tires

Importance of checking tires on a used car:

     Tires and their quality directly relate to how safe your car is. Some used cars are sold with either balding or mismatching tires. Both scenarios can jeopardize your safety on the road.

     The more tread the tire has, the safer it is, generally, especially in wet weather and snow. If you're considering buying used car with tires that are nearly bald, be prepared to buy a set of new tires. Some dealerships, to cut costs, will put all 4 mismatching tires on the car and not tell you about it. This has actually happened to one of our friends and when he noticed that it was already too late.

     When you're checking tires, look at their wear pattern. If they are tires that were on the vehicle for some time and show signs of wear, then you can identify potential problems. If both outer edges of the tire are worn, it might indicate under inflation and/or need for alignment. If the tire is worn on the inside more than on the outside, it might indicate over inflation and/or severe abuse (such as doing burnouts). 

     Examine the tire sidewall and see if there are any cracks there. If a tire develops cracks on the sidewall, it should be replaced as soon as possible.

Are all tires made the same?

     Some tires are summer only tires and are not suited for all-weather driving. If you're buying a car and not sure what kind of tires it has, it is wise to find manufacturer's specifications and designation by either calling the manufacturer directly or going to their website. It is very important not to try to drive on summer only tires through snow, as doing so is almost guaranteed that you WILL lose control at any speed. We've seen too many cases of people being stranded on snow covered road, because they had summer only high-performance tires and weren't even aware of it.

     If you're buying tires, they should have minimal T (118 MPH) speed rating. If you plan to drive through snow at any time, you will want to have at least all-season tires. Preferably, if you can afford it, it is best to have summer tires during summer and winter tires during winter. That way you will get best traction possible during all seasons.

     Some tires might be out of balance when you buy the car, so when doing a test drive it's important to pay attention to vibrations. Most vibrations are caused by out-of-balance tire or wheel. If the wheel is bent, it will require replacing. If tires are out of balance, it is usually about 20-30$ to rebalance each tire. The only way to check for out of balance tires is to go to a mechanic or tire shop. 

Conclusion:

     Make sure that the tires on the car you're interested in are high quality, relatively new, with plenty of tread left, match and are suited for weather and driving conditions you're planning to use them in (such as speed rating).