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Old tires make great swings, raised planters, and garden or play area borders, to name just a few examples, but they look a bit dull. Fortunately, this article lists several great tips and ideas for using paint to spruce up the look of your decorative tires. So get started by reading what’s below, then see where your creativity takes you!

2

Wash the tire to prep it.

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3

Spray on primer before painting.

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  1. Shake the spray can for at least one minute, hold it about 9–12 in (23–30 cm) from the tire, and use a steady back-and-forth motion to apply an even coat over the entire surface of the tire. If the coverage is spotty after the first coat, or you just want an extra-durable primer base, apply a second coat once the first has dried to the touch. [3]
    • Even if you’ll be using the tire as an indoor decoration, use an exterior-grade primer since they’re more durable.
    • Spray outdoors in a shaded area or in a well-ventilated indoor area like a garage.
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5

Brush or spray on durable exterior paint.

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  1. When it comes to painting rubber tires, the more durable the paint, the better! If you’re using spray paint, apply it with a steady, even spraying motion, just like with the primer. If you’re brushing on the paint, use the tips of the paintbrush bristles to push paint in between the tire treads. Paint the rest of the tire with long back-and-forth brush strokes. [5]
    • Heavy-duty paints adhere better and are more flexible, which result in less cracking and flaking.
    • Follow the specific application instructions for the paint you choose.
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7

Add details with acrylic paint.

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  1. Make sure the paint on the tire is dry, then use art brushes to add hearts, polka dots, geometric shapes, or whatever else you choose. Acrylic art paints work well here, especially if the tire will be displayed indoors. If you want a more durable finish for outdoors, opt for different colors of the same type of exterior-grade paint you used for the base color. [7]
    • Adding the finishing touches to a painted tire is a great project for kids. Once the base coats of paint dry, hand over some brushes and acrylic paints and let the kids get creative on this unique kind of blank canvas! [8]
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8

Make stencils with contact paper.

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  1. Draw the shape (like a diamond, circle, or star) onto the contact paper, then cut it out with a crafting knife and/or scissors. Stick the contact paper to the tire and smooth out any wrinkles. Fill in the cutout by brushing on acrylic paint, working from the outer edge of the cutout inward to limit paint bleeding underneath the edge of the contact paper. Peel the contact paper away and use it again as desired. [9]
    • The contact paper may only stay sticky for 2 or 3 uses, so consider cutting out multiple stencils. It’s also a good idea to cut out separate stencils for each different paint color you intend to use.
9

Add a contrasting stripe to tire walls.

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  1. This is a play on classic whitewall tires —in any color you like! While the tire treads add an interesting texture to any decorations you paint on, the walls on either side of the treads are smoother and ideal for a colorful circular stripe. Choose a paint color that plays nicely off the base color you painted the tire, use strips of painter’s tape to mark off the edges of the strip (if you want it to look more precise), then brush on the stripe. [10]
    • For example, if you’re painting a tire to use as a flower planting bed, you might paint the body of the tire light pink, paint light blue and green diamonds onto the treads, and add a light purple stripe on the tire wall.
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10

Highlight the brand with a paint pen.

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  1. Most tires have the brand name etched onto their outward-facing walls, but without any color to make them stand out. But you can easily fix this! Shop online or at an auto paint store for paint pens designed precisely for rubber tires. Thoroughly clean and dry the tires as you would before any paint job, press the nib of the pen down on a scrap surface to get the paint flowing, then simply color in the lettering. Let the paint dry and apply additional coats as needed. [11]
    • This kind of paint is very durable, but obviously won’t last forever on functional vehicle tires. Expect to do some touch-up work at least once or twice per year.
    • White is the most popular color, but you can actually find several other options.

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      Tips

      • If you have some old tires lying around but you’re not sure how to repurpose them, spend some time browsing online and see what clicks with you. You may be inspired to come up with your own creative use for a decorated tire. [12]
      • Tires are made to be extremely durable, so they hold up really well for a very long time outdoors. You may have to reapply your decorative paint every so often, but your tire creation—whatever it is—will almost certainly stand the test of time!
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      Warnings

      • Tires make great planters, but may also leach out harmful chemicals. The leaching may or may not be enough to cause you harm if it gets into any edibles in the planter, but it’s safest to avoid the risk and stick to growing flowers in your tire planters. [13]
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