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 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, in 1966, it was moved to Allen Park, Michigan. Today, it stands as a cool roadside display next to Interstate 94.
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How Big Is the Giant Tire?
This giant tire is truly massive! It stands about 80 to 86 feet (24 to 26 meters) tall. That's as tall as an eight-story building!
The tire itself is not made of rubber. Instead, it's built from a special plastic material called polyester resin. This material is reinforced with glass fiber, making it very strong and fire-resistant. The tire's outer tread is 6 inches (15 cm) deep.
The entire structure is very heavy. It weighs much more than just the plastic part, which is about 17,500 pounds (almost 9 tons). The tire is anchored deep into the ground with 24 feet (7.3 meters) of concrete and steel. This strong base helps it stand firm, even in very strong winds.
The Uniroyal Giant Tire is the biggest model tire ever made. It's also known as one of the world's largest roadside attractions.
Keeping the Tire Looking New
Over the years, the Giant Tire has been updated and repaired several times.
Updates in the 1990s
In 1990, the company Michelin bought the Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company. A few years later, in 1994, Michelin decided to give the Giant Tire a makeover. They added a new hubcap and bright neon lights for the "UNIROYAL" letters. The tire's outer shell was cleaned, repainted, and given a fresh, modern look.
In 1998, something funny happened. A giant 11-foot (3.4-meter) nail was placed in the tire's tread! This huge nail weighed 250 pounds (113 kg). It 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. The city sold it online to raise money for local history programs.
Renovations in the 2000s
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 about $1 million. It included replacing 30 steel beams inside the tire. They also fixed the asphalt and drainage around it. The neon "UNIROYAL" letters were replaced with new, reflective ones.
