Earn $900 a Week Recycling Old Tires for Cash! Everything You Need to Know.

Updated on: by Amy Kennedy

Need some extra money? You might want to recycle old tires for cash. There’s no reason you can’t profit from another person’s trash!Need some extra money? You might want to recycle old tires for cash.

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Yep, you read that right.

As we discussed in our article on how you can Get Cash for Recycling Old Appliances, recycling is not only good for the planet, it can be great for your wallet!

Believe it or not, there is money to be made in the old junk you see laying around, including tires.

You might be asking yourself: who buys scrap tires, anyway? The good news is that there are many tire centers that retread or recycle old tires.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, tires are banned from most landfills as they are a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other pests. That means there are a lot of used tires hanging around auto shops and garages, just waiting to be scooped up.

We created this guide to teach you how to get paid for used tires. There’s no reason you can’t profit from another person’s trash!

Let’s start with what you really want to know.

Is a Used Tire Business Profitable?

The short answer is: yes.

Tire retailers are required to keep the used tires that they remove from vehicles they are servicing.

But when retailers must get rid of their old tires, they have limited options.

They can either pay their employees to take the tires to a recycling center, or they can pay the recycling center to come pick them up.

Recycling centers can charge retailers anywhere from $1.00 to $10.00 per tire to properly dispose of or recycle tires.

Why is that a good thing? Because it means you can get free tires!

A retailer would much rather have you come pick up their old tires for free, than pay someone to take out what is essentially their trash.

And free tires mean cash in your pocket.

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How? It’s simple, actually.

You connect with local tire retailers, auto body shops, and even mechanics to let them know that you are in the business of buying used and scrap tires.

How to Get Paid for Used Tires

Your best bet is to go the legal route and start a legit business.

It’s important that the retailers recognize you as a legitimate business, and not someone who is just going to illegally store or dispose of their old tires, as that could get you both in trouble.

Also, it is easier to form a relationship with other companies when you are “Joe from Ultra Tire Collection” rather than “Joe from down the block.”

So how does one go about getting in the business of selling used tires?

First, be sure to check with the local and state regulations for your area regarding the storage and resale of used tires.

After that, you’ll want to register your business and obtain a business license.

From there, you can create business cards, fliers, and advertisements to share with local businesses and individuals.

How to Recycle Tires for Money

The first way you might want to consider is simply recycling the tires to recycling centers yourself, many of which might pay you just to recycle them.

After you’ve made your business official, you will need to do some research on your local recycling centers.

Have some less-than-perfect tires on your hands? If you’re trying to figure out who buys scrap tires, your best bet is to visit your local tire recycling centers.

Tire recycling centers will buy scrap tires, though you won’t get as much money for them. You can expect around $1 to $5 per tire, but that’s nearly all profit!

If you can’t find any businesses locally, the internet always has your back. Recycler’s World has been matching buyers and sellers online for over 20 years.

Another great site is Recycle Nation. Bonus: this site helps you find places to recycle almost anything, so why limit yourself to tires?

Note that not all recycling centers will pay you for your tires, so you’ll need to make it clear when you contact them that you’re looking for cash for your tires.

You can always gather offers from different centers before you make a final decision to make the most out of your used tires.

Re-Sell Them to Tire Shops

Another way you can get paid for used tires is by selling the ones you’ve gathered to other tire shops.

Some shops keep a wide selection of used tires for customers to buy for spares, or even to install as spares for people in need of a quick install until they can get a new set of tires.

Many tire shops are even willing to buy used tires that are able to be re-treaded and will pay good money for them!

There are a few stipulations, of course. The tires must be puncture-free and in decent shape, or they won’t be accepted. These tires usually aren’t able to be re-treaded, so they won’t be much use to the tire shops.

Like you did with recycling centers, take some time to call around to local tire shops and see what they might offer you for your tires.

They might give you a quote over the phone or ask you to bring the tires in so they can look over them and give you a price.

It’s a good idea to look up the market value of the tires you have in their new condition first, so you can at least get a basic idea of what they’d be worth new, and set your prices accordingly.

Sell Them on Selling Sites

Of course, Craigslist is always a good place to sell things that you don’t have a need for. While you’re there, check out want ads to see if anyone is looking for tires already.

This can help you compare the tires you have to prices other people are getting for their tires so you don’t under or overvalue yours.

Facebook’s Marketplace is also a good place to list tires online.

