Discarded racing tyres transformed into 17-foot sculpture at Ohio park; artist Chakaia Booker unveils ‘Transit’

Discarded racing tyres that once belonged to Goodyear have found a second life as a towering public artwork in Akron, Ohio, a city known for its long association with the rubber industry. Internationally acclaimed sculptor Chakaia Booker unveiled her 17-foot-tall sculpture, titled 'Transit', at Lock 3 park on October 29, 2026, turning recycled automotive material into a landmark in the heart of the city, according to local news outlet Signal Akron.Made primarily from donated Goodyear Eagle F1 racing tyres and stainless steel, the sculpture comprises two large, crescent-shaped structures covered with rectangular pieces of rubber arranged in an overlapping, shingle-like pattern. Positioned in a grassy area near South Main Street, the installation overlooks the Ohio & Erie Canal and forms part of Akron’s expanding public art landscape. The work is also the city’s first major contemporary outdoor sculpture by a woman artist, Signal Akron reported. Booker revealed the sculpture’s name during a public dedication ceremony at Lock 3. Addressing the crowd, which gave her a standing ovation, she announced: “The title is ‘Transit’ … and I’m so happy we made it.”The unveiling marked the cu...