Entry No. 44 — the Wichita file — filed under: roadside-oddity
Muffler Man at Brown's Tire & Custom Wheel Center
Standing outside a family-owned tire shop on S. Broadway since sometime in the fiberglass-giant era, this vintage International Fiberglass Muffler Man — red shirt, blue denim jeans, one hand upturned holding a comically small tire — is one of a dwindling national population of these roadside colossi. He's been freshly repainted but is otherwise virtually unchanged from decades-old photos, haunting the west side of the road in quiet defiance of time. The catch: he's only visible heading southbound, positioned just far enough off the road that northbound drivers blow right past, which is why locals who've driven Broadway their whole lives often have no idea he's there. Brown's Tire has been a single-family operation since 1984 and the big guy out front is theirs alone — no franchise, no chain, no duplicate.
The story
If you live in Wichita and swear you’ve driven South Broadway a thousand times without ever seeing a giant fiberglass man, you’re almost certainly driving north. Positioned on the west side of the street outside Brown's Tire & Custom Wheel Center, the colossus faces straight into oncoming southbound traffic. Miss the angle by a few degrees heading the other way, and he vanishes entirely behind the garage lines and roadside glare.
He is a surviving specimen from the mid-century International Fiberglass boom, when roadside businesses across the country bought up massive promotional figures to pull motorists off the highway. While most wielded oversized mufflers or axes, this one holds a comically undersized automobile tire cradled in his left palm. Painted in a crisp red shirt and blue denim jeans, he also sports a unique modification: custom light sockets installed right into his eyes. The single-family shop has operated at 4203 S. Broadway since 1984, keeping their private landmark intact while similar roadside giants across the nation get sold off or scrapped.
What it's like
Set your navigation to approach 4203 S Broadway from the north so you catch him dead-on in your windshield. Pull directly into the tire shop's lot during daylight hours, park well clear of the working service bays and tire stacks, and walk right up to his boots. Standing beneath him is the only way to appreciate just how tiny that car tire looks inside his giant hand. Treat it as a quick, free, three-minute roadside stop—take your photos, stay out of the mechanics' way, and roll back out.
The move: Drive south on Broadway so you catch him at full effect — pull into the lot, get out, and stand next to him to appreciate exactly how absurd the tiny tire in his giant hand looks up close.
📍 Before you go He stands in the lot of a working tire shop at 4203 S Broadway in South Wichita, so the practical move is to approach from the south: program the address and drive down (not up) Broadway, since the giant faces oncoming southbound traffic and is easy to overshoot otherwise. Daylight makes for the best photos, and visiting while the shop is open lets you pull safely into the lot — it's private business property, so park out of the way, keep clear of the work bays, and be quick and courteous. There's no fee. Pair it with a slow cruise of the South Broadway corridor, an old motor-court stretch still dotted with vintage neon and roadside signage.
- 📍 South Wichita
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 4203 S Broadway St, Wichita, KS 67216
Hours: Added 2026-06-09 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Starlite Drive-In — Located just over a mile down Broadway, this 1953 twin-screen drive-in keeps the mid-century roadside vibe going after dark.
- Pink Elephant Games and Cafe — Drive three miles northeast to swap out vintage auto lot nostalgia for tabletop games and espresso.
- Kansas Aviation Museum — Public Paranormal Investigations — Head 3.4 miles east to move from fiberglass oddities to haunted late-night tours inside Wichita's 1935 art deco airport terminal.
Good to know
Where exactly is the Muffler Man located?
He stands in the front lot of Brown's Tire & Custom Wheel Center at 4203 S Broadway St in South Wichita.
Why do people say he is hard to spot?
He is angled specifically toward southbound traffic on the west side of Broadway. Northbound drivers almost always blow past without realizing he's there.
Is there any cost to see or photograph him?
No, he stands in an open, working business lot. Visiting is completely free, provided you park courteously and clear of active work areas.
What unique details should I look for on the statue?
Look up at his face to see the light sockets built directly into his eyes, along with the disproportionately tiny car tire resting in his hand.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Roadside America · fotospot.com · olioiniowa.com · Yelp · movoto.com
last checked: 2026-06-09