Utility Cycling - Recycle or toss old bike tires and tubes

What do you do with old bike tires? Recycle? Repurpose? Toss?
Also, I was riding this weekend and saw 2 tubes left by riders who apparently had flats. Just tossed on the side of an otherwise pristine bike trail! Aside from completely destroying the look of the trail, don't these folks realize inner tubes can be very useful for handlebar shims and also as fasteners for a bike rack?

When I volunteered for an evening at the local bike collective, my assignment was to go through barrels of old donated inner tubes and pick out the ones that wouldn't hold air. They were used to teach school children how to fix flats.

old tires, this is a great topic. i'm sure many of you have seen those photos of old tire dumps where the tires go on forever. i still have not heard of a good solution for the reuse or recycling of old tires. i think that goes for bicycle tires as well (they are basically made the same way)

i always feel guilty, like last week when i took a small stack of old tires out to the dump. i bet some kids in a 3rd world country would have found my 'used' tires to be in great condition

Could bike tires be patched/repaired and used again? Was there ever a time when they did that?

Tire tubes can be used to fasten a milk crate to the rack on your bike. :) I'm sure there are a number of other ways that tubes can be used as fasteners. You cut them and then tie them in a knot. Nice thing about rubber is that since it's stretchy and squishy but not slippery, it holds knots quite well.

I have a tarp tied to the porch of my building which covers my bike. It's tied down in several places with platic twine. I should retie it with tire tubes because they'd probably hold a knot better and leave less slack.

I recycle the tubes various ways, I cut one up the other day to use to rebuild a flap valve on my son's vacuum cleaner:p I have never really thought of a way to reuse old tires, when my are done they are done. I do drop them in the tire bin that goes to the recyclers so hopefully they are being reused and not just going to a dump somewhere.

Aaron:)

Some travel their whole lives to achieve enlightenment. Some, only about 3,000 miles.

http://www.fugly.com/media/IMAGES/Funny/tire-buddha.jpg

I use an old inner tube to tie between my front tire and frame to keep the handlebar from steering and the front wheel from rolling, while I lean the bike against a wall to clean the chain.

You can see it in this picture:

http://www.focushacks.com/photo/war-riding/12-07-06_2155.jpg


I use two 2" sections of old inner tube stretched over my front dropouts when I remove my QR wheel and have to set the dropouts on pavement, to keep them from getting scraped up.

I cut 1/4" wide loops of old inner tube to make rubber bands.

I cut 1/2" to 3/4" wide loops of old inner tube, then cut it again to make a wide rubber strip. I use this to make shims for attaching lighting or accessories to my bike. They're also great for keeping metal host clamps from scratching the paint.

Back in high school, I made fenders out of an old mountain bike tire and some cut-up pieces of a clothes hanger (the wire kind). I cut the tire into 2 equal-length pieces to start (with tin-snips), then stabbed a horizontal slit in the tire, stuck a loop of wire through it and bolted it to my brakes, and used hanger wire inside the old tire shell to keep it spread apart and to keep it from rubbing on the tires. It worked pretty well for being so ghetto.

I save a few small pieces of inner tube for padding when clamping things to the bike, so I don't scratch the paint.

Could a person run a heavy chain through an old tube and make a padded locking chain?

I suppose one could use an inner tube for an exercise appliance, if it stretches enough.

Alchemy Goods makes messenger bags and haversacks from recycled inner tubes.

http://www.alchemygoods.com/messenger.html

My old martial arts instructor liked bicycle inner tubes as a teaching aide to get students to feel the connections between body parts. He'd get the inner tube to resist the direction of the movement to enhance the student's awareness of the muscle groups involved in a technique.

old tires, this is a great topic. i'm sure many of you have seen those photos of old tire dumps where the tires go on forever. i still have not heard of a good solution for the reuse or recycling of old tires. i think that goes for bicycle tires as well (they are basically made the same way)




Recycling Tires:

http://ohiodnr.com/recycling/awareness/facts/tires/

The only use I can think of for old tires might be to use them as strap fasteners. I bought one of those at Lowe's last week for $2. Couldn't even get the size I wanted, so I thought an old tire might work if it had enough elasticity. Basically, cut it (maybe with snips?) about 2 inches by desired length. Drill a small hole in each end and add an S or snap hook. Would that work?

Tubes have a million re-use possibilities. One thing many people forget is that you can buy a $2 patch kit and repair your tubes. If repaired properly, they are as good as new.

Basically, cut it (maybe with snips?) about 2 inches by desired length. Drill a small hole in each end and add an S or snap hook. Would that work?



