How-to Hang a Traditional Tire Swing in Your Own Backyard

If hung in the proper way, a tire swing can be a fun addition to your backyard that your friends, and children, will thoroughly enjoy. Whether you are having a backyard BBQ cookout amongst family members, or you are entertaining a much larger group of people, these step-by-step instructions in this Info Barrel article will teach you just how to safely, and effectively hang a tire tree rope swing. Of course, if you notice any flaw in this instruction, or have hung your own tire tree rope swing in a different way, I certainly welcome any comments you may leave at the tail end of this Info Barrel article.

Things You Will Need

• a Sturdy Tree Branch
• a Tire
• a Spray Bottle with Cleaner
• a Power Drill
• a Rope
• Protective tubing
• a Ladder
• a Bag of Mulch
• a Rake or Hoe to Spread out Mulch

Some of These Products Can Be Found at the Following Internet Stores:

Step 1 First, you must survey your own backyard land for a viable tree limb, or branch, which will provide safe accommodation of a new tire tree rope swing. If you have arrived at this Info Barrel article, the chances are highly likely that you already have a picture in your head of where you would like to actually hang your tire swing. If you are left to choose between several viable locations, it may not hurt to ask your children where they would actually like their tire swing to be located; after all, they will be the ones who will be using it most frequently.

For whatever branch that you choose, it should be very sturdy and high off of the ground. A tree branch that is roughly 9 feet, or 3 meters, off the ground, should accommodate your tire tree rope swing quite nicely. While you may decide to hang it a little longer, 9 feet will be ample space and this should be measured from your tree branch to the ground level or base of the tree, rather than where you hope for the top of the tire to actually be.
Step 2 In this step, you should take your spray bottle and spray your tire down a little in order to clean it thoroughly. This can be done with simply water, or any household cleaner. Taking a few minutes to clean your tire will make for an overall clean presentation when you finally unveil your family¢‚€‚™s new tire tree rope swing to your children. To see the look on their faces as they eagerly run towards their new tire swing will be priceless, and will be deserving of the extra effort you take to ensure the actual tire is clean.
Step 3 Drilling at least 3 holes at the bottom of your tire is imperative, in order to facilitate draining. I would highly recommend drilling no less than three holes, however, you may decide to evenly space drill of four, or five, holes. As your tree tire rope swing will be expected to brave the harsh elements that it encounters during the expected long duration of its life, these holes will help facilitate drainage so that any rain or water won¢‚€‚™t be left to stagnate at the base of your tire swing. Stagnate water can just be plain nasty to handle, and can actually have negative health effects if you find your children constantly playing in, and around, it.
Step 4 In order to prevent fraying of your tire swing rope, protective tubing is essential to place on the tubing, around the area that will be in constant contact with the upper portion of the tree branch. As weight is being continually applied to your tire swing(s), this force will naturally lend itself to this fraying. While you can get by without using protective tubing, it is highly recommended that you use it in order to ensure your tire rope swing¢‚€‚™s safety and long term durability. The last thing you would want is for your backyard tire swing¢‚€‚™s rope to fray, and break, while your youngest child is enjoying it outside.
Step 5 Use your ladder to put your sturdy tire swing rope over your chosen tree branch. While you do this step, you must ensure that any portion of your rope, which is in contact with the tree branch, has protective tubing that is guarding it from fraying.
Step 6 While you are standing on your ladder, you should ensure that your rope has a square knot that is near, but not touching, the base of your chosen tree branch. There should also be a knot placed at the top of your tire in order to ensure that your tire is secure to the rope, as well. Remember, it is imperative that you minimize friction wherever possible, not just in this step, but in all steps of this process. By this, I mean, no one part should be in constant, and direct, contact with another part. This will include your rope to tree branch, your square knot to tree branch, or your square knot to your tire.
Step 7 On this last, and final, step, you should grab your bag of mulch and dump it liberally underlying the base of your tire swing. No amount of mulch will be too much because this is what will ultimately encourage safety, and a softer landing, in the event that your child falls off your newly created tire swing. You children can have a boat load of fun, however, as a parent, this step is imperative in order to ensure that they don¢‚€‚™t hurt themselves in any way.

While gauging how far you should actually lay the mulch out, you can simply swing the tire back and forth on its own, and observe the furthest extent to where it swings on each side. With this knowledge, you can then spread this mulch accordingly, with your rake or hoe. While you do this spreading, you should be cautious of the potential to accidentally pull your back. If you need to wear a back brace, of any sort, while conducting this task, it doesn¢‚€‚™t hurt to take care of yourself, as well.
Step 8 Unveil your family¢‚€‚™s new tire swing to your children, and observe the excitement in their faces as they eagerly run towards it.

Tips & Warnings

In every step you do, remember that safety is paramount!