kick the tires

[drdeng]

What is the meaning of "kick the tires" as it is used in the following passage from John Grisham's novel The Summons?
"I talked to a Realtor yesterday, Baxter Redd, one of the better ones in town. We walked around the place, kicked the tires, you know, whatta mess..."

[Grunty]

Some people who know little about cars, go to see one that is for sale. As they don't know what to check, they kick the tyres hoping that this will initiate a magic spell that will tell them whether the car is worth buying. In reality it will just tell them that there is air in the tyres, but not how much. Often the term 'tyre kickers' is used to mean the same thing as 'time wasters' and they may not have any serious intention to buy the car. In the passage quoted, the person had made a cursory inspection of the place and found the condition and upkeep to be less than satisfactory.

[Peter Pedant]

Yeah kicking the tyres ( a y in English)is meant to show whether the tyre is under inflated -and that there for the car is not roadworthy

so it has the sense of inspect or test but in a cursory fashion

PP

[Dingoeater]

In car dealing "slang" a tire-kicker is someone who has no real intention of buying a particular car or cars either because they are too expensive or because his idea of a fun day out is one spent on a car lot or garage forecourt. Bentley and Lamborghini dealers get them all the time it seems.