Largest tire in Canada produced in Cobourg

The largest tire ever made in Canada is made at Cobourg's United Tire plant.

The tire is 128 inches, over 10 and one half feet in height, and 37 inches, or over three feet in width.

The monster weighs over two and one half tons at 5,300 pounds and has a 51 inch bead or rim diameter.

"The tire will be used on a 200-ton dump truck in the mining industry," said Dick Arrington, manager of tire development. "We ship it out by truck."

United Tire has been in production in Cobourg for barely a year now, and already the company employs 175 people from the local area. The com- pany has sales branches throughout Canada. Newly-appointed plant manager in Cobourg is Warren Jamieson.

"It is of interest to note that United Tire is a 100 percent Canadian-owned company," said Mr. Arrington. "There are no affiliations or connections with any tire companies in the States."

"Presently, we are the only tire company in Canada that can make that statement."

The enormous tire, which came off the line last Thursday, is one of four the company has produced now. The usual product is large truck tires and off- the-road earthmoving equipment tires.

The enormous tire is a 58 ply-rated tubeless tire known as 36.00-51. It takes 12 hours to cure it, or cook it. To build and cure it takes approximately one day, or 24 hours.

But United Tire is already aiming for new heights, so to speak, of accomplishment.

"There is one on the drawing board to be 50 percent larger again," said Mr. Arrington. "But it is not likely to be produced for some time."

The largest tire ever produced in Canada dwarfs two Cobourg men at the United Tire company plant.

Quality control technician Tim Fessler. left, of Cobourg and Ron Maguire, head shipper and receiver, pose with the monster before its ship- ment to a mining company.