 We present an effective synthesis process to obtain high-capacity disordered carbon from waste tires for use as anode in Li-ion battery. Carbon recovered from the pyrolysis of waste tire crumbs was treated with acids (HCl and HF), producing a high purity carbon devoid of all inorganic impurities. The surface characteristics of the treated carbon were further tailored by activating with KOH, which resulted in a high specific surface area of ~ 870 m2 g−1 with a large percentage of mesopores (average pore size ~ 3–5 nm). The morphology, structure, and composition of the resultant carbon were analyzed by SEM, TEM, Raman, XRD, XPS, and FT-IR. Its electrochemical performance was studied by galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements at different current densities, slow scan cyclic voltammetry, and EIS. The treated carbon displayed a high specific capacity of ~ 880 mAh g−1 (at 50 mA g−1) with nearly 80% capacity retention after 100 cycles. This work opens a new avenue for waste tire recycling and use in electrochemical applications including energy storage devices.