How to Build a Tire Swing for Summer Fun

Warm, lazy days spent playing outside and sharing laughter with friends can be some of the most fun and memorable of your child's life. There is nothing quite like a tire swing to help children create fun-filled, lasting memories that will stay with them for years to come. Here are some tips on how to build a tire swing for your kids so they can have lots of fun this summer while staying active and getting plenty of fresh air at the same time.

There are just a few supplies that you will need to get going with your tire swing. The most basic things you need are a tire, rope, a sturdy tree and a ladder. Let's take a closer look at what kinds of tires and rope will work best.

As far as tires go, the best tires for a tire swing are older tires that were made before steel belts started being placed inside tires. If you hang tires with metal in them there is a greater chance that one of your children could get poked or injured, so it is important to take the time to find a good, old tire to use for your project. Junk yards are a great source for older tires and they can often be found for very little money.

Once you have your tire you will want to give it a thorough scrubbing to help remove any of the black residue left on it. This will help to keep it from getting all over your kid's clothes and leaving black marks on anything it touches. You can wash the tire at home with a hose and some elbow grease, or take it to a car wass and use one of the high power scrubbers to get a deep down clean.

After you have your tire all washed up and clean, you will want to take a drill and drill a few small holes into what will be the bottom of the swing. This helps rainwater and debris to drain out of the tire rather than filling it up.

Next, you'll need a thick, sturdy rope capable of supporting the weight of a child and strong enough to hold up to lots of swinging. It will take a fairly heavy rope to provide enough support. Be sure to purchase more rope than you think you will need since you will need some length to loop around the tree branch and tire and to tie your knots. Additionally, you may want to consider using two ropes on the swing rather than a single rope since this can make the swing sturdier and less prone to wear and tear over time.

Probably the most important part of building a tire swing is making sure that the branch and tree you plan to hang the swing from is sturdy enough to support the weight of a swinging child. Remember that swinging puts added stress on the branch so you will need to find a very sturdy branch to hang your swing from.

Once you have found your branch you can start assembling your swing. Begin by placing some sort of padding on the tree branch where you plan to hang the swing. An old piece of rubber or thick padding will work well and help to protect your tree from damage from the rope. Loop the rope around the padding and the limb and tie a sturdy knot underneath to secure it in place. You may want to tie a second knot as well just for extra security. Let the rest of the rope hang down to the ground.

Next, loop the rope through the top of your tire and tie it around the tire at the height you want it to hang from the ground. It is a good idea to use a couple of square knots at this end for strength as well. Tuck away or cut off any excess rope.

That's it! You are ready to use your swing. It is a good idea to have an adult test the swing for stability before letting a child swing on it. Have fun!