(Modern Survival.org) – One of the greatest skills a survivalist can develop is the ability to improvise. Improvisation means creating something useful from items other people see as trash. In a post-apocalyptic world, the ability to improvise will be an invaluable asset. In the meantime, finding alternative uses for everyday items could save you money — and help you prepare for worst-case scenarios.
Take, for example, old tires. Once tires have outlived their usefulness on a vehicle, they tend to end up in junkyards or landfills. But what if these items could be turned into something useful — even something that could help you train for or survive a large-scale disaster?
Building Blocks
Used tires have become a popular building material in buildings called Earthships for a number of reasons. For starters, they’re made of waterproof rubber. They also happen to be incredibly durable, especially when filled with compacted soil. This makes used tires a great choice for building walls, but there are other uses for them, too.
Well-placed tire walls can provide shelter from gunfire. Once they’re filled with compacted soil, they become nearly bulletproof. A tire barrier will not likely stop a .50 caliber round, but it should prove effective against most small-arms fire.
Be careful if you decide to build with tires — they can be dangerous if they catch fire. Tires are difficult to ignite, but once they’re burning, they produce toxic fumes. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), pouring water on a tire fire is pointless. Instead, smother the fire with dirt or sand.
Protect Your Feet
In a post-collapse world, you’ll likely do a lot of walking. Eventually, shoes wear out, and shoe stores won’t be open for business. In fact, as past periods of civil unrest have proven, shoe stores are often targeted by looters.
In a pinch, rudimentary shoes can be crafted from old tires, as seen in the following video:
Training
Old tires are great accessories for physical fitness. There are a number of exercises that can be done using a tire, from swinging a sledgehammer at it to elevated planks.
The following video showcases 36 different exercises using tires:
When it comes to upcycling old tires, these examples are only the tip of the iceberg. Tires can be used for makeshift gardening pots or even to make playground equipment for children. With a little ingenuity, the sky’s the limit.
To see another item that has some surprising survival uses, check out this article on petroleum jelly.
~Here’s to Your Survival!
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