There are lots of useful items that you can make out of old tyres. Tyre swings, planters, houses, art or even religious icons. Here’s an idea of how to upcycle old tyres that’s as old as, well, as old as the tyre itself. People have been walking all over Africa in car tyre sandals for generations, like the old African woman immortalised in Johnny Clegg’s Mama Shabalala who “…picks up her walking stick and puts on her car-tyre shoes”.

How about having a go at making your own?

There are full instructions on how to make these cool tyre flip-flops (see picture) over at the Instructables site. All it takes is an old tyre, some old carpet, old plastic shopping bags, and some shoe glue.

Or try making this slightly more sophisticated pair of walking sandals.

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