7. Repurposed Tyre Tread Stepping Pads
Old tyres are one of the hardest things to dispose of responsibly, which makes them a satisfying material to reuse. Cut into the tread band, they become flexible, grippy pads that work well on slopes and shaded paths where moss makes stone slippery.
What you’ll need:
- Scrap tyres, ideally without splits or exposed wire
- A reciprocating saw or jigsaw with a metal-cutting blade, or a very sharp craft knife
- Soapy water as a cutting lubricant
- Drill and drainage holes
- Gravel and sharp sand
Cut the sidewalls away from the tread ring, then slice the ring into segments around 30cm long. Wash them thoroughly, drill a few drainage holes in each pad, and bed them into a levelled gravel trench so the surface sits flush.
Time: two to three hours, mostly cutting. Difficulty: moderate — cutting rubber is hard work and demands gloves and eye protection.
You can leave the pads black for a clean, modern look, or fill the centre of each with gravel or plant low-growing creeping plants between them to break up the rubber. They’re particularly useful on a shady north-facing slope where nothing else grips.