Evening star., 1943-04-24
Tres
Continued From First Page.)

the action came just as Mr.. Jeffers
is IN the midst of squabble with
military officials over whether the
synthetic rubber program has re-
tarded production of aviation gaso-
line
The decision to make grade tires
more widely available was based,
OPA said, on information from MI.
Jeffers that supplies of grade Q
tires are inadequate to meet re-.
quirements of motorists eligible for
them" 1t added that comparatively
more grade l tires are available in
relation to those eligible for them.
To adjust the situation, the new
ruling classes grade l and tires
together in the former grouping,
The grade 2 class has included pre-
Pearl Harbor tires of lower quality,
factory seconds" damaged new
tires and the victory" line. Grade
l tires were standard quality, pre-
war castings
Under this arrangement any mo-
torist who drives more than 240
miles a month will be able to take
mis- choice Of that entire group, de-
pending on the price he wants to
pay.
"Victory Tires" Unsatisfactory.
Motorists who drive less than 24o
miles month must remain con-
tent with retreads and recaps, but
halt of the victory tire" production
is expected to aid them. A spokes-
man in Mr.. Jeffers' Office said the
reclaimed rubber will be diverted
into recaps or retreads where, he
said, it will go about two and one
half times as far.
Only about 100000 of the low
mileage Victory" castings were pro-
duced before the cutoff order came,
Several reasons were given for it.
OfflcialS said the tires performance
didn't measure up to expectations,
adding it was mainly because mo-
torists neglected to heed instructions
for their care-slowing for curves,
driving under 35, making frequent
inspections. They looked as good
as natural rubber and drivers tended
to take them at face value, officials
said.
Mounting demands for recapping
services led to the decision this
would be the more economical use
OF the reclaimed rubber, particularly
since it had been found impossible to
expand the capacity of reclaiming
plants as rapidly as had been hoped,
the Jeffers spokesman said.
Mileage Must Be Shown.
An OPA official emphasized that
the qualifying factor for getting the
best-grade tires is the 240-plus
monthly mileage, not the type Of
book.
Present A book holders in the
East, for example, are figured to be
travelling 80 miles a month. If one
later gets supplemental ration
book, he will be entitled to grade /
tires, provided the supplement is
enough to push his mileage over 240.
All holders of c cards. even in the
East, are eligible, he said, because
they must have shown monthly
mileage well in excess of 240 to
have received c books.
Even after May purchase certifi-
Gates still will be necessary to buy
a replacement tire. They are not
required only in the case of a pas
senger car owner getting recap job.
To get purchase certificate, the
car owner must 60 to an ofIicial OPA
inspector for recommendation-in
other words, that he needs one.
With this recommendation, the
owner files an application with his
rationing board which viii de-
termine, on the basis of mileage,
what type of tire the applicant may
have, The board grants a purchase
certificate accordingly, then the
owner may buy the type Of tire
shown on the certificate.