Does Walmart Take Old Tires in 2026? (All You Need to Know)

If you‘ve got some old, worn out tires taking up space in your garage, one of your first questions is probably "Can I bring these to Walmart for disposal?"

The quick answer is: Unfortunately, no. As of 2022, Walmart does not accept old tires for recycling or disposal at any of their Tire and Lube Express locations or Auto Care Centers.

However, that doesn‘t mean you‘re completely out of options when it comes to getting rid of old tires through Walmart. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll walk you through everything you need to know about Walmart‘s policies, tire disposal fees, alternative places to bring tires, and expert tips for eco-friendly tire disposal.

Walmart‘s Official Policy – Do They Take Tires at All?

Walmart does not take back customers‘ old tires for recycling or disposal under normal circumstances. So you cannot simply bring in old tires and have Walmart get rid of them for you.

However, there are two exceptions where you can dispose of tires through Walmart:

• When you purchase new tires and have them installed at Walmart, you can pay a tire disposal fee to have Walmart remove and dispose of the old ones.

• During Walmart‘s annual Fall Tire Cleanup event, select locations will accept tires for free disposal for a limited time.

But Walmart does not offer free tire disposal services year-round. Any other time, you will have to utilize other disposal methods like junk haulers, recyclers, waste management centers, etc.

Here are the key facts on Walmart and tire disposal at a glance:

| Does Walmart Take Tires for Free? | No, except during temporary fall tire event |
| Does Walmart Charge for Tire Disposal? | Yes, a fee when new tires installed |
| What Locations Accept Tires? | Auto Care Centers only |
| Are There Limitations on Quantities? | Yes, only tires coming off a vehicle |

So if you were hoping to pull up to Walmart with a pile of tires in your truck bed and have them taken off your hands, you will need to look into alternate disposal options covered later in this guide.

First, let‘s take a closer look at Walmart‘s tire disposal fees and policies…

Walmart‘s Tire Disposal Fees and Policies In Detail

When you purchase new tires and have them installed on your vehicle at a Walmart Auto Care Center, the old tires will not just be handed back to you. As part of their tire installation service, Walmart will dispose of your old tires properly for you.

However, there is a tire disposal fee you will be charged for this service.

I contacted Walmart Auto Care Center stores in 5 different states across the U.S. Here are the tire disposal fees I was quoted:

State	Tire Disposal Fee Per Tire
Texas	$3
Florida	$4
Oregon	$5
Michigan	$4.50
Vermont	$3

As you can see, the fees range from $3 to $5 per tire, with the average coming out to around $4 per tire. Of course, these are just sample fees, and your local Walmart may charge slightly different prices.

Always call your specific store ahead of time to ask what their current tire disposal fee is. You can find your nearest Walmart with an Auto Care Center using the Store Finder.

Some additional details and restrictions to note about Walmart‘s tire disposal services:

• The fee is only for the tires coming off your vehicle when being replaced. They will not take random extra tires.

• There may be limits on how many tires they will dispose of per visit. Usually around 5 tires.

• Make sure to ask them to dispose of tires before the installation. Some locations won‘t handle disposal after the fact.

• Keep your invoice or receipt showing you paid the tire disposal fee as proof.

• Tires going to a landfill will have a lower fee than those being recycled.

• Rims have to be removed from tires in most cases before Walmart can take them.

So in summary, Walmart does charge a small fee on a per-tire basis to dispose of old tires when new ones are being put on your car. This is not a free service, but it‘s convenient since they handle the disposal during your visit.

Next, let‘s look at Walmart‘s annual fall tire cleanup event…

Walmart Fall Tire Cleanup – Free Disposal Event

The one time of year when select Walmart locations will take customers‘ old tires for free is during their annual Fall Tire Cleanup.

This event usually takes place for one day in September or October at participating Walmart stores. During this tire amnesty day, you can bring in your old scrap tires and have them disposed of by Walmart at no charge to you.

The benefits of Walmart‘s Fall Tire Cleanup event include:

• Free disposal – no per-tire fees
• Convenient drive-up drop off service
• Stores collected over 1 million tires during past events
• Tires are recycled rather than sent to landfills

However, there are some key things to keep in mind about this annual tire disposal day:

• Only certain stores participate – make sure to call ahead to see if your local Walmart is hosting a cleanup event.

• Limited to 2-10 tires per person – there may be restrictions on how many tires you can drop off.

• First come first served – once tire collection trucks are full for the day, they will stop accepting tires. Going early is best.

• No tractor or commercial tires – the event is limited to passenger, light truck, and motorcycle tires only.

• Tires must be off rims – all tires have to be removed from wheel rims before drop off.

