Uniroyal Giant Tire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Uniroyal Giant Tire |
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The US Royal Giant Tire Ferris Wheel at the 1964 New York World's Fair
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| General information | |
| Location | 1964–1965: New York World's Fair since 1966: Allen Park, Michigan |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 1964–1965: 40°44′42″N 73°50′53″W / 40.74500°N 73.84808°W since 1966: 42°16′14″N 83°12′33″W / 42.27055°N 83.20905°W |
| Owner | 1964–1990: United States Rubber Company 1990–present: Michelin |
The Uniroyal Giant Tire was created by the United States Rubber Company for the 1964 New York World's Fair, where it functioned as a Ferris wheel. Since 1966 it has served as a static display in Allen Park, Michigan, alongside Interstate 94, between the Southfield Freeway interchange and Outer Drive overpass.
Dimensions
Conflicting reports credit the structure as being 80 feet (24.4 m), 83 feet (25.3 m), and 86 feet (26.2 m) tall.
The weight of plastic laminate is 17,500 pounds (8.75 tons), but the weight of the entire structure is a lot more. It is anchored in 24 feet (7.3 m) of concrete and steel, and can withstand hurricane-force winds.
The exterior tire tread is 6 inches (15 cm) deep, with an interior volume of 120,576 cubic feet (3,414.3 m3). It is not made of rubber, but of a Uniroyal-developed polyester resin reinforced with glass fiber, which makes it flame resistant.
It is the largest non-production tire scale model ever built, and one of the world's largest roadside attractions.
Renovations
Michelin completed its purchase of the Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company in 1990, and in 1994 announced plans to renovate the landmark, including a new hubcap and the addition of neon lights for the UNIROYAL lettering. The tire's fiberglass cover was cleaned, painted, and modernized with a new sleek look.
In 1998, a giant 11-foot (3.4 m) nail weighing 250 pounds (110 kg). was placed in its tread as a promotion for Uniroyal's new NailGard puncture resistant tire. The nail was removed in 2003 and was donated to the city of Allen Park, to be auctioned on eBay to raise funds for the Allen Park Historical Society programs and facilities.
In 2003, the Giant Tire was renovated as part of Detroit's I-94 corridor revitalization project. The US$1,000,000 work included the replacement of 30 interior steel beams, asphalt and storm drain installation, and the replacement of the neon lettering with reflective lettering.
