Michelin tires
Grimaud’s take on the classic tire brand.
Let us appreciate the richness of the world of playing cards, which allows for multiple different decks showcasing anthropomorphic tire stacks. These 1972 Grimaud Michelin cards feature the iconic Michelin Man mascot on the courts and joker. The bright blue and green kings, queens, and jacks retain some of the regal and floral accessories of their non-rubber counterparts.
Michelin advertising playing cards made by Grimaud, France, 1972.
Grimaud’s courts look straight ahead, as opposed to another Michelin deck by Waddingtons which portrays the vulcanized royalty in a three-quarter view. This particular deck has a plain Ace of Spades; another version shows one Michelin Man painting another Michelin man in full regalia. There’s a third deck, from the 1910s-1920s, with the Michelin Man (aka Bibendum) jauntily lifting weights while smoking a cigar.
By Lev Golinkin
United States • Member since May 26, 2026
I'm a US-based author and journalist. I've been collecting playing cards since I was about 8 years old, when I got mesmerized by the various decks that were used in Soviet Ukraine, where I'm from. I collect mainly European decks such as those by Dondorf, Grimaud, and Piatnik. I love courts above all else, and am drawn toward historical and artistic decks.
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