You might find a local buyer in need of a spare for a decent price, or maybe even someone who does auto repair work on the side.

Facebook Marketplace lets you list items for free and you can share them between buying and selling groups or on your Facebook page to reach more potential buyers.

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Make Stuff Out of the Tires

Another, more fun, option is to consider recycling them yourself!

What I mean by that is this: there are a lot of really cool things that can be made from old tires!

You can make and sell tire swings as an additional side business. Even more than the traditional round swing with a rope, you can cut and paint the tire to look like a horse!

(For real, check out this awesome tutorial on Instructables.)

If you have a spare minute, head over to Pinterest to check out all the things people have made with old tires.

Simply search “old tires,” and you’ll see things like planters, see-saws, dog beds, and geodesic domes.

Create some really amazing custom projects and artwork, and you could find yourself with another lucrative business on your hands.

Go take a look at our list of Places to Sell Handmade Crafts Online for websites where you can sell your tire crafts.

What you can make out of old tires

Some of the amazing stuff you can make out of old tires and make some money could include the following:

  • Tire Planters: Cut the tire sidewalls and use them as planters for your garden or indoor plants. The tires provide a sturdy base for holding soil and can create an interesting and unique visual appeal.
  • Tire Furniture: Transform tires into functional furniture pieces like ottomans, chairs, or tables. By adding cushions, upholstery, or wooden tops, you can create stylish and eco-friendly seating options.
  • Tire Swing: Convert a tire into a classic backyard swing by attaching sturdy ropes or chains to hang it from a tree branch or swing set. It provides a fun and nostalgic activity for children and adults alike.
  • Tire Playground Equipment: Create a small playground using tires by stacking them vertically or horizontally to make climbing structures, obstacle courses, or stepping stones. This DIY approach is cost-effective and can provide hours of entertainment for kids.
  • Tire Pet Beds: Cut a tire in half and add a comfortable cushion or bedding to create a cozy bed for your pets. It offers a durable and easy-to-clean resting spot for your furry friends.
  • Tire Art: Paint or decorate tires with vibrant colors, patterns, or artistic designs to create unique pieces of art. Tires can be used as canvases for murals or as sculptural elements in outdoor or indoor spaces.
  • Tire Herb Garden: Stack several tires on top of each other, filling them with soil, to create a vertical herb garden. This space-saving solution allows you to grow herbs or small vegetables even in limited areas.
  • Tire Swing Tire: By removing the sidewalls and attaching sturdy ropes, you can create a tire swing tire. Hang it from a tree branch or swing set to provide a classic swinging experience.
  • Tire Steps: Cut tires in half horizontally and place them in a staircase pattern to create steps for outdoor areas. This can be particularly useful for creating steps on slopes or in muddy areas.
  • Tire Mulch: Shred tires into small pieces to create rubber mulch. This can be used as a ground cover in gardens, playgrounds, or landscaping projects. Rubber mulch provides cushioning, weed suppression, and helps retain moisture in the soil.

Start Your Own Auto Repair Business

You can use the used tires you collect as part of your own auto repair business out of your home or a rented shop.

If you know a lot about car repair, you can start your own business and hire other workers as you expand.

This is always a good business to get into and you can stand to get a lot of business if you keep your labor prices competitive.

Collecting and using used tires can help save you and your customers a lot of money over purchasing new ones when they’re not needed.

You can always store the ones you collect in a garage and use them for various vehicles that need a quick tire replacement or upsell them as extra spare tires to your customers with compatible vehicles.

Shred Tires

Shredding tires is another possibility, although you’ll need to shell out a lot of money to get a tire shredding machine, so you might want to save this idea for a later time when you start expanding your business and can afford to invest in one.

A tire shredder shreds the rubber of tires to make a variety of materials, like landscaping mulch and soft playground surfaces.

In some cases, shredding makes it easier for manufacturers to break down rubber to make other materials, like glue.

Your business model can be configured in a couple of ways if you choose this route.

One, you might be able to package the shredded material and sell it to relevant businesses, like playground surfacing companies or landscapers.

You might also be able to sell it to fuel makers because shredded rubber can be used for some alternative fuels.

Asphalt making companies might also be able to use the shredded tires for road resurfacing, and shoe companies might be able to use them to manufacturer rubber soles for shoes.

There are a lot of potential options, but you’ll need to do your research to figure out what might work best for you, especially in your area.

