Uniroyal Giant Tire
Encyclopedia
The Uniroyal Giant Tire was constructed by the Uniroyal Tire Company
, and is the largest non-production tire model ever built. The tire resides on the list of the world's largest roadside attractions.
The giant tire serves as a symbol of Michigan
, and pays homage to the rich automotive heritage of Detroit
. The tire is located in Allen Park along the Interstate 94 (I-94)
corridor, near Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW).
, the same architectural firm that designed the Empire State Building
. As a ferris wheel, the tire carried over 2 million people, including prominent passengers such as Jacqueline Kennedy and the Shah of Iran. The Ferris Wheel contained 24 barrel-shaped gondolas, each carrying 4 people. The Ferris wheel was capable of carrying up to 96 passengers and was driven by a 100 hp engine. When the fair ended in 1965, the mammoth 86 feet (26.2 m) tire was disassembled and shipped by rail to Detroit, where it was reassembled outside a Uniroyal sales office. Later, the sales office moved but the tire remained, becoming an icon of Detroit's industrial power. The tire is anchored in 24 feet (7.3 m) feet of concrete and steel and can withstand hurricane force winds.The tire is not made of actual rubber, but instead uses a Uniroyal-developed polyester resin reinforced with glass fiber, which makes the tire flame resistant. Today this tire still stands tall as an essential symbol of the 111 year heritage of Uniroyal and to the city of Detroit.
The tire's fiberglass cover was cleaned, painted, and thereby modernized with its new sleek look.
In 1998, a giant nail was driven into the tire as a promotion for Uniroyal's new puncture resistant tire.
The nail was removed in 2003 and was donated to the city of Allen Park by Michelin
, was to be auctioned on ebay
to raise funds for the Allen Park Historical Society programs and facilities.
The giant nail had a length of 11 feet (3.4 m) and weighed 250 pounds (113.4 kg).
In 2003, Uniroyal renovated the Giant Tire as part of Detroit's I-94 corridor revitalization project. The renovation included the replacement of 30 interior steel beams, asphalt and storm drain installation and the replacement of the neon lettering with reflective lettering.
United States Rubber Company
The United States Rubber Company was founded in Naugatuck, Connecticut in 1892. It was one of the original 12 stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and became Uniroyal Inc...
, and is the largest non-production tire model ever built. The tire resides on the list of the world's largest roadside attractions.
The giant tire serves as a symbol of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, and pays homage to the rich automotive heritage of Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. The tire is located in Allen Park along the Interstate 94 (I-94)
Interstate 94
Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
corridor, near Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW).
Dimensions
The structure is 80 feet (24.4 m) tall and weighs 12 short tons (10.9 MT). The exterior tire tread is 6 inches (15.2 cm) deep, with an interior volume of 120576 cubic feet (3,414.3 m³).History
The tire was first created as a Ferris wheel for the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair. Designed by the firm of Shreve, Lamb and HarmonShreve, Lamb and Harmon
Shreve, Lamb, and Harmon was the architectural firm best known for the 1931 Empire State Building, the tallest building in New York, and the world, at that time....
, the same architectural firm that designed the Empire State Building
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet , and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 1,454 ft high. Its name is derived...
. As a ferris wheel, the tire carried over 2 million people, including prominent passengers such as Jacqueline Kennedy and the Shah of Iran. The Ferris Wheel contained 24 barrel-shaped gondolas, each carrying 4 people. The Ferris wheel was capable of carrying up to 96 passengers and was driven by a 100 hp engine. When the fair ended in 1965, the mammoth 86 feet (26.2 m) tire was disassembled and shipped by rail to Detroit, where it was reassembled outside a Uniroyal sales office. Later, the sales office moved but the tire remained, becoming an icon of Detroit's industrial power. The tire is anchored in 24 feet (7.3 m) feet of concrete and steel and can withstand hurricane force winds.The tire is not made of actual rubber, but instead uses a Uniroyal-developed polyester resin reinforced with glass fiber, which makes the tire flame resistant. Today this tire still stands tall as an essential symbol of the 111 year heritage of Uniroyal and to the city of Detroit.
Renovations
In 1994, after Michelin bought Uniroyal-Goodrich, the company announced plans to renovate the landmark. The renovations for the giant tire included the addition of neon lights for the lettering of UNIROYAL and a new hubcap.The tire's fiberglass cover was cleaned, painted, and thereby modernized with its new sleek look.
In 1998, a giant nail was driven into the tire as a promotion for Uniroyal's new puncture resistant tire.
The nail was removed in 2003 and was donated to the city of Allen Park by Michelin
Michelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
, was to be auctioned on ebay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
to raise funds for the Allen Park Historical Society programs and facilities.
The giant nail had a length of 11 feet (3.4 m) and weighed 250 pounds (113.4 kg).
In 2003, Uniroyal renovated the Giant Tire as part of Detroit's I-94 corridor revitalization project. The renovation included the replacement of 30 interior steel beams, asphalt and storm drain installation and the replacement of the neon lettering with reflective lettering.