I tried cutting a bike tire for some forgotten reason with snips. The steel bead put a nick in the snips. It was tough. The snips worked well for the rest of the tire. Now when I cut some thin sheet metal with the snips I can feel that nick in the blade. Try something stronger for the bead.

my tinsnips ripped right through the bead of my old tire. You could always use a dremel with a cutoff wheel, or a band saw to get you through the bead if it presents a problem.

Tubes have a million re-use possibilities. One thing many people forget is that you can buy a $2 patch kit and repair your tubes. If repaired properly, they are as good as new.

This is true, but if the valve core or stem goes out, or a sidewall blows out and there's mega permanent damage to the tube, I usually cut my losses and start making rubber bands out of it.

Recycling Tires:

http://ohiodnr.com/recycling/awareness/facts/tires/
I skimmed through these links and didn't see mention of those tire tread sandals that were popular in the late '60s. I'd think that some shoe company might want to present a green image by putting used tires as the sole of a sport sandal line. Can you even get tire tread sandals anymore?

I used an old innertube to make one of those bands that you wrap around your right ankle to keep your chainrings from clawing your pants. I just cut a strip and sewed some velcro onto it and it works a lot bettern than the commercial ones in my opinion.

I skimmed through these links and didn't see mention of those tire tread sandals that were popular in the late '60s. I'd think that some shoe company might want to present a green image by putting used tires as the sole of a sport sandal line. Can you even get tire tread sandals anymore?

OK, I found some DIY instructions for making footwear from tires.

http://www.hollowtop.com/sandals.htm

Could bike tires be patched/repaired and used again? Was there ever a time when they did that?

yes, i patch mtn bikes tires in the summer when i do mtn parx...you can use the same patches as for tubes...worx fine,i know, i put tires through the paces

I will have to scrounge around for some links but there was one semi-green option in Europe. A company devised a material out of tires that is ideal for recreational paths. It is apprently better for cyclists and joggers as it is softer on the knees as you run along. Believe they were looking at using it for some of the National trails in the UK.

Tubes and tires are a thrifty person's bungee cords.

yes, i patch mtn bikes tires in the summer when i do mtn parx...you can use the same patches as for tubes...worx fine,i know, i put tires through the paces
I put a tube patch on the inside of a realtively new tire that got a gash in it from some nasty post car accident debris. I didn't want the gash to grow. It has held up so far but I can't swear that the patch has really done any good.

OK, I found some DIY instructions for making footwear from tires.

http://www.hollowtop.com/sandals.htm

Sandals from tyre carcasses are common in thailand. Unless you have baby feet to shod bicycle tyres would be too small.

Averaging only one flat a year, I basically toss my old tubes. I will not try to patch them due to the tire vibration caused by the patch. A person who rides a MTB on a rough trail or a commuter riding on rough roads maybe able to get by patching a tube, but since I ride on smooth paved roads, the constant thumping can get annoying. By riding a bike and keeping my SUV parked, I can definitely afford a new tube and the proper equipment to strap down my loads, and plus I do not wish to be confused with the many homeless bicycle riders in my area.

By riding a bike and keeping my SUV parked, I can definitely afford a new tube and the proper equipment to strap down my loads, and plus I do not wish to be confused with the many homeless bicycle riders in my area.
Let me try being polite here....Considering the amount of one-way consumption we see around us, I've got to wonder if we can really afford it? That's part of what we are discussing here.

plus I do not wish to be confused with the many homeless bicycle riders in my area.

Wow, not sure what to think about that.

Considering the amount of one-way consumption we see around us,

I am not going to completely eliminate one-way consumption from my life, but I am reducing the amount that I do consume. Look how much rubber and steel it takes to make an motor vehicle tire versus a bicycle tire and tube. By parking my SUV, I'm not having to purchase tires for it. Granted, that finding other uses for old bicycle tubes is great, but you are not seeing what I am accomplishing, especially when the U.S alone generates 290 million waste tires a year.

Wow, not sure what to think about that.

I am sorry that I used a poor choice of words, instead of using "homeless", what I really meant was the bike riders who happen to be meth users in my area. They are bicycle riders who do not care about any of rules of the road, race down sidewalks narrowly missing pedestrians with bikes that barely have any or no brakes at all. and are pieced together with just about anything that they can come up with.

....ive ridden a good share of miles on pieced together bikes :rolleyes: but....i fully believe that every one should reduce, reuse and recycle at a level they are comfortable with. my only hope is to encourage others to push that limit because every action does carry significant weight.

Well, dynodonn, tossing out one bike tube a year probably isn't extravagant consumption. I seem to have more flats though. If I didn't use patches, I'd probably have to throw out ten tubes a year.

i get about 2 flats a month....!

I'll have to consider myself forturnate for only having one flat in 3500 miles, if I have any extra good karma in the flat department, I'll send it toward both of you.