Find a Re-Treading Facility

Some companies focus on re-treading tires, turning used tires into practically new ones with gripping treads that customers can buy for a bit cheaper than a new set.

You might have some of these facilities near you and you don’t even realize it.

To do this, you’ll still need tires that are in relatively good shape and are repairable, meaning that they can’t have any punctures or tears that would render them useless even if they get new treads.

You can Google “tire retreading facility near me” to see if any of these companies exist in your area.

If you’re lucky, you might have a couple of options in your town that are willing to pay you for the tires you collect.

You won’t get the final sales price (the company will re-sell the tire) but you’ll at least get a few bucks out of each of your tires you turn in.

However, you can always pay to have the facility tread the tire, and then give it back to you to re-sell yourself.

Re-Tread Them Yourself

There’s always the option of re-treading the tire yourself, too, which will save you a lot of money over getting them re-treaded.

But, this isn’t an easy process and you’ll need to have a good amount of knowledge to do it correctly, not to mention the right tools!

In most cases, professional equipment is necessary to do the job right, so I wouldn’t suggest re-treading tires if you don’t have the tools to do it with.

You might be able to come up with an agreement with a local repair shop to rent their re-treading equipment during specific hours, so you can do the job yourself and make a better profit.

Get Paid to Haul Used Tires

Finally, you can check around your neighborhood to see if anyone has any used tires that they need hauled off.

Like I mentioned before, checking with local tire and repair shops should be your first step.

However, there might be people in your neighborhood who have spare tires they don’t need, or people who do some repair work out of their homes.

They might jump at the chance to have you haul away their tires for a lower cost than a recycling center might charge them.

Or, you can offer to do it for free and just take the money you’ll make when you re-sell them, turn them into crafts, or do whatever else you want with them to earn cash.

How Much Can I Actually Get Paid to Recycle Used Tires?

I know that this seems like a really strange business idea to many of you, but it’s real. You absolutely can get paid to recycle used tires, sell them, or make something new with them.

The money you make from it depends on a lot of factors, though, mostly related to what you choose to do with them.

The goal should always be to spend as little as possible doing something to the tire in order to sell it.

Therefore, crafting could eat into your profits, depending on what you’re making and how much materials you need.

However, it could also give you an excellent return if you find that your projects are way more popular than you expected.

You might be able to sell a tire swing, for example, for $100, depending on the size of the tire!

But how much can you expect to make simply from reselling your recycling old tires?

It depends on the center, of course, but most do take a fee for each tire you bring there.

This is where it helps to come to a beneficial agreement with the auto shops from where you’re getting your tires.

Call the recycling centers first to ask about their fees. Then, you can price your hauling accordingly.

If a recycling center charged $3 per tire to take it away, then you’ll want to charge the auto shop $6 or more per tire to pick them up and still get a decent profit.

Remember that you’ll need to take vehicle wear and tear and gas prices into consideration when you set your prices.

So, the truth is that this work can vary a lot, but if you’re smart about pricing whatever services you offer (this will take some time to get the hang of, as with any business venture), then you could end up making a full-time income with a part-time work schedule.

Other Things to Consider

If you’re going to make a side business out of selling used or scrap tires, you’d better make sure that you have the equipment first.

You’re going to need a decent truck or another large vehicle to haul the tires from retail or individual locations and to the recycling center or re-treading location.

Another thing you might want to consider is creating a short-term storage plan for your tires. Many centers will only accept tires at a certain number, like when you have accumulated 100 to recycle.

You’ll need somewhere to store the tires until you reach your quota.

Depending on how much time you are willing to invest, this could take a couple of days to a couple of weeks.

Finally, you’re going to want to think what you might do with tires you can’t sell right away.

As with any product, there are going to be a few duds that won’t sell. It would be extremely beneficial to have a plan in place for what you’ll do with the tires that won’t sell.

That’s where a lot of other ideas I listed for making money with your tires can come in handy.

It’s all about being creative!

You can, of course, bring them to a recycling center without getting paid for them, but the whole point is to make money, right?

I want to remind you not to throw away the rims or hubs of tires you might find.

These can also be sold, so you don’t want to get rid of anything that could potentially make you more money!

Re-selling tires that are in decent condition is likely to bring you the most money, but the other ideas I mentioned are perfect for filling in dry spells when you don’t have buyers.

