Where Do You Put Those Two New Tires?: Mr. Thiminesch writes for the Los Aangeles Times Syndicate.
Do not (ret about Communist ChinaÛªs future, inflation vs. unemployment, whether to keep or can FBI Director Clarence Kelley, or who is better: Mr. Ford or Mr. Carter. These are issues amply aired and pondered. Better to consider what is really bothering the citizenry.</br></br>As anyone who has encountered it knows, the most perplexing question before the republic in 1970 is: Where do you put those two new tires, on the front or rear wheels?</br></br>A short while back, I bought two new steel-belted, radial tires. The tire man mounted them on the rear wheels, and I was away, 900 miles to Iowa from Washington, and 900 miles back again, No problems. Carefree motoring, as the man used to say.</br></br>A week after returning, I had my car in for servicing, and when I picked it up 1 noticed the new tires were on the front wheels. How come? I asked the service manager. ÛÏBecause that's where they belong," he replied firmly. "Some damned fool put them on the rear wheels,"</br></br>So I went back to the tire man, reputed to be an expert. The steel in his look was not belted but rigid. "New tires,Û he declared in a ringing policy statement, "always belong on the rear wheels. The Department of Transportation says so. Look, here's a news clip which proves it."