Allen Park, Michigan: World's Largest Tire
An towering symbol of American -- and particularly the Detroit area's -- highway prowess. Built as a Ferris Wheel for the 1964 New York World's Fair.
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In 1998 the large Uniroyal Tire in Dearborn Michigan had a complete facelift. Even though Uniroyal doesn't manufacture tires in the area any longer, the company decided it was too good publicity to go to waste. The original tire was a 1964 whitewall bias-ply tire, with a 60's-era hubcap. The tire was remodeled section-by-section (like pie slices) to become a fully modern radial with raised white letters and modern tread. The wheel cover is equally modernized now as well. Also, in 1999, they "punctured" the tire with a large 20-foot nail in the top to advertise their new "nail-guard" technology.
[Andrew Flynn, 08/13/2000]The big Uniroyal tire alongside I-94 in suburban Detroit is still there. I don't think the Uniroyal factory is there anymore. I was born in 1964 and raised in Wyandotte, a southern suburb of Detroit, so I was familiar with the Big Tire from an early age. Alongside I-75 going into Detroit from the south is a Marathon Oil refinery. One of the tanks is painted to look like a large baseball, with "Go Tigers" on the front.
[Vince Prygoski, 02/22/1997][Previous 5 items] Page of 3
World's Largest Tire
- Address:
- I-94, Allen Park, MI
- Directions:
- I-94 just east of Detroit Metro Airport. The last road before you reach the tire is Southfield Freeway. Or via Baker College parking lot, just off Outer Drive in Allen Park. Visitors must report to Campus Safety; the property around the tire is not open to the general public.
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
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A 10-foot long, 500-pound nail was indeed driven into the eight-story, 12-ton tire, located in Allen Park along I-94. The tire is an artifact from the 1964-65 New York World's Fair.