DETROIT—It all started with the 1964 World's Fair.
From there, it found itself a spot in travel lore when it moved to Detroit and even landed a mention on "The Simpsons."
Yes, Uniroyal's Giant Tire has had quite a life. And on April 22 it celebrated its 60th birthday.
"For decades, the Giant Uniroyal Tire has brought smiles to the faces of many people," Uniroyal brand director Michelle Grim said in a statement.
"As a Detroit native myself, I am among those who enjoy the sight of the landmark that embodies the endurance, grit and automotive industry ingenuity that is rooted in the city of Detroit and also in Uniroyal tires," Grim added. "At Uniroyal, we take pride in the Giant Tire's history and plan to maintain it for future generations."
In honor of the giant tire, here are 6 fast facts about it—one for each of its decades.
Originally constructed for the 1964-65 World's Fair—held that year in Queens, N.Y.—the Giant Tire originally was a 96-passenger Ferris wheel. During the event, more than 2 million riders circled the tire tread.
Yes, the Giant Tire made its debut in New York, but it has another New York connection, thanks to the famous architectural firm behind it.
The tire was designed by Shreve, Lamb and Harmon, the same architectural firm that designed the Empire State Building.
The Giant Tire, Uniroyal said, is the largest model tire ever built.
It stands 80 feet high and weighs 12 tons.
And, of course, pennies just won't work for measuring this tire's tread depth. According to Uniroyal, the tread is half-a-foot deep.
The interior of the tire is about 120,576 cubic feet.
Once the Giant Tire reached the end of its Ferris wheel service life in 1965, it found a new life. The tire was dismantled into 188 pieces and carried by train to I-94 in Detroit where it was reassembled.
Just about 30 years later in 1994, the Uniroyal tire got some upgrades—neon lights and a brand new hubcap.
When the I-94 corridor was renovated in 2003, the Uniroyal tire got some renovations of its own.
The tire maker invested nearly $1 million to replace 30 interior steel beams, install asphalt and storm drains, paint the exterior, apply reflective lettering and make other upgrades.
When you have an 80-ft.-tall, 12-ton tire sitting along a busy stretch of highway, you have one heckuva influencer.
In 1998, the tire maker made use of it, adding a giant embedded nail. The move was intended to promote Uniroyal's self-sealing NailGard tire.
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