Utilize the other ideas above to get the most out of your tires and don’t be afraid to get creative.

To Wrap It Up

As the old saying goes, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.

We know that our readers are always looking for the best ways to make real money from home, and this is one of those so-crazy-it-works ideas!

Old and scrap tires do major damage to our environment, as they will not degrade over time.

Rather than destroying our environment by tossing them in a landfill, you can make some money by recycling them.

Do good work, get good cash.

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Comments

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Brian Lewis

March 26, 2018 at 9:00 am

Can someone please call Brian at 314-405-1627 I would like to know where can I recycle old car tires for free?

Joe Torres 3rd

October 13, 2018 at 10:44 am

Yes I have a tire shop here that’s got a bunch of used tires ready to be transported cleaned just need to know where locations at to have them recycled and earn some money

Yvette

December 4, 2019 at 6:09 pm

How can I make any amount of money I have a pile of used tires

JoAnn

April 22, 2018 at 1:12 am

I would like to know were I can sell old tires

Wesley

May 10, 2019 at 10:15 pm

Looking for a place near Palestine Texas that pays for recycled tires.. I’m tceq and manifest certified

Berj

June 9, 2018 at 11:33 am

I’m having 1 heck of a hard time finding places to take my tires, I have contracts with tire shops needing me to pick up (at the moment over 1500 tires) wasn’t going to turn down work but I need a place that either pays me to take them my tires or let’s me bring them there for free.

There’s places way out in the boonies 3 -4 hours from me doesn’t look profitable due to my situation. You definitely need to buy a big box truck or old uhaul. Definitely not renting a truck again they charge for the Miles and after you fill the tank you’re profit is terrible. Planned on buying a few trucks and a warehouse to store my tires.

I’m having no luck finding a place that let’s me take my tires to. Shred grind re use idc what they do with them. Found 1 place that’s charging $4-8 to shred my tires and I’m picking mine up for $2-$3 bucks to get their business. If anyone knows where I can take mine in Pennsylvania I’d appreciate it. Thanks

George Starr

July 21, 2018 at 7:36 pm

Hello I’m in New York City just drop them off if I pickup it’s a charge for it let me know .

Shea

June 30, 2018 at 12:23 am

Can someone help me find a place where i can sell my old tires?, I have a trailer full can’t seem to find a place that will buy the tires. Please and Thanks

Petrus Nzotho

July 31, 2018 at 6:44 am

I am scrap tires recycler in Witbank, South Africa. I need buyers of bulk scrap tires abut 20ft-40ft container truck tires per month and scrap tires for cars I can also supply 20ft per month.

DeWayne Treadway

December 2, 2018 at 10:46 pm

Hi I’m California in USA and I’m into tire recycling I can get tires to fill containers what’s the pay for them

yash

June 1, 2019 at 8:00 am

How much do you charge for baled tires per ton or per a 20ft container?

Derwin

December 11, 2019 at 2:37 pm

Are still interested in contairs of Tires?

Joe

September 18, 2018 at 1:51 pm

I’m having the same problem I need a company That will take My old tires for $2

Leann

September 20, 2018 at 5:18 pm

You know that just doesn’t seem right. If you have to pay to recycle tires to a recycle company then that makes them getting paid twice let alone selling the better ones as used tires. If your going to start a business recycling tires why go threw the middle man when you can sell them to the people that buy them to shred for other stuff they make of them like our road ways . they have to buy thier material from some where weather whole or shredded . so who buys and or pays for old tires ?

Walter

September 24, 2018 at 11:00 pm

I am from circville Ohio and the house I live in had a water leak in the basement and there were about 80 to 100 tires down there don’t know how that got there I just know that I need to get them gone and everywhere I checked once money do you know of any free places or how I can go about doing it

Raul Bautista

September 25, 2018 at 5:22 am

Its all a scam if u dont know the right people. My father owns 3 and a half acres of land and some guy came asking for a space to rent to install big chipping and grinding machines for the used tires we have 40 foot long containers for sale but he arranged a deal of leasing the containers and land for a price but the guy first needed to get 20,000 tires to make sure that the business was going to work mean while the guy charged all the other people to pick up and haul away while we were waiting on seeing the machines or something….eventually the said there was a reach in contract and were not going to pay bit instead sue us….obviously after while California state code enforcement agency saw the piles of tires. now we have a dead line to get rid of 20,000 or so of used tires or state is going to put a lean hold on the property….if any one can help us please let me know at 951 478 2670

Anthony Phillips

September 26, 2018 at 5:55 am

Who buys used tires in Knoxville Tennessee and pays cash for them

Yoda Jedi

January 6, 2020 at 3:19 pm

A used Knoxville tire buyer, that’s who.

