When we were working on putting together our Outdoor Living Room Update, we really needed some kind of coffee table or ottoman to make the space work. It’s kind of magical out a pretty coffee table can transform a collection of chairs into a living space. I wasn’t sure if we wanted to buy or DIY, but when I remembered the recycled tire tables and ottomans I had seen floating around Pinterest, I thought it would be a great outdoor solution, so we gave it a go.
Luckily, my dad is a borderline hoarder collector who specializes in old broken down Nissans, so coming up with a tire to recycle was pretty easy. The finished table looks great in our space and was fairly easy to put together, so I’m calling it a WIN.
It did not turn out exactly perfectly (you can see how the rope goes a bit wonky around the indents in the tire tread), but I think it’s still pretty good. I thought about painting the feet and maybe the bottom few inches white or another color. What do you think? Should I go for a dipped look or leave as is?
I will go ahead and share our process for putting the table together even though there are already plenty of similar tutorials out there. If you are making your own recycled tire table, I recommend you check out this tutorial as well.
Materials (This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase I may make a small commission. Thanks for supporting Persia Lou!):
- Old Tire
- 1/2″ Plywood (a 2’x4′ piece worked perfectly) (I actually used MDF, but plywood is better for outdoor use where it may get wet)
- Jig Saw
- Drill
- Screws
- Furniture Feet (I used these)
- Sisal Rope (I used about 250 ft)
- Construction Adhesive
The first step is to clean that tire off. Guys. Old tires are GROSS. This may be super obvious, but you do not want to be putting your hands all over a dirty tire. Plus all the dirt will make the adhesive less effective. So really hose that sucker off and let it dry before getting started.
Next use your jig saw to cut two round pieces of plywood the diameter of the tire. Screw one piece of plywood on the top and bottom of the tire.
I only purchased three furniture feet, so I had to carefully measure out where to place the feet so they were evenly spaced. You could use four, but I thought I liked the look of three better, plus it was cheaper. When the placement of the feet was all measured out, we drilled holes slightly smaller than the screws on the feet and screwed the feet into the bottom of the table.
Ta DAAA! The base of the table is all done!
Next up, we spent a couple hours with some rope and glue covering that all up. It’s important to try to start your rope off in the dead center of the table top. We were a bit off, so the rope isn’t wrapped perfectly, but it worked okay. Be sure to wear gloves with this adhesive. You will have to really hold the rope in place, especially for those first few tight rounds.
It was nice to have two people working on this because we could just pass the rope around to the other side. Just keep wrapping and gluing, wrapping and gluing, and pretty soon – you’re done!
Our new table is the perfect place to put your feet up and relax at the end of a hot Summer day.
What do you think? Have you ever made any kind of recycled tire project? Is this something you would try?
Boarderline Hoarder? Hahaha! Thanks for the humor… and for the awesome table. I love it and your outdoor space. I say leave it the way it is because I think it’s perfect.
Love how this project turned out.
Thanks, Theresa!
Super-Duper blog! I am loving it!! Will be back later to read some more. I am bookmarking your feeds also.
This ottoman looks great but I think you made a mistake. MDF is not suitable for an outdoor space, it will soak up rain like a sponge. I don’t know how much weatherproofing the rope adds but I have a feeling this will have disintegrated by the end of the season. The tutorial you link has it right, plywood. Plywood won’t last forever but it will have a bit of longevity. I’m not trying to be mean just thought you should know you’ll need to protect it from the elements.
Hi Yvonne, thank you for your comment I appreciate the input and hope it is useful to others. I live in the desert where we get very little rain, and the ottoman is kept under a cover, so I’m not so worried about rain. Thanks again.
How rude, I think it’s a great idea just as you have done the project. Ivonne should have the intelligence that people put their patio furniture under a covered patio section or in the garage over the winters month. Common sense! Your projects are super. Keep going just as you are perfect.
Olivia, I actually find Ivonne’s tip very helpful and not rude at all. We live in Colorado and the weather here is unpredictable and we do not have a covered patio area. Obviously it will be stored in the garage during the winter months but again it can just suddenly rain and hail during Spring, Summer and Fall.
So, thank you Ivonne for mentioning this! Your tip will help me save money, time and frustration in the long run!
Beautiful. I might even give it a go. Great instructions. I would leave the legs natural
Hi! I’m actually getting ready to make one of these and was wondering if the glue holds long term or should I use screws?
The glue holds the rope in place well long term, but use screws to attach the plywood and legs to the tire. Good luck! 🙂
I’m in the middle of making one of these. I should be done soon. I just put it down for a few minutes that turned into a few days, and then weeks got away. I’m half way done with mine…
I have made few of these ottomans and sold them
Awesome!
Where did you get the rope?
HERMOSO….!!!! LA PONDRÍA EN EL INTERIOR CON VIDRIO…GENIAL!!!
do you put anything on the outside to seal it? I am thinking about doing this for inside and another one for outside, however i think I am going to paint it with chalk paint – any experience with chalk paint and tires?
I have two Indy racing tires so they are smooth. =)