Photos: Mass Ave's "Tour de Tire"

Mass Ave (nee Massachusetts Avenue) harbors a peculiar, enjoyable art event each May. “Tour de Tire” is now in its 10th running, and celebrates Indy’s biking culture. The Massachusetts Avenue Merchants Association sponsors this event, and most bicycle tires are donated by Bicycle Garage Indy and doled out to various establishments and businesses along the avenue. Some merchants choose to use old semi truck or motorcycle tires.

This year’s tire art was unveiled on First Friday this month, May 3, in conjunction with the usual art gallery openings. A winner in this al fresco art show was announced, with Global Gifts taking the top judged honor for its owl display. (See that winning piece at left, and the full photo gallery above.)

Thus what started out in honor of the Indianapolis 500 has moved to represent more of the on-the-go lifestyle of Mass Ave, including the Criterium, a bike race that Mass Ave has hosted for several years now. More on that in the video below:

Photos by Michael Schrader