Your kids will have a blast all season with this homemade tire swing. Back in the day, making one simply meant looping a rope around a tire and tying the other end to a tree branch. Ours is more durable and safer than that, but still involves all the fun and nostalgia. Follow our directions and you can do it too. It makes a great spring project.
Our Materials:
- 5/16″ Coil Chain Zinc (length depends on your tree height)
- 5/16″ Quick Link (1)
- 3/8″ Quick Link (1)
- 3/8″ x 4″ Spring Link (1)
- 5/16″ x 1 3/4″ Spring Link (3)
- 1/2″ x 12″ Eye Bolt (3)
- 1/2″ Fender Washers Zinc (3)
- 3/4″ Nut (3)
- Tire (muscle car era classic redline optional)
First we located a solid tree branch that would allow room to swing. You may not have an ideal spot, but find the best location possible. Obtain a clean, used tire free of tears or dry rot. Any good tire will do, but we used a nostalgic style redline bias ply. The kind classic muscle cars typically had in the 1960s.
A ruler was used to mark 3 equal distance points for drilling our holes along the tire’s sidewall. A paint pen and 3/8″ drill bit was used.
Then a straw was placed through each hole to locate where to drill on the other side of the sidewall.
We marked those spots and drilled. Then each zinc plated eye bolt was inserted straight through the holes.
A washer and nut would support the eye bolt and tire from the bottom.
The coil chain was cut into 4 parts. 3 of them in 4′ lengths. 1 about 12′. 
The 12′ chain was connected to the three 4′ chains with the 3/8″ x 4″ Spring Link. Then these 3 chains were hooked to the 3 eye bolts on the tire with the 3 smaller 5/16″ x 1 3/4″ Spring Links.
The other end of the 12′ chain was connected to the 5/16″ Quick Link and 3/8″ Quick Link. 
The chain was looped around the tree branch as shown.
The tire should then be hanging freely and horizontally. If not, confirm that the 3 chains are in equal 4′ lengths. To preserve the condition of the hardware, tire and chains, we recommend storing it indoors during the winter. Meanwhile, enjoy the outdoors and have fun!
