. Cut this sketch out, it can be sued for both samples, assuming that your feet are similar.

When you go out and get the tires, the best to use are truck tires. Make sure that the tire does not have some sort of steel cable running through it. This is seen in newer tires. To cut the tire you should use some wood chisels or a bandsaw.

A saw also works well for cutting the tire You should cut out a piece that is at least ½ inch longer than the trace pattern. Then trace the pattern on the inside of the tire. Make one sandal at a time and then try it on. The next step is to thin out the tabs. The tabs should not be as thick as the sandal itself.

Then to make the tabs flexible, take a blade and slice it into the point where the tab is attached. Slice until the plies inside are exposed.

Then use the chisel to cut the holes, where the strapping will be placed. For the straps use nylon harness straps. You can then use a match to secure the end of the thread. For the back tab you will need to connect it to the two side tabs made at the ankle.

Americans throw away about 290 million tires each year. Ever since 1989 (when only about ten percent of tires were recycled) there were more efforts for tire reclamation. There are still however, about 55 million tires that are not reclaimed and are dumped or even thrown away illegally.

There are things known as tire graveyards. Here you see several hundreds of tires just laying there. They create a public health hazard. They are the perfect nesting and breeding areas for mosquitoes and rats! Eww! These creatures carry a variety of diseases that are hazardous to the public.

Another problem with these piles of tires is the risk of fire. The fire made from tire piles can go smoldering for weeks and maybe months! The major problem is that when tires burn, they release many toxic air pollutions. They may create serious health problems for people nearby. The rain water will also get contaminated as it runs off. This can lead to another series problem, pollution in the streams and nearby water sources.

This is all very bad news, but there are some good news among the pile. First off the scrap tires are being reclaimed in many ways the statistics say it all. About 130 million tires are used for fuel, and 56 million are recycled/ used in projects for civil engineering. Another 27 million tires were recycled to be used to make some things like roof pads, stall mats for livestock, mats for truck beds, and so forth. Another 9 million were shipped off to other countries where they may be used to make retreads. Another 12 million of these tires are used for rubber-modified asphalt on roads after they are ground up.
You might be wondering why used tires are not used to make new tires. Well, its an issue of safety. The tires need to be made from new rubber, and recycled rubber can only make up about 10 percent of the entire tire.