There’s an old adage that goes – you can tell a lot about a man from the shoes he wears – but did you know, it’s pretty much the same when buying a used car?
If you know what to look out for, the tyres of a car can tell you a lot about how it has been used and maintained – so you know if you’re really getting a good deal. Here are some of the most important signs you need to know about.
Tyre health
Tyres are perhaps the most expensive maintenance item on your car, and unfortunately where a substantial number of owners will skimp on, to save money, oftentimes to the contrary of the safety and overall performance of the vehicle.
Thus if you’re looking to buy a used car, never forget to give the tyres a proper inspection. Here’s what you need to look out for.
Also read: Five signs your tyres need replacement
- Tyre age: This is first and foremost. Look for the manufacturing year marker and check whether all four tyres are made during the same year. This will tell you if they were replaced last and if they were replaced all at once.
- Tyre damage: Tyres which have sidewalls that have been scuffed, gouged or blistered not only tell you the tyres are potentially unsafe for use, but also paints a picture of how that car was used, and if the previous owner was a careful driver.
- Tyre wear: Irregular tyre wear can point to a lack of maintenance by the previous owner. If there is excessive wear on the inside/outside of the tyre, this points to skipping alignment and rotation service, or more troubling issues with the suspension system.
Be brand conscious
Besides the overall condition of the tyres, the brand of tyres fitted suggests that the previous owner didn’t cost-cut on maintenance and upkeep of the vehicle. Replacing your tyres with premium brand ones show that the previous owner spent money where it mattered.
Leading tyre companies pour millions into R&D, engineering, testing, and producing tyres that grip just that little bit better, without sacrificing comfort and durability – and hence their higher prices.
Also read: Why do automakers prefer Continental tyres?
On the contrary, if you should find fitted tyres from unknown manufacturers – many of which are cheaper knockoffs of premium tyre models, then you can surmise this mirrors a cheap maintenance habit.
Thus whilst there are a huge number of cheap tyre brands, premium tyres from manufacturers such as Continental, Michelin, Pirelli, Yokohama, Dunlop and Hankook are some of the brands to go for the best performance and safety. So if your prospective used car has these fitted, then you can tell it’s been maintained well.
Mismatched tyres
Another common cost-cutting trait is replacing tyres from different manufacturers. If you should find two or more tyre brands front to back or otherwise, this again is a red flag of cheap maintenance.
Also read: Save money and drive safe with these three tyre care tips
All four tyres should always be replaced together and maintained thereafter with regular rotation and alignment to ensure there is equal wear on all four sides. If one or two tyres are replaced at a time, this will suggest irregular wear or even worse, an incident that has caused damage that required replacement.
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Source: Buying a used car? The tyres can tell you a lot about how the car was mantained