I save a few small pieces of inner tube for padding when clamping things to the bike, so I don't scratch the paint.

Could a person run a heavy chain through an old tube and make a padded locking chain?

I just did this a few days ago for my chain lock, and it works great. I zip tied the tube at one end of the chain and left unbound at the other end. This way it won't move around and I can slide the tube up to use a different link to shorten the chain.

Craig

Averaging only one flat a year, I basically toss my old tubes. I will not try to patch them due to the tire vibration caused by the patch. A person who rides a MTB on a rough trail or a commuter riding on rough roads maybe able to get by patching a tube, but since I ride on smooth paved roads, the constant thumping can get annoying. By riding a bike and keeping my SUV parked, I can definitely afford a new tube and the proper equipment to strap down my loads, and plus I do not wish to be confused with the many homeless bicycle riders in my area.
Oh my aren't we precious. I hope you never hit a bump and fall off your high horse! ;)

...I will not try to patch them due to the tire vibration caused by the patch...since I ride on smooth paved roads, the constant thumping can get annoying.

Where can I find such silky smooth roads that would allow me to finally feel the tube patch in my perfectly manufactured tires and my meticulously trued wheelset. O how I long for a new sensation.

I just did this a few days ago for my chain lock, and it works great. I zip tied the tube at one end of the chain and left unbound at the other end. This way it won't move around and I can slide the tube up to use a different link to shorten the chain.

Craig
Of course you run the risk of being mistaken for a homeless meth head. ;)

Lots of people encase chains in a tube to make a lock. But be aware that the chain you buy in a hardware store is usually not hardened, and it's very easily cut with common tools.

I used lengths of inner tube as part of the housing for a set of blinkies I reconfigured a while ago. It kept the insides nice and dry.

I saw an interesting re-use of an inner tube on lunch today. This bike was chained up near the library. They ran a chain through it to protect the paint on the bike. Not sure what kind of bolt-cutter resistance it offers (okay, I am sure - it doesn't slow down bolt cutters at all) but it's an interesting use of an old inner tube:

http://www.focushacks.com/photo/122806-bike2.jpg

I like the idea of using strips cut from tubes as fasteners; for example to hold a mini pump to the frame where I want it, rather than where there are braze-ons.

What I'd like to find are some small plastic bits, probably 'H' shaped to use as fasteners, to slip thru holes in the end of the strips

inner tubes can be very useful for handlebar shims

Useful, maybe. Safe, not so much. If you want to recycle something for a handlebar shim, try cutting up a soda or beer can instead.

I've cut up old inner tubes to make rim strips in a pinch. You could also use them as bungees for large loads as-is, with no cutting or hole punching - just loop each end around the hooks at the bottom of your rack (where it attaches to the dropouts).

I saw this product (http://www.it-clips.com/) demonstrated at the ABCE back in September. Called It Clips, they use an old inner tube. Fantastic product and one of those that are so simple you wonder why the hell you didn't think of it.

Aaron:)

http://www.it-clips.com/images/white.gif

I saw one guy here on these forums who turned an old set of wire bead tires into a set of fenders.

Old inner tubes can also be cut up and used for:

finishing tapes for your bar wrap

headset boots to keep spray out of your headset

wash them out and keep some sections in a drawer in the kitchen, good for peeling garlic and opening stuck lids.

I saw this product (http://www.it-clips.com/) demonstrated at the ABCE back in September. Called It Clips, they use an old inner tube. Fantastic product and one of those that are so simple you wonder why the hell you didn't think of it.

Aaron:)

http://www.it-clips.com/images/white.gif

I've made belts from old inner tubes and plastic Fastex type fasteners from old back pack straps or from REI.

Reuse first. I kept using this tire when the tread fell off, now the white cloth layer is gone. I guess I'm down to the kevlar, that stuff is bulletproof, right? When I'm spinning out my top gear on a downhill with my seven foot long trailer in tow, I worry about a blowout.
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr147/Rod_Smith/IMG_3443.jpg

Old tubes are one of those things with 1,001 uses. A pox on people who litter, leaving them beside the trail.

I've seen old tires turned into playground mulch, lasts forver but is pretty expensive. It has the advantage of providing soem rebound when a child falls or drops from the monkey bars!

Tubes and tires are a thrifty person's bungee cords.

+1 :thumb:

That was demonstrated to me by Mark Martin, the leader of Baton Rouge Advocates for Safe Streets (http://www.brsafestreets.org/)

They ran a chain through it to protect the paint on the bike.

I used to do that in the '70s. It kept your chain from damaging your paint job. The real problem with that is that it does tend to collect water when it rains and your chain tends to rust faster. And it takes up a more room when you are trying to stow the chain.