Robb

October 2, 2018 at 5:07 pm

I found a company that’s National, Liberty Tire out of PA. They have 25 locations. 412-562-1700. They can pick up. I have 10,000 to get rid of in a similar situation. Waiting on a quote now and I’ll post it when I talk to them. I was told by a 3rd party it should be $1 a tire plus transportation. It isn’t going to be cheap but it beats the State from doing it and putting a lien on your property. They’ll do it too.

shane lamb

December 24, 2018 at 1:27 pm

United Tire Recyclers can do it. UnitedTireRecyclers.com does large stockpile cleanups

Robb

October 2, 2018 at 5:48 pm

Liberty charges $175.00 a ton(approx.) 90 car and light truck tires) if a person brings them to the plant. 1,500 tires will fit in a 40 ft trailer. 10,000 tires would cost Roughly $20,000.00 to dispose of plus transportation. $800.00 a load to deliver to plant. Approx $5600.00. Our plant is 75 miles from me. 150 mile round trip. That’s you providing the loading. It would take 7 loads.

shane

December 24, 2018 at 1:33 pm

I hope people read the comments before going out and starting a tire recycling business. this Article is horribly inaccurate and misleading. Most states require a tire recycler to be licensed and bonded before they can pick up tires from a 3rd party. they do this for a reason because there is basically no place where you can legally take waste tires for free. We all charge money to recycle tires because the machinery it takes to do so efficiently costs over 1M to buy and 100k a year to maintain. In regards to selling some of the tires you pick up thats few and far between. Roughly 10-20% of what you pick up can be legally resold. Let’s remember they were taken off for a reason because there was an issue with them.

Blairbyish

January 30, 2020 at 1:42 am

Absolutely. The blogger contradicts himself a number of times in the article. I’m not sure where they get their information from or what makes them think that they can write about the industry as a voice of authority!!!

David Edmonds

January 17, 2019 at 10:11 am

I have a virgin semi truck tire for sale.. seen it come off a semi truck that hauls wide-loads. Tryed to flag him down but he blowed his horn and keep going. I am a retired driver myself and I know u can sale it for 175:00 I am asking 75 for it.. call 318-557-6180 ask for David

Geogre Fartblocker

January 6, 2020 at 3:30 pm

Take that tyre and sell it to The Virgin Trucking Company. Im amazed you actually found a virginthese days.

Altaf Syed

April 11, 2021 at 10:54 am

I have stock of car tyres loose and bales to clear

ruben mora

October 9, 2019 at 3:45 pm

Shane I agree with you 100% these articles are for those who really are willing and able to make the ends meet. Otherwise, super misleading. One can end up in a very bad situation if not executed responsibly.

reyhaneh

December 7, 2019 at 2:35 pm

Hi
I am a seller Scrap tires
How much does the purchase price per ton?
How many tons each post?

Best Regard

Robert Lee

February 6, 2020 at 10:24 am

Get paid for used tires? Not on the planet that I live. It will cost you $2 for a car tire and $7.19 for a truck tire, when you deliver them to the recycling plant. Why do you think people illegally dump tires if they could sell them for cash? To the author of this mistaken article, please come and pick up my illegally dumped tires. No charge cause your a friend.

junior garcia

August 5, 2020 at 12:52 pm

address or location i have a tire shop an have lots of btires to sale please

ALTAF

April 11, 2021 at 10:48 am

Hiya I have bunch of loose car tyres and bales to clear and earn money
Location is Belvedere London UK

Altaf Syed

April 11, 2021 at 10:56 am

I have a Baler which can bale 100+ tyres in a bale for sale and
Stock of car tyres to clear

Michael

April 16, 2021 at 2:35 am

Hi, I am in southern New Mexico and am in MEED of a ton of tires. Not looking to buy..but building with…will take them off your hands if willing to toss them my way. Like I said, NEED a bunch..so let me know.

Cindy

July 14, 2021 at 2:07 am

Are you still in need of tires? I believe I know where you can get all you want. However they are in Missouri. Is that too far?