Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site brl-tgr.ARPA
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!brl-tgr!ron
From: ron@brl-tgr.ARPA (Ron Natalie <ron>)
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Subject: Re: etymology of phrase, "kicking the tires" ??
Message-ID: <8318@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Tue, 19-Feb-85 22:19:23 EST
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.8318
Posted: Tue Feb 19 22:19:23 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 21-Feb-85 05:46:48 EST
References: <100@mot.UUCP>
Organization: Ballistic Research Lab
Lines: 5

> anyone know the origin of this phrase?  if, presumably, it actually refers
> to people hauling off and giving the treads a good swift one, why in the
> world were they doing it?  i've been curious about this one for years.

I was always told that it was a test for propper inflation.