Detroit is known for cars, and right there in the middle of all the factories and workshops, you’ll find something truly unique: a giant tire. This isn’t just any tire, though. It’s a massive Ferris wheel that used to take people for rides at the World’s Fair in New York back in 1964. Now it stands tall in Michigan, reminding everyone of the city’s history and how things can change and keep going strong, just like a good tire. It’s a cool landmark with a story to tell.
A World’s Fair Wonder
The story of the Uniroyal Giant Tire begins in the early 1960s, conceived by the Uniroyal Tire Company as a bold, innovative exhibit for the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Unlike any Ferris wheel before it, this tire-shaped marvel was designed to dazzle fairgoers with its sheer size and engineering ingenuity. With a diameter of 80 feet (24.4 meters) and weighing 12 short tons (11 tonnes), the tire was not just a ride but a statement—a symbol of Uniroyal’s ambition and technological prowess.
Technical Marvels and Distinguished Guests
Constructed at a cost of $750,000 next to the Grand Central Parkway, the Uniroyal Giant Tire featured 24 barrel-shaped gondolas, each capable of carrying up to four passengers. Powered by a 100 hp engine and perched atop a 40-foot foundation, it could carry up to 96 passengers at a time, offering views and thrills to over 2 million people during the fair’s run. Notable figures such as Jacqueline Kennedy, Telly Savalas, and the Shah of Iran were among its distinguished guests, further cementing its status as a must-see attraction.
The Journey to Detroit
As the World’s Fair ended in 1965, the future of the Uniroyal Giant Tire was uncertain. US Rubber (Uniroyal’s predecessor) offered to donate the exhibit but faced opposition from New York City officials who deemed it unsuitable for park amusement. Unwilling to let such a unique piece of engineering be forgotten, the company decided to relocate the tire to Allen Park, Michigan, outside Detroit—a city synonymous with the automotive industry. After being disassembled and transported via 22 trucks, the tire was reassembled in 1966 as a static display, sans its passenger gondolas, outside US Rubber’s Midwest corporate headquarters.
Today, the Uniroyal Giant Tire stands as a heritage and a beloved landmark in the Detroit metropolitan area. Anchored in 24 feet of concrete and steel and capable of withstanding hurricane-force winds, the tire’s exterior tread is 6 inches deep, with an interior volume of 120,576 cubic feet. Made from a Uniroyal-developed polyester resin reinforced with glass fiber, it boasts flame resistance and durability, underscoring the innovative spirit of its creators.
As the largest non-production tire scale model ever built, the Uniroyal Giant Tire is a marvel of roadside Americana and one of the world’s largest attractions of its kind. It symbolizes the intersection of automotive engineering and creative marketing, serving as a physical reminder of the era when Detroit and its industries were at the forefront of technological innovation.
