Found this little gem many months ago in the Internets. So long ago I don’t really remember where. But it’s an interesting part of Americana. Well, at least Americana back in the day. And it’s something we should be thankful for.

Here’s the write-up that accompanied these photos:

“The Swinging Sixties gave way to some of the most recognizable roadside attractions still in place today. Amongst those is the Uniroyal Gal, a giant fiberglass woman either donning a somewhat conservative skirt and top or a more provocative bikini. Uniroyal Gals can still be found across the United States. One such stands at Stan the Tire Man in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. This is one of the more conservative giantesses with a blue skirt and red top.”

Pretty cool, eh?

Seems, too, that the UniGal was “married” for a time…to a giant fiberglass character that resembled Paul Bunyan. The UniGuy stood side-by-side with his gal at Stan the Tire Man for a period, but apparently things didn’t work out. They split and he moved on to become a muffle pitch giant. Later he then crossed state lines to North Carolina to take on a more Bunyanesque role with a log cabin maker.

Not a week goes by that I don’t see something about the giant Uniroyal tire that sits idle along I-94 near Detroit. Someone saw it for the first time, or made some suggestions as to what should become of the behemoth.

For a period of time, Uniroyal lost control of the giant tire, but apparently Michelin North America (which owns Uniroyal now) has at least some relationship with it as its continuing presence has merited a brief historical sketch on the Uniroyal Web site:

“The Uniroyal Giant Tire was originally created as a Ferris wheel attraction at the 1964/1965 New York World’s Fair. The wheel held 96 fairgoers and was powered by a 100-horsepower motor. More than two million people rode the Giant Tire Ferris wheel during the fair, including Jacqueline Kennedy and her children, John Jr. and Caroline.

“After the 1965 World’s Fair festivities ended, the Giant Tire was relocated to a Uniroyal Tire sales office in Allen Park, Michigan, and has towered alongside I-94 near the Metro Airport ever since. Over the decades it has become an important symbol of Uniroyal’s 117-year heritage and a cultural icon for the city of Detroit known the world over.

“In 1994, the Uniroyal Giant Tire was given a sleeker, modern look. Neon lighting and a new hubcap were added to the tire’s body.

“The current Uniroyal Giant Tire was completed in 1998. In August of 1998, the Giant Tire was modified again — this time to resemble a NailGard tire. A giant nail was placed in the tire’s tread to demonstrate the product’s ability to seal 90% of tread punctures up to 3/16-inch in diameter.

“In 2003, Uniroyal invested close to $1 million to renovate the Giant Tire as its contribution to Detroit’s I-94 corridor revitalization effort. The renovation, which included structural repairs and an update to the exterior, will ensure that the Giant Tire is enjoyed for many years to come.” 

The 250-pound nail was removed as part of the 2003 fix-up, and was auctioned for charity.

Roadside attractions, like these and the giant ball of twine and world’s largest rubber band ball, are part of America and all of our lives.

 But isn’t it just a little odd that these here are all connected to Uniroyal? Were they “big thinkers”?