Some heroes had bikes. The rest of us had tires and two strong sticks.
We raced them down road, squeezed the “brakes” to skid just right, and learned balance, courage, and control on dusty streets. Old tires became our first machines—and they gave us some of our wildest stories.
This month in the JuxPrint Memory Bank, we’re collecting your Tire Toy Adventures.
Share Your Tire Story in the Comments
Keep it simple but vivid. Tell us:
1. Where did you roll your tire?
Hill, roadside, behind houses, market paths, open field—paint the scene.
2. Who were you with?
Siblings, cousins, street crew, rivals from another area?
3. What was your setup?
Car tire or motorbike tire? Any milk tins, oil, paint, or special tricks?
4. What happened in your most unforgettable moment?
A big race, a crash, a perfect skid, a near‑miss, or a time you almost got in trouble?
5. What did it teach you?
Confidence, courage, creativity, teamwork, or pure joy?
Write it like you’re telling a friend who has never seen a tire toy before.
The JuxPrint Heritage Team.
By commenting, you confirm you’ve read and accepted our Memory Bank Guidelines & Submission Terms and that your story fits our respectful, clean, uplifting space.
2 comments
Back then, we didn’t need bikes to feel like kings. A tire and two strong sticks were enough.
I used to roll mine in the compound where my dad worked, a place filled with families who all knew each other. It was always alive with noise, laughter, and kids running around. That compound was our racetrack.
I wasn’t alone either. It was always me and the crew, friends, cousins, whoever was around. Once one person brought out a tire, the rest of us followed. Before long, it turned into a full race.
My setup was simple. Sometimes a car tire if I could find a good one, other times a motorbike tire if I wanted speed and easier control. Two sticks in hand, one on each side, some water or oil to reduce friction in the tires, guiding it like I was driving a real car.
One moment I’ll never forget was during one of our “big races.” We had mapped out a whole route through the compound. I was in the lead, moving fast, trying to show off a perfect skid at a turn. I squeezed the sticks just right… but the tire had other plans. It wobbled, nearly flew off, and I almost crashed into someone’s space. I managed to save it at the last second, but not without drawing attention. That was one of those moments where you’re laughing and panicking at the same time, especially because I knew I could easily get in trouble.
Looking back, it taught me more than I realized then. It was teamwork, because we built the fun together. It was courage, because we pushed each other to go faster. And honestly, it was just pure joy. The kind that didn’t need money or gadgets, just imagination and good people around you.
Most of my tire rolling experinces were in my childhood neibourhood, Tema.Neighborhood streets, usually with siblings, cousins and friends from the same appartment blocks or other hoods. Our tires usually had used car engine oil in them to enhance the smoooth rolling of the tires and sudden brakes were also possible whenever we wanted to, somtimes we perfromed sudden screeching stops just show off, how effective our braking sytems were, “SKIDDING”, if you know what i mean………. One of my unforgetable moments, was when one of my sticks acedentally slipped out of the tire and the tire was rolling very fast toard the main street junction. It was a late afternoon traffic jam and there were so many cars honking already. To stop the tire from rolling into any of the cars that were a few meters away, i kicked the side of the tire sooo hard,it went in a difrent direction and reduced speed at the same time and then i ponced on the tire like a wrestler taking down an opponet . The day was saved, but i had dirty engine oil spill all over the front part of the shirt. Some onlookers marvled by the sudden reflexes, clapped, others shouted insults at me but i was happy about how i saved a situation that could have gone worse. This was one of the ways i learnt to react quickly to situation with actions that work without asking or waiting for approval, i later found its also COURAGE. You can be having fun and from no where a situation that threatens your fun shows up, its LIFE. Looking back makes me smile now………..Similar situations are still happening in my life even up till now, about 4 decades on………..Lessons…….Lessons…