Every spring, the same scene plays out in garages across Ontario: the winter tires come off, the all-seasons go on, and somewhere in the corner sit four old tires that have been "waiting to go" for two seasons. Add a set from the trailer, a spare from a car that was sold years ago, and a couple that came with the house, and you have a pile that does not fit in the garbage and cannot go in a rental bin.
The good news is that tire disposal in Ontario is easier than most people assume, and for ordinary household quantities it usually costs nothing. This guide explains where old tires can go, the rules for rims and quantities, what happens to them, and why they need their own route out of your garage.
Why tires get special treatment
Tires are awkward waste for several reasons. They do not compress, so they take up huge amounts of space in a landfill. Buried whole, they can trap gases and work their way back toward the surface over time. Stacked tires that collect rainwater make ideal breeding spots for mosquitoes. And tire fires are notoriously hard to put out, burning for long periods and producing thick, toxic smoke.
On the other hand, tires are very recyclable. The rubber, the steel belts, and the fabric can all be recovered. That combination, bad in a landfill and valuable when recycled, is why Ontario runs tires through a dedicated system.
How Ontario's tire system works
Since 2019, the companies that make and import tires sold in Ontario have been responsible for collecting and recycling them at the end of their life, under a provincial framework overseen by the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority. In practice, that funds a network of registered collection sites across the province.
For you, that means used tires can typically be dropped off at participating collection sites without a fee, within normal household limits. Collection sites include many tire retailers, auto service shops, and municipal depots or transfer stations.
Where to take your old tires
The easiest route is the one you are probably already taking. When you buy new tires, the shop will almost always take your old ones as part of the installation. If you are swapping seasonal tires at a garage, ask whether they will take any extra old tires you have lying around.
For tires you have accumulated over time:
- Call a local tire retailer or auto shop and ask if they are a registered collection site and will accept drop-offs.
- Check your municipality's waste page. Many depots and transfer stations accept household tires, sometimes on specific days.
- Watch for community collection events, which some municipalities run in spring and fall.
Rims, quantities, and sizes
A few details trip people up:
- Rims. Some collection sites accept tires still on their rims; others ask that rims be removed first. Call ahead. If you have to deal with the rims yourself, steel and aluminum rims are worth taking to a scrap yard rather than throwing out. Our guide to scrap metal recycling explains what scrap yards accept.
- Quantities. Sites set reasonable limits per visit for household drop-offs. If you have dozens of tires, from a property you bought or a business, ask about arrangements for larger quantities.
- Size. Ordinary passenger and light truck tires are straightforward. Oversized tires, like those from large farm equipment, may have different handling rules or need a specialized collector.
What happens to recycled tires
Recycled tires get shredded and processed into a range of products. Crumb rubber from ground tires shows up in rubber mats, flooring for gyms and barns, playground surfaces, sports fields, and moulded rubber products. The steel belts inside are separated and recycled as scrap metal.
It is a good outcome for something that would otherwise sit in a landfill for generations.
Storing tires until you drop them off
If your tires need to wait a while before their trip:
- Store them indoors or under cover, so they do not collect rainwater and become mosquito nurseries.
- Keep them away from furnaces, water heaters, and other heat sources.
- Stack them neatly rather than in a loose pile; it is safer and takes less room.
- Do not store large numbers of tires in an attached garage longer than you need to, given how intensely they burn.
How to tell when a tire is finished
Not every old tire is ready for recycling, and not every tire that looks fine is safe to keep driving on. A few quick checks tell you which pile a tire belongs in.
Tread depth: most tires have small raised bars, called tread wear indicators, moulded into the grooves at 2/32 of an inch, about 1.6 mm. When the tread is worn level with those bars, the tire is done. Winter tires lose much of their grip on snow and ice well before that point, so many drivers replace them sooner.
