Check List When Buying Used Cars
Phone custom repair shops and auto body shops and leave your name and number in case they come across a cheap rim deal that is right for you. Automobiles get wrecked all the time, but their wheels and tires may be still good condition. These shops may be able to hook you up with tires and wheels at a great cheap rim price.
It's not unusual now days to spend over a thousand dollars on a set for the average pickup truck or SUV. And passenger car tires can be big bucks too depending on what you're shopping for.
One must plan to buy tires all four in a group and not in one or two. Many people decide to get just one or two tires instead of getting the set that contains four. Different sets of tires can be dangerous for the vehicle and can lead to spin outs and vehicle controlling issues. Four tires of the vehicle must be of the same brand, size and model.
A good thing to check when purchasing a second hand tire is for any perishing or cracking of the sidewall and tread rubber. It is wise to give the sidewall a good flex and make sure there are no cracks or chords visible. It is normal to have very fine surface perish lines if the tire is not brand new however make sure they are no more than that.
If you are dead set on buying used tires, there are some questions you should ask the seller, and some questions you should ask yourself. The first question could be considered almost a no-brainer, but it is one a surprising number of people fail to ask when purchasing vw parts, used cars, etc. Ask why they are selling the tires rather than using them. If there isn't a good answer for this, get out fast! Also ask where they got the tires. A cagey or vague response could mean that they were purchased used to begin with, or that it was so long ago the seller doesn't remember.
Pop open the hood. Pull out the dipstick to check the oil. See if the oil is between the "add" and "full markers, and if it's black or a nice, golden brown. If it's thick and black, the oil probably has been neglected. Check to see of there's any white substance mixed with the oil. That's usually engine coolant. It's not supposed to be in there with the engine's oil. If it is, there's a blown gasket or an even more serious engine problem. That won't be an inexpensive car, but it may be a cheap one.
Tire sizes can be a little daunting to try to understand. While it's definitely important to know what size tires go on your car, it doesn't hurt to know exactly what all those numbers and letters mean. I will use this example to run through each part of the tire size: P185/60R 14 82 H.
There are rumors circulating that settling for used truck tires mean settling for something with inferior quality. This is not true. Do not be swayed by this false notion. These are cheap tires, yes; but inferior? Only when you buy them from unreliable sources. It is true that there are some dealers that sell substandard and cheap tires that are no longer safe to be used in any type of vehicle. And this is very dangerous because mounting substandard products can harm not only the driver and passengers of the truck but also the other commuters and pedestrians.
It should also be noted that references in this article apply only to buying used tires, not retreads. Retreads have their own pros and cons, and will be dealt with in a separate article.
