• 307_61_LEGO_vehicles_before_introdution_of_wheels.jpg
  • First_LEGO_set_with_wheels_-_400.jpg
  • Assortment_of_tyres.jpg
  • Smallest_LEGO_Wheel.jpg
Prev Next
1 of 6

50 years of Lego wheels (images)

The world's biggest maker of tires--if not the maker of the biggest tires--is Lego. This month, the company marks half a century of getting toys rolling.

Read Less

First Lego wheels

Fifty years ago this month, Lego began adding tires to some of its sets, and toys have never been the same. Now, the company says, it is the world's largest manufacturer of tires, though you probably wouldn't want to drive a car that uses its wheels. Still, with an annual output of 381 million wheels (the number it produced in 2011), you could roll nearly 100 million toy cars around the living rooms of the world.

These are the first wheels Lego ever produced, in 1962.

Updated:
Photo by: Lego / Caption by:

Lego vehicles before wheels

This is the box for a Lego vehicle before the company started rolling out wheels. Originally, many Lego cars were pre-molded, and some kids built their own wheels using standard Lego bricks.
Updated:
Photo by: Lego / Caption by:

First Lego set with wheels

This is Lego set No. 400, which was produced in 1962. It was the first set to include wheels, and became the company's best-selling set by 1967, moving 820,400 units that year.
Updated:
Photo by: Lego / Caption by:

Wheel production

A look at the Lego wheel production system.
Updated:
Photo by: Lego / Caption by:

Many Lego tires

Lego wheels come in all shapes and sizes. Well, they're usually round, but they do come in many different sizes.
Updated:
Photo by: Lego / Caption by:

Smallest Lego wheel

This is the marketing material for Lego's smallest-ever wheel. It is 14.4 millimeters high and was part of a two-seater car included in Lego sets No. 345 and No. 346 starting in 1969.
Updated:
Photo by: Lego / Caption by:
Hot Galleries
See all

DJI Mavic Pro means never having to leave your drone home

 Drones

A look at Elon Musk's plan to move us to Mars

 Sci-Tech

Meet the new Chevrolet Trax, same as the old Chevrolet Trax

 Crossovers

Stigo L1e e-scooter will take you places

 Scooters

Stargazing on an old cowboy trail

 Sci-Tech

Close up with the wireless BeatsX Earphones

 Headphones

Kuna's Toucan sheds light on discreet home security

 Smart Home

The iPhone 7 Plus' 'portrait' mode does background blur better

 Phones

THIS SMART IRON COST $1000

How much do you hate wrinkled clothes?

A Swedish company known for its high-end ironing systems will soon begin to sell a smart iron that costs more than $1,000.

Hot Products