Research on tangible interaction and digital haptics has rarely intertwined, despite the natural relationship between physicality and touch. This paper addresses this relatively unexplored domain by presenting the Haptic Wheel, a freestanding single-axis rotational controller incorporating vibro-tactile cues. In addition to describing the hardware and implementation, the paper discusses the potential application of the system for eyes-free interaction, password entry and as an active puck on a tabletop system. The paper suggests that systems with active haptic feedback have unexploited potential as tools for tangible interaction.