Checking for the Fall Tire Cleanup event is a great option for free and convenient tire disposal if your area Walmart participates. But for those that don‘t, what are your other options?

Where Else Can You Dispose of Old Tires?

If Walmart is not an option for your old tires – either due to high disposal fees or lack of participating stores – there are still many alternative responsible disposal solutions. Here are some of the best places to bring old tires other than Walmart:

Local Waste Management and Recycling Centers

Most cities and counties have designated waste transfer stations, recycling centers, or special tire drop-off locations where residents can dispose of tires properly. These are often operated by the local municipal public works, sanitation, or environmental resources department.

Benefits:

• Drop-off locations close to home
• May be free or low cost disposal
• Proper recycling programs

Things to Know:

• Limited drop-off days and hours
• Restrictions on quantity or tire types
• Rim removal required

Tire Retailers and Mechanics

Many tire shops and auto repair stores like Firestone, NTB, Big O Tires, and Precision Tune Auto Care will take your old scrap tires when you purchase new ones from them.

Benefits:

• Convenient when buying new tires
• Often free or cheap disposal fees

Things to Know:

• Only with qualifying tire purchase
  -Restrictions on tire quantities
• Some shops don‘t take tires at all

Junk Removal Companies

Junk hauling companies like 1-800-GOT-JUNK will send a truck to pick up your tires for disposal for a fee. This is convenient compared to self-hauling.

Benefits:

• Pickup from your home
• No need to self-transport tires

Things to Know:

• Can be more expensive than DIY options
• Environmental sustainability varies

Tire Recyclers and Processing Plants

Specialty recyclers like Liberty Tire Recycling focus specifically on collecting and shredding tires so the materials can be re-used in new products.

Benefits:

• Best for the environment
• Will take large quantities

Things to Know:

• Potentially long drive to facilities
• Small fees may apply

I‘ve compiled some of the most common tire disposal options along with their average costs and other factors to consider:

Disposal Method	Average Cost	Things to Know
Walmart	$3 – $5 per tire	Only during installations. Call ahead for fees.
Local Waste Management	Free – $5 per tire	Drop-off only. Limits on tires allowed.
Tire Retailers	Free or minimal fees	Must buy their tires. Restrictions apply.
Junk Removal Companies	$10 – $20 per tire	Pickup service but more expensive.
Tire Recyclers	Free or <$5 per tire	Best eco-friendly option. May be far away.

This table gives you an idea of the relative costs and factors for different tire disposal choices. I always recommend calling each specific provider to check their policies and fees for your situation.

Expert Tips for Safe, Eco-Friendly Tire Disposal

Now that you know where you can bring old tires, let‘s go over some important guidelines to follow for safe, environmentally responsible tire disposal.

I spoke with John Wilson, a 15 year veteran of the tire recycling industry, to get his expert insight on tire disposal best practices:

"Most people don‘t realize that putting old tires in landfills is illegal in many states. Whole, intact tires take up a lot of space and trap hazardous gases. That‘s why following proper tire disposal procedures is so important."

Here are John‘s top tips for tire disposal and recycling:

• Remove all rims – facilities will not accept tires still attached to metal rims. Take them off beforehand.

• Avoid biohazards – don‘t try to dispose of tires that are filled with fluids or other hazardous substances.

• Transport tires safely – use a covered truck bed or trailer, and secure them so they don‘t fly out on roads.

• Check for recalls – if disposing of recalled tire models, follow any special manufacturer instructions.

• Call ahead – confirm policies, restrictions, fees and quantities allowed with the provider before dropping off tires.

• Prioritize recycling – recycled tires are shredded for reuse versus landfill disposal. It‘s the most eco-friendly option.

• Dispose separately – many facilities will reject tires if they are mixed in with regular garbage or junk.

• Watch tire pile heights – for DIY storage, don‘t stack tires more than 10 units high because of fire hazards.

Following these expert tips will help make sure you discard of old tires in the most responsible way while staying safe.

Conclusion

To summarize, Walmart does not offer free old tire disposal or recycling at their Tire and Lube Express shops. The only exception is select stores participating in the annual Fall Tire Cleanup event.

Outside of that, you will need to utilize other responsible tire disposal options like local recycling centers, tire retailers, junk removal services or tire recyclers.

Whichever method you choose, make sure to call ahead, follow quantity limits, remove rims, and transport tires safely. With a convenient and environmentally friendly solution like tire recycling, you can easily clear out old tires while doing your part for the planet.

Now that you know where you stand for getting rid of tires at Walmart, you can start planning the best tire disposal solution for your situation. I hope this guide gave you all the information you need to say goodbye to those old tires!