Do It Yourself

, instead of new ones. Many times, you can find some great deals at your local “family” tire shops, or at wrecking yards where you “pick and pull” the car parts you need, yourself.

But in looking for good used wheels, what do you need to know to make sure that you choose the right kind of tire for your vehicle, and confirm that the great price you’re getting is really a bargain? Keep reading for further information.

The first thing to remember is that your wheels should all be the same size. If you are purchasing tires for the rear of the car, as long as it is the same size and is in good shape, you should be fine. However, in getting them for the front of the vehicle, they should also have the same tread – and, if at all possible, be the same brand as well. This is because having mismatched tires on the front of your car can alter the way it handles on the road, damage your axles – and in some cases, even cause the vehicle to flip over while you’re driving on the road.

Before you buy any tire, you will need to inspect it, in order to check out its overall condition. Look for the obvious signs of over wear and tear, such as, numerous cracks in the rubber, or a LACK of rubber around the tire belt. Also, you want to make sure that no part of the steel belt is visible. If you notice any of these things, the tire shouldn’t be an option for you. And, if you see a wheel that has multiple patches on it, definitely forget about it – its days are over.

If you’re on your own as far as having to check the tread yourself, there is an easy, and fun, way to do it. Just take a common Lincoln-head penny, and insert it into the tread, all over the tire, in different locations. Make sure the penny has the head of Lincoln facing down. If you can’t see his face or head because it’s covered by tread, then the odds are that this is a good tire. But if any part of his face or head is showing, back away from it – and look elsewhere.

And, if you’re female, and you don’t have any experience in automotive repair, then take your dad or spouse along with you when you go tire shopping. At the family run operations, it isn’t such a big deal if you’re by yourself, as they should have staff there that have a good handle on the tire business, and will be happy to help you find what you need.

However, things change when you go to one of those “pick and pull” places, and you are on your own as far as locating, pulling, hauling, and installing the wheels are concerned. So, by this, it’s easy to see that if you don’t know what to look for as far as “drivability” in a wheel versus “non-drivability” is concerned, you might just drive yourself into a big mess.

So, in your quest to find quality used car wheels for your automobile, you see there are a few factors to be considered before you just go out and buy any old tire. You don’t have to be an expert in the field of automotive to be able to choose the correct car rims, you just have to educate yourself a bit, beforehand, so you don’t waste time or money on wheels that are just as bad, or worse, than the ones you’re replacing.