How do I keep people from stealing the tire?

[Chris142]

My road is not County maintained. Many years ago a neighbor came up with a huge tractor tire(38 ply rating

) to use to drag the road when it gets bumpy.

That neighbor moved away and left the tire. Since then I've adopted it and have been doing what ever it needs done to keep it usable. Such as replacing the tow cables when necessary.

It "lives" on a foundation to an old house that burned down where the roads split. I use it a couple time a month to drag the road to my house which also smoothes the road for my neighbors that use the road also.

Every once in a while it will disapear. Somebody drags it to their house and does not bring it back. This irks me to no end!

Sure they can use it but since other people depend on it to smooth the other roads IMO it should be returned to it's spot in a timely manner.

It's been gone a week now so I went looking for it since I was going to drag the road.

Somebody has draged it home and they have it behind their locked gate.

I left a note on the gate and where the tire lives asking them to bring it back so others can use it.

I guess it's kind of funny that I'm all worked up over a junk tire but I get realy irked when someone takes it and does not return it so others can use it.

 

[javacontour]

Paint it pink and put a rainbow symbol on it

 

[Panzerman]

Chain the tire with a lock to some fixtures such as plumbing or anything on the foundation. If you want to share the tire then I would put up a wooden sign that says what you said, Feel free to use, but please return so others may use the tire to drag the road. What are the people using the tire for anyway, how come they locked it up?

 

[Chris142]

I'm guessing that they draged it home, through their gate, unhooked the tire and shut the gate. It's good at clearing weeds from around your house too.

 

[Herz]

If people frequently disrespect your tire, chain it and give your trusted neighboors the key. Many up here in the high desert arent very respectful of others property.

 

[TooManyWheels]

Keep in mind that other people may think it is abandoned and has no owner, and since it would be a handy thing to have, why not take advantage?

 

[sicko]

It might be that they intended to use it for something around the house, but haven't had a chance to do it and return it.

If after another period of time (1 week or maybe two weekends), leave another note requesting that if they're going to keep the tire then they need to smooth the road to the other houses with it. Explain that it's a tool which is needed by the community, and if they're going to take it and keep it then they need to take responsibility for its community use/function.

Once they see there are additional responsibilities that go along with taking the tire, they might then put it back for everyone to use

 

[mrsilv04]

Chain and padlock it to something, so no one can borrow it.

I assume that's an International pickup? Around 1974?

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
Chain and padlock it to something, so no one can borrow it.

I assume that's an International pickup? Around 1974?
1973

 

[oilboy123]

I remember you mentioning that it was taken before. I would be kind of irked.
Maybe the people that have it can keep it on their property behind the fence and give you a key to use it when you need to. This assumes it is in a convenient location to you. With the understanding it's yours and you have a right to take it at anytime if things don't work smoothly.

Behind the neighbors gate might be the best place for it..... Seems like the location you leave it at is seen by too many people.

 

[Chris142]

The location it at now is way out of my way to go get it. It's not mine per say. I did adopt it I guess. I dont care if people use it. Thats why it's there but they need to return it asap.

 

[dgee]

run a chain through the lug nut holes and secure it somewhere

 

[oilboy123]

Originally Posted By: dgee
run a chain through the lug nut holes and secure it somewhere


I believe it's just the tire with no rim. I guess a sign is needed, or a better hiding place. Problem is someone will probably tear the sign down and then take the tire and say they say they never saw a sign.....

 

[greenaccord02]

This is a _hilarious_ thread. That said, I'd be mad, too.

Have you thought about painting something on the outside of the tire that says "Property of maintenance dept." along with the address of the burned down house where it lives.

Also, spray that thing with some armorall.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
I guess it's kind of funny that I'm all worked up over a junk tire but I get realy irked when someone takes it and does not return it so others can use it.

If it's for the good of the community and someone's hoarding it, that's wrong no matter what the thing in question is. It's the principle of the thing. You could replace the tire but that won't resolve the sentiment.

Have you spoken to other people in the community about it?

 

[TooManyWheels]

I believe I would post some "Lost" posters, with a picture of the tire. Are there any prominent, central telephone poles or gates where you could post pictures?

Maybe add some text about your pet tire that wandered off, or was tirenapped. Give the tire a name, (Donut, BigFoot?) for the sentimental effect, to tug at peoples emotions. Pretty soon the whole area will be talking about your posters, and your errant tire will miraculouly find its way home again.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: TooManyWheels
I believe I would post some "Lost" posters, with a picture of the tire. Are there any prominent, central telephone poles where you could post pictures?

Maybe add some text about your pet tire that wandered off, or was tirenapped. Give the tire a name, (Donut, BigFoot?) for the sentimental effect, to tug at peoples emotions. Pretty soon the whole area will be talking about your posters, and your errant tire will miraculouly find its way home again.


Thats funny. I may do that this weekend if it does not come back.

 

[mrsilv04]

Originally Posted By: TooManyWheels
I believe I would post some "Lost" posters, with a picture of the tire. Are there any prominent, central telephone poles or gates where you could post pictures?

Maybe add some text about your pet tire that wandered off, or was tirenapped. Give the tire a name, (Donut, BigFoot?) for the sentimental effect, to tug at peoples emotions. Pretty soon the whole area will be talking about your posters, and your errant tire will miraculouly find its way home again.



What a funny way to get your point across. I'd do it.

 

[Chris142]

Got em printed out.

 

[addyguy]

Interesting problem and solution.

Life is a bit 'different' out in the California desert, isn't it?