Metro Detroit Roadside Attractions – The Uniroyal Tire

When the New York World’s Fair ended in 1965, U. S. Rubber decided to move the tire to it’s present location in Allen Park, Michigan near it’s sales office. The Ferris wheel was taken apart in 188 sections and transported by train to Detroit. Since then, the tire has become one of the nation’s most recognizable roadside icons and featured in items ranging from maps and artwork to town Christmas ornaments.

They took the 80 ft tire apart in 188 sections and transported by train to Detroit. Then they reassembled it on it’s current site.

In 1998, to demonstrate how their NailGard® self-sealing passenger tire worked, Uniroyal placed an 11-foot high, 500-pound nail into the tread of the Giant Uniroyal Tire.

In the fall of 2003 Michelin Uniroyal’s parent company renovated the tire as part of a Interstate 94 renovation project. They spent about a $1,000,000 to renovate the tire. They added the company website, took down the neon lighting, added new structural beams, repainted the wheel, and added reflective lettering. Michelin, Uniroyal’s parent company, donated the Big Nail to the city of Allen Park, Michigan.

The Uniroyal tire roadside attraction is located on I-94 just east of the Southfield Rd exit just minutes from Detroit’s Metro Airport.