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 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Hardesty & Hanover |
The Uniroyal Giant Tire is a huge landmark that started as a Ferris wheel! It was built by the United States Rubber Company for the 1964 New York World's Fair. After the fair, it moved to Allen Park, Michigan, in the United States. Since 1966, it has stood tall next to Interstate 94. It's a famous sight for anyone driving by.
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How Big Is This Giant Tire?
This tire is truly enormous! It has a diameter of 80 feet (24.4 m), which is like an eight-story building. It weighs 12 short tons (11 t), which is as much as two large elephants. The tire is held firmly in place by 24 feet (7.3 m) of concrete and steel. This strong base helps it stand up to very powerful winds, even hurricane-force winds!
The outside of the tire has a tread that is 6 inches (15 cm) deep. The inside is hollow, with enough space to fit many cars. But here's a secret: it's not made of rubber! Instead, it's made from a special plastic material called polyester resin, strengthened with glass fiber. This makes it resistant to fire. It is the biggest model tire ever built and one of the largest roadside attractions in the world.
History of the Giant Tire
From Ferris Wheel to Landmark
The idea for the Giant Tire came from the company Hardesty & Hanover and Shreve, Lamb & Harmon. They designed it as a Ferris wheel for the 1964 New York World's Fair in Flushing, Queens, New York. It cost $750,000 to build, which was a lot of money back then! The tire stood proudly next to the Transportation and Travel Pavilion during both years of the fair.
Rides on the Ferris wheel first cost 25 cents, then 50 cents in 1965. The structure was made of steel and fiberglass. It had "U S ROYAL TIRES" written on its sides. There were 24 barrel-shaped cars, each holding up to 4 people. This meant 96 passengers could ride at once! A powerful 100-horsepower engine moved the wheel. Over 2 million people rode the Giant Tire Ferris wheel, including famous people like Jacqueline Kennedy and the Shah of Iran.
Moving to Michigan
When the World's Fair ended in 1965, the US Rubber wanted to give the tire away. They offered it to New York City or anyone else who would pay to move it. City officials didn't want it as an amusement ride in their parks. So, later that year, the giant tire was taken apart. It took 22 trucks to move all the pieces to Allen Park, Michigan, a town near Detroit.
In 1966, the tire was put back together, but without its Ferris wheel cars. It became a permanent display outside US Rubber's main office in the Midwest. Today, it's still a well-known symbol of Uniroyal's history and a famous landmark in Detroit. In May 2015, Uniroyal celebrated the tire's 50th anniversary with a special event.
Keeping the Tire Looking New
Over the years, the Giant Tire has had several makeovers to keep it looking great. In 1990, Michelin bought the Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company. In 1994, they announced plans to update the landmark. This included a new hubcap and bright neon lights for the "UNIROYAL" letters. The tire's fiberglass cover was cleaned, painted, and given a fresh, modern look.
In 1998, something funny happened: a giant 11-foot (3.4 m) nail, weighing 250 pounds (110 kg), was put into its tread! This was a promotion for Uniroyal's new "NailGard" tires, which were designed to resist punctures. The nail was removed in 2003. It was then given to the city of Allen Park to be sold to help raise money for local history programs.
In 2003, the Giant Tire got another big renovation. This was part of a project to improve the I-94 highway area in Detroit. The work cost $1,000,000 and included replacing 30 steel beams inside the tire. They also installed new asphalt and storm drains. The neon lettering was replaced with new reflective letters, making it shine even brighter.
See also
- 1964 New York World's Fair pavilions
