Approximately 290 million tires reach end of life in the US each year. Most can be recycled cost-effectively at the tire shop where new tires are installed, with disposal fees ranging from $1.50 (Costco) to $25 (specialty shops). This guide covers all disposal options, what recycled tires become, and why backyard burning of tires is illegal in all 50 US states.
Where to dispose of old tires (USA, ranked by cost)
| Option | Cost per tire | Best for | Notes |
|---|
| Costco Tire Center | $1.50 | Members buying new tires from Costco | Lowest disposal fee nationally |
| Sam's Club Tire Center | $2-$4 | Sam's Club members + Walmart tire customers | New tire purchase required |
| Discount Tire | $3-$8 | Drive-up customers | Open to all, no purchase required at most stores |
| Firestone, Goodyear, Pep Boys | $5-$15 | Chain shops with consistent policy | Most reliable nationally |
| Independent tire shops | $2-$15 | Local businesses | Varies; usually free with new tire purchase |
| TireRack mail-back program | Postage + $0-$5 fee | Online tire buyers | Free with new tire shipment, $0-$5 for old tire recycling |
| County HHW facility | Free | Last resort | Only accepts in monthly events; some counties limit quantity |
| Local landfill drop-off | $5-$25 per tire | Without a tire shop nearby | Most US states require tire disposal fee paid |
| Free tire pickup services | Free | Bulk loads (10+ tires) | Local tire haulers; varies by region |
State tire disposal fees + rules
Most US states have a tire disposal fee on new tire purchases - the fee funds recycling infrastructure:
- California: $1.75 per tire (Tire Recycling Fund)
- Florida: $1 per tire (Waste Tire Disposal Fund)
- Maryland: $0.80 per tire
- North Carolina: $1 per tire
- Ohio: $1 per tire
- Pennsylvania: $1 per tire
- Texas: $1.50 per tire
- Virginia: $0.50 per tire
- Washington: $1 per tire
Most other states have similar fees ($0.50-$2 per tire). The fee is included in your new tire price + goes toward state-mandated tire recycling programs.
What recycled tires become
| End product | Approximate share | Examples |
|---|
| Biomass fuel for cement kilns | 35% | Tire-derived fuel (TDF) replaces coal in cement production |
| Crumb rubber for sports fields | 30% | Artificial turf infill (NFL, MLB, school stadiums) |
| Rubberized asphalt | 20% | Road paving + driveway sealants |
| Playground rubber surfacing | 8% | Schools + parks |
| Mulch + landscaping | 5% | Decorative landscape mulch (controversial - some restrictions) |
| New tire manufacturing | 2% | Limited to specific tire types |
Tire recycling has improved dramatically since 2000 - US tire recycling rate is now 80%+ (per US Tire Manufacturers Association).
Why NEVER backyard burn tires
US federal Clean Air Act prohibits open burning of tires:
- Burning 1 tire releases ~100 lbs of toxic smoke + chemicals
- Heavy metals (lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury) released into local air
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) - carcinogenic compounds in smoke
- Federal fines: $1,000-$75,000 per violation
- State + local fines: vary, typically additional $250-$5,000
- Insurance + liability: backyard tire fires can cause $5,000-$100,000+ property damage
The 1996 Tracy, CA tire fire burned for 9 days + released over 90 million pounds of toxic smoke. Largest US tire fire on record.
How to safely transport tires
- Vehicle: passenger trunk is fine for 1-4 tires; pickup truck bed for 5-20 tires
- No straps needed for 1-4 tires in a trunk
- Pickup truck: ratchet strap or rope tie-down recommended
- Don't overload - 50-60 lbs per tire, 200-300 lbs total for trunk capacity
- Tire age + condition don't matter for recycling - all tires accepted
Tire shop pickup services (for bulk loads)
For 10+ tires (estate cleanouts, fleet operators, commercial properties):
- Tire-Pal (national network): free pickup for 50+ tire loads
- Liberty Tire Recycling (largest US tire recycler): pickup contracts for commercial
- Local tire haulers: $0-$50 pickup fee for 10-50 tires
- Junk King + LoadUp: $50-$200 pickup fee for 10+ tires
Tire age restrictions for resale
Used tires have age restrictions in many US jurisdictions:
- DOT recommendation: tires older than 6 years should not be installed (age via DOT date code on sidewall)
- California: tires older than 6 years prohibited for resale
- Some retailers (Costco, Sam's Club): refuse to mount tires older than 6 years even if customer-supplied
- Tire shops: independent shops may install older tires if customer signs liability waiver
For tires under 6 years old in good condition: consider selling on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist before disposal.
Tire age check (DOT code)
Every US-sold tire has a DOT (Department of Transportation) code stamped on one sidewall. The last 4 digits indicate manufacture date:
- Format: WWYY (week/year)
- Example: 1224 = 12th week of 2024 = manufactured March 2024
- Example: 4218 = 42nd week of 2018 = manufactured October 2018
Check before disposal - tires under 5 years often have resale value, older tires only have scrap value.
