March 19, 2020
1 min read
Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAmTo Save Car Tires, Darken the Garage Windows
Originally published in August 1942
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
"I commend those individuals who want to store their cars for patriotic reasons. However, preservation is one thing and waste is another. Persons who are considering storing their cars for the duration to save tires should consider the fact that tires deteriorate when not in use. This is because normal operation of a car flexes the rubber and keeps it alive. Light—even artificial light—damages stored tires. All windows in the storage place should be blacked out and the car should be blocked up to remove the weight from the tires."
—Scientific American, August 1942
More gems from Scientific American’s first 175 years can be found on our shiny anniversary page.
It’s Time to Stand Up for Science
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.
If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.
In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.
There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.
