Evening star., 1942-11-29
D. {. Tire inspection
Stations 10 Be Ready
For Tests Tuesday
List Of 287 Released
By Whitney Leory, .
Head Of OPA Here
Continued From First Paee)

meeting Will be conducted by James
D. Gouldin, OPA tire rationine rep
resentative for the District. A four
page pamphlet detailing the duties
OF the inspectors already has been
circulated among those who will
serve at the stations.
Managers of most stations select
ed as inspection stations were busy
over the week end studying their
off1clal instructions and acquaint-
ing their employees with the pro-
cedure outlined by the OPA.
Many already were familiar with
the requirements of the program.
Most inspections will involve only
visual examination. Tires will be
removed only if they have worn
beyond the recapping stage or if
the driver indicates that his tires
have been subjected to some un-
usual shock, such as striking sharp
stone
X-Ray Machine Used.
At the Firestone station at Thir-
teenth and K streets NV, however,
inspectors are equipped with an
x-ray machine which enables them
to look through the rubber and
detect any foreign bodies which may
have lodged themselves in the tires.
According to c. l.. Powell, manager
OF the station, this device will be
used when customers request such
additional service or when there is
evidence Of an injury which cannot
be studied with the naked eye.
The other day." Mr.. Powell said,
II found long piece of a screw
driver without the handle entirely
embedded in a tire. We can find
nails, screws, tacks or any foreign
substance in it."
The machine was developed, he
said, by the Firestone Co. In CO.
operation with large electric firm
When drivers appear for their
inspections, they must present their
tire inspection record and their
gasoline rationing books. Drivers OF
commercial vehicles must have their
certificates of war necessity instead
Of the tire inspection records.
Tire Numbers Checked.
Inspectors will conduct their
examinations along the following
lines:
!. Correct air pressure.
2. Tire serial numbers. These
must check with the numbers listed
on the tire inspection record.
g. Speedometer reading.
T. Rims and wheels must be
checked for correct size and type.
If the rims are bent, owners will
be requested to have them straight
ened.
S. General condition of tires. This
includes examination to detect un-
balanced wheels, faulty brake ad-
iustments improper wheel align
ment of casters or Gamblers. ex-
cessive wear of king pins, bushings
and wheel bearings
g. Inside of tires. The driver will
be asked whether any tire, injured
on the inside. has not been repaired.
Driver Queried on Shock.
Z. Rupture of inside plies. The
motorist also will be asked whether
his tires have recently been sub
iected to any shock such as striking
sharp objects, holes in road, etc.
If the driver indicates some such
incident has occurred, the tires
must be removed and examined for
possible damage
g. Matching of dual tires. This
applies to operators Of commercial
vehicles which require double
wheels
9. Tubes. When they fail to re-
tain air pressure, the tubes must bs
inspected for repair or replacement.
TO- Castings. These are to be ex-
amined usually and need not pe re-
moved if their condition appears
satisfactory.
When tires are found to have
been worn beyond the point where
they may be recapped economi-
cally, they must be demounted and
the inspector is supposed to deter
mine whether there is still some
chance of recapping the tire. Cen
orally, this means that tires must
not be worn more than three-fourths
of the way through the original
tread and certainly not beyond one
eighth of an inch of tread rubber
Recap Possibilities Listed.
The inspector is required to indi-
cate on the tire inspection record
such tires as are badly worn but
could still be recapped Drivers who
continue to use such tires will be
violating the pledge they signed on
their tire registration form and
probably will find it difficult to OBJ
tain replacement rubber when they
apply to their local boards.
If tire indicates extraordinary
wear for the mileage allowed under
the rationing program or if the
rubber shows signs Of having been
abused, the inspector is to note this
condition on the tire inspection rec
ord. After completing his examina-
ton, he must indicate whether he
approves or disapproves the con-
tinued operation of the vehicle. His
approval is registered by his sigma
ture on the inspection record.
Meanwhile. Mr. Leary made it
CledT IndJ all drivers IN Une DlS-
trict are now required to make
identifying notations on the back of
every ratloning coupon turned in to
q filling station. Holders of "a ~
"B," &C" TIL" and IT," books
must write their license number and
State of registration on the reverse
side of the coupons; for feet and
official rations, the designation
number, or the certificate of war
necessity number, must be in
scribed. Those who hold "E" and
"R" books must write their names
and addresses. as they appear on
the front cover of their ration
books, on the reverse side of each
coupon.
Must Be Taken by Jan. 81.
Arrangements have been made by
Trafic Director William A. Van
Duzer and Mr.. Leary to have the
regular auto inspections required