What to do with damaged tires
Damaged tires (cuts, punctures, dry rot) still recycle but have no resale value:
- Standard disposal: same as good tires - take to tire shop or HHW
- Repair-and-reuse: if puncture only, tire shop can plug + patch for $10-$25 (typically works for 1-2 years)
- Sidewall damage: NOT repairable - replace + recycle the old tire
- Bead damage: NOT repairable - same as sidewall
Tires for non-tire use (DIY)
Old tires can be repurposed:
- Tire swings + playground equipment (DIY, free)
- Garden + landscape borders (cut + paint - some toxicity concerns in food gardens)
- Tire planters (DIY, free; not for vegetable gardens due to leaching)
- Workshop wheels + dollies (with bolted plywood top)
- Boat fenders (DIY, free)
- Dog beds + climbing toys (with cushioning)
For each one tire repurposed, you save $1.50-$25 disposal fee + reduce landfill volume.
Cost benchmarks (USA, May 2026)
- Costco Tire Center disposal fee: $1.50 per tire
- Sam's Club / Walmart tire disposal: $2-$4 per tire
- Discount Tire / Firestone / Goodyear disposal: $3-$15 per tire
- County HHW disposal: free
- Landfill disposal: $5-$25 per tire (varies by state)
- Mobile pickup (bulk 10+ tires): $0-$50 pickup fee or free
- New passenger car tire: $80-$200
- New SUV tire: $120-$300
- New truck tire: $150-$400
Sources
- US EPA Sustainable Materials Management tire data
- US Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) annual report
- Federal Clean Air Act 42 U.S.C. § 7401 (open burning prohibition)
- 9 state tire disposal fee statutes cited above
Last verified: 2026-05-23. State tire disposal fees + tire shop policies vary - confirm current rates with your state environmental department.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I dispose of old tires?
Most US tire shops (Costco $1.50/tire fee, Sam's Club $2-$4, Discount Tire $3-$8, Firestone $5-$15) accept old tires when installing new tires - lowest cost option. For tires without new purchase: County HHW (free, monthly events), local landfill ($5-$25/tire), or bulk pickup services (free for 10+ tires from Tire-Pal, Liberty Tire Recycling, local haulers).
How much does it cost to recycle a tire?
Costco Tire Center: $1.50 per tire (lowest in US, members only). Sam's Club / Walmart: $2-$4. Discount Tire: $3-$8. Firestone / Goodyear / Pep Boys: $5-$15. County HHW: free. Local landfill: $5-$25 (varies by state). TireRack mail-back with new tire shipment: $0-$5. State tire disposal fee included in new tire price ($0.50-$2).
What are old tires recycled into?
35% biomass fuel for cement kilns (replaces coal), 30% crumb rubber for sports fields + artificial turf, 20% rubberized asphalt for road paving, 8% playground rubber surfacing, 5% mulch + landscaping, 2% new tire manufacturing. US tire recycling rate is now 80%+ per US Tire Manufacturers Association.
Can I burn old tires?
NEVER - prohibited by federal Clean Air Act 42 U.S.C. § 7401. Burning one tire releases ~100 lbs of toxic smoke including heavy metals (lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury) and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Federal fines: $1,000-$75,000 per violation + state/local fines $250-$5,000. Backyard tire fires cause $5,000-$100,000+ property damage.
How do I check a tire's age?
Every US tire has a DOT code on one sidewall. Last 4 digits = WWYY (week/year). Example: 1224 = 12th week of 2024 = March 2024 manufacture. DOT recommends not installing tires older than 6 years. California prohibits resale of 6+ year-old tires. Costco + Sam's Club refuse to mount 6+ year-old tires.
Can I sell old tires?
Yes if under 6 years old + in good condition. Try Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist for local sale. Tire shops sometimes buy back well-maintained tires. Many independent tire shops will install older customer-supplied tires with a signed liability waiver. Tires past 6 years or with sidewall damage are disposal-only.
Are tire disposal fees state-mandated?
Yes - most US states have a state tire disposal fee on new tire purchases ($0.50-$2 per tire) included in the price. California $1.75, Texas $1.50, Florida $1, Maryland $0.80, etc. The fee funds state-mandated tire recycling programs + landfill diversion. Failure to collect at retail level is a fineable offense for tire shops.
What about damaged tires?
Punctured tires can be plug + patch repaired by tire shops for $10-$25 (typically works for 1-2 years). Sidewall or bead damage is NOT repairable - replace + recycle. Damaged tires recycle the same as good ones - same disposal options + costs. No resale value but full recycling value.
Can I get free tire pickup?
Yes for bulk loads (10+ tires). Tire-Pal (national network) offers free pickup for 50+ tire loads. Liberty Tire Recycling (largest US tire recycler) does pickup contracts for commercial. Local tire haulers: $0-$50 pickup fee for 10-50 tires. For passenger car households (under 4 tires), DIY transport to tire shop is most economical.
Can old tires be repurposed?
Yes - common DIY uses: tire swings + playground equipment, garden + landscape borders (not for food gardens due to leaching), tire planters, workshop wheels + dollies (with bolted plywood top), boat fenders, dog beds + climbing toys. Each repurposed tire saves $1.50-$25 disposal fee + reduces landfill volume. Repurposing is becoming popular on social media + maker communities.