Sentence:  Microsoft finally took some of the wraps off last week, releasing Vista's first major test version to about 500,000 programmers and tech professionals. The goal is to let them <WSD>kick the tires</WSD>, run their software on it and provide feedback. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To inspect something to ensure it meets expected standards or has favored characteristics, typically before committing to purchasing or otherwise selecting it.