kicking the tires

Verb

kick the tires (third-person singular simple present kicks the tires, present participle kicking the tires, simple past and past participle kicked the tires)

1. (colloquial, idiomatic) To inspect something to ensure it meets expected standards or has favored characteristics, typically before committing to purchasing or otherwise selecting it.
   • But, like the Color-Sonics machine, US operators have had no opportunity to "kick the tires" on Cine-Jukebox.1966 May 28, Ray Brack, “Video; The Industry Is Taking A Second Look”, in Billboard, page 66

   Synonyms:

   kick the wheels, take for a spin, put someone through their paces

   1. (colloquial, idiomatic) To make a superficial assessment of, or a show of interaction with, an item for sale, without any real intent to purchase.
      • Are you planning on buying anything, or are you just here to kick the tires?
2. (literally, originally) To inspect a vehicle's tires by kicking them to check for defects or poor quality.
   • If the dealer or his used car manager goes out to the car, he may kick the tires as though he expected them to collapse at the force of the blow.1929, Paul G. Hoffman, James H. Greene, Marketing Used Cars, Harper & Brothers Publishers, page 14