What to look for in a used car - Tyres

by Andrew

When purchasing a second hand car it is handy to know different areas of the vehicle to check. In this article we will look at tyres, those all important round things that are the only things keeping you on the road.

Tread depth
The amount of tread left on the tyres will let you know how long till they will likely need replacing and also about the driver of the car. If the tyres are bald then it could be a sign that the car is driven hard or that the owner of the vehicle does not care about maintainence of the car. Tyres can be quite expensive to replace, so if they look like they are getting low on tread, factor this into the price you are willing to pay for the vehicle.

Tyre size
Are the size of the tyre fitted to the car legal? In some locations there are restrictions on the size of tyre that can be fitted to particular cars. Check that the tyres on the car are within legal guidelines.

Tyre pressure
Once you buy a car make sure that the tyres have the correct pressure in them. There should be a sticker in one of the front doors or glovebox which states the correct inflation pressure for the car. If the pressure is low it can adversely affect the handling of the car. If it is too high it can cause the tyres to wear in the middle.

Tyres are important and should be looked after with regular inspection for damage and to ensure that they are correctly balanced.