From Old Tires to Reading Station: A DIY That Grew Step by Step

When I bought an old sofa recently, I was happy - finally, a comfortable spot to sit back and relax. But as soon as I placed it in my room, I realized something important was missing: a tea table.

Nowhere to set my teacup. No surface for a book. The sofa felt incomplete.

That's when the first idea came.

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Step 1: A Table from Tires

I had an old one-tire table I had made before. It was small, simple, and not really enough. But I've always liked making good use of old or unused things. Instead of buying a brand-new tea table, I thought: why not reuse tires again?

So, I stacked three tires together. These were 175/50 R15 tires from my old car. When stacked, they measured about 525mm tall (175mm × 3) - actually a bit higher than the standard tea table height of 40-45cm, but it worked perfectly with my sofa height.

But then came the first challenge: screwing inside the narrow space. My big electric screwdriver didn't fit between the tire walls. I had to resort to a manual screwdriver - slow, clumsy, and a bit of a hand workout. Still, the tires were finally secured. (And yes, I told myself: a mini electric screwdriver is on my shopping list.)

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Step 2: Why Not Use the Space Inside?

While working on the base, I noticed the hollow inside of the tires. Such a big space going unused!

That sparked the next idea: turn it into a container by making the tabletop detachable.

My first idea was using a hinge, but I couldn't find any hinge that would fit the circular rim of the tire wall and connect properly to the flat tabletop. So I switched to a simpler solution: three latch catches installed around the rim, allowing the top to be easily removed and secured back in place. This way, the hollow space inside could be accessed whenever needed.

But then came another challenge: I didn't have a round metal mesh that would fit neatly inside as a base, only a square mesh sheet. At first I tried cutting it with pliers - no luck. The mesh didn't even bend.

Then I remembered my bolt cutter. One satisfying clink and the stubborn mesh gave way. A good reminder that sometimes DIY isn't about skill, but about having the right tool.

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Step 3: Heavy Table, Needs Wheels

The table was now tall enough, but there was another problem: it was heavy, making it impractical to move around.

So I thought: easy fix - add wheels.

At first, I used four PVC trolley wheels. But it didn't work. The wheels were too tall, the tire walls weren't stable, and the rolling sound on the wooden floor was terribly loud.

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Step 4: A Frame and Better Wheels

To stabilize the base, I added a plastic hoop around the bottom tire, keeping the shape firm. Then I replaced the big wheels with six small ball-wheels, spreading the weight evenly and rolling smoothly without noise.

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Step 5: Adding Light

Finally, while sitting on the sofa reading one evening, I realized: I also needed light for reading.

That became the last idea: attach a swing-arm reading lamp to the table. When I need it, it gives perfect lighting; when I don't, I just detach it and store it inside the table.

For the tabletop, I used a 50cm diameter circular surface, which fits perfectly within the R15 tire's inner rim - no overhang, clean lines.

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The Result: My Cozy Reading Station

What started as "I need a tea table" became something much bigger:

• Three stacked 175/50 R15 tires for the right height
• Wheels for mobility
• Storage space for functionality
• A reading lamp for comfort
• A perfectly fitted D50cm tabletop
• And of course, a couple of fun little struggles with tools along the way

It wasn't a straight path. The ideas came step by step, each one only after running into a new need or problem. But that's what I love about DIY: it's never just about the finished object, but about the way it grows along with your ideas.

Now, with my old sofa and my upcycled tea table, I've got the perfect spot to read, sip tea, and enjoy a quiet evening.