Ponty
pfm Member
Actually that's always been one of my acid tests in viewing s/hand cars; if the description of 'service history, great care blah blah blah' is matched by simple things such as good quality tyres in pairs in reasonable condition - and I don't just mean 'properly inflated' but evenness & state of wear around the visible (=alignment and general maintenance reflected) - well, its a very quick to-do, but essential part of the subjective appraisal.
(equally in the UK, you'll often see a Meriva or Picasso on