| While you may not be savvy enough about cars to | | | | hard stop from a faster speed, but given road and |
| inspect all of a car's technical aspects, here are five | | | | traffic conditions, this may not be possible. The goal of |
| tips to use when checking out the tires and brakes on | | | | this test is to see how the car stops. |
| the used car you are thinking of buying: | | | | 4. If possible, park the car on a hill or at an angle. Use |
| 1. Checking the tires is relatively simple. First, look at the | | | | the parking break to make sure the car stays parked. |
| tires and make sure there is tread. If not, you need to | | | | While you are inside the car, put it in neutral and see if |
| ask for new tires (or you will be paying for them soon | | | | the car rolls downhill (it should if you are parked at a |
| after you buy the car). Look at the valves too and | | | | steep enough angle). Also be sure to check the |
| make sure they have covers. | | | | emergency brakes. |
| 2. Make sure you look for the spare tire. Is it what you | | | | 5. You can check the shocks by driving a few feet |
| expected to find? It is also very important to be sure | | | | and braking quickly. If the car rocks, the shocks may |
| that there is a tire jack and tire iron in the car. Find out | | | | be worn. |
| now before you need it one day. | | | | If you use those five tips when you are out shopping |
| 3. During the test drive, be sure to test the brakes. | | | | for a used car and you will end up buying a good car. |
| Give the car a hard stop from about fifteen miles per | | | | Obviously, there are other considerations to make, but |
| hour. It would be even better if you can test with a | | | | these five tips give you a good place to start. |