Here's a youtube video that gives you the gist. Although I've read using manure has been tied to black spots on the potatoes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xbUI6Y18pY

I plant mine about this time of year. I get some seed potatoes (you won't need many for a 4 x 6 area) and cut them into 2 - 3 pieces making sure that each piece has an eye. Let them scab over for 4 - 5 days, then plant them.

I top mine with straw and leaves and have had great success w/ that method.

Avoid using tires. They are made of a lot of ingredients that make the tire usable for the road but release a lot of funky stuff into the soil as they decompose. I have used 5 gallon containers and they work pretty well. Just put some soil and 3 potatoes (remember they need to be about 12" apart) in the bottom of the container. Then as the vine starts growing I throw some shredded bark or straw mulch on top of it till it flowers.

Hope this helps!