On December 26, 1941, the U.S. Office of Price Administration announced the first major wartime consumer rationing program, focusing on automobile tires. With the United States newly in World War II and access to natural rubber from Southeast Asia threatened, preserving existing tires became a national priority. The order limited drivers to five tires per vehicle, including the one in use and a spare, to reduce waste and hoarding. This measure was part of a broader effort to control prices, manage shortages, and redirect critical materials to the military. The policy signaled to Americans that the war would require sacrifices in everyday life. It also marked the start of wider rationing programs that later covered gasoline, food, and other goods.