Age: rubber hardens and cracks with time, even on a tire that has barely been driven. The sidewall carries a DOT code, and its last four digits give the week and year the tire was made, so 2319 means the 23rd week of 2019. Many tire makers recommend replacing tires somewhere between six and ten years old regardless of tread, so check the advice for your brand.
Damage: bulges, deep cuts, exposed cords, and cracks in the sidewall all mean the tire should come off the vehicle. A tire with sidewall damage should never be sold or passed along for road use, however good the tread looks.
Tire swap season: a few useful extras
Tire swap time is a good moment to check the tires you are keeping, not just get rid of the old ones.
Check the age. Every tire has a manufacturing date code on the sidewall: the last four digits of the DOT code show the week and year it was made. A tire marked 2318 was made in the 23rd week of 2018. Rubber hardens with age, so many manufacturers recommend replacing tires after a certain number of years regardless of tread, often somewhere between six and ten. Check your tire manufacturer's guidance.
Check the tread. Worn tires lose grip, especially on wet and snowy roads. A simple tread depth gauge costs a few dollars.
If you run winter tires, mention them to your insurer. Ontario requires auto insurers to offer a discount for winter tires, so it is worth confirming you are getting it.
Can old tires be reused or sold?
Tires with plenty of tread left and no damage can be sold or given away, especially sets of four. Check that they are not too old using the date code, and be honest about their condition and age when you list them.
Tires that are worn out, cracked, or old should go for recycling. Please do not burn tires. Burning them is illegal in Ontario and releases toxic smoke.
Why tires can't go in your rental bin
Tires are on the not-accepted list for rental bins, ours included. They are restricted at many disposal facilities precisely because they have their own recycling system, and a load that contains tires can be refused or carry extra charges.
When you are clearing out a garage, shed, or property, pull the tires out first and set them aside for a collection site. Then the bin can take everything else. Our guide to what can and cannot go in a rental bin lists the other items that need their own route, and our household hazardous waste guide covers the chemicals that tend to sit on the same garage shelves.
Bought a property full of old tires?
It happens more than you might think. A rural property, an old garage, or a house that sat empty for years can come with tires stacked behind the barn, piled in the bush, or scattered in the long grass. Before you start loading, check them for standing water and wildlife; stacked tires shelter everything from mice to snakes.
Count them before you call anyone. A dozen tires can usually go to a collection site over a couple of trips. A hundred or more is a different job, and it is worth calling a registered tire collector or your municipality to ask about arrangements for a large cleanup. Some municipalities offer help with tire piles found on newly purchased properties, so it is worth asking.
A quick tire disposal checklist
- Count your tires and note whether they are on rims.
- Ask your tire shop if they will take them at your next service or purchase.
- If not, find a registered collection site or municipal depot near you and confirm its rules for rims and quantities.
- Pull rims off if required, and take steel or aluminum rims to a scrap yard.
- Load tires flat in the vehicle and secure them so they cannot roll.
- Drop them off, and enjoy the extra space in the garage.
Farm, fleet, and business tires
Businesses, farms, and fleet operators generate tires in larger quantities and often in larger sizes. They usually work directly with registered tire collectors who can pick up from the property. If you run a business that replaces tires regularly, it is worth setting up a standing arrangement rather than making one-off trips.
Don't dump them
Tires left in ditches, woodlots, and empty lots are one of the most common forms of illegal dumping in rural Ontario. Beyond the environmental damage, illegal dumping can lead to fines. Since most household tires can be dropped off without a fee, there is simply no reason to take the risk. If you find dumped tires on your property, contact your municipality; many have procedures for dealing with illegally dumped materials.
Clearing the garage the easy way
Tires are usually one small part of a bigger cleanup. Our garage cleanout checklist walks through clearing the whole space in a weekend, and our junk removal service brings a bin for everything that is not a tire, a battery, or a chemical.
We deliver across southern and eastern Ontario, including rural properties around Lindsay, Stirling, and Elmira, where a lifetime of accumulated tires in the barn is a familiar sight. Set the tires aside for a collection site, and we will take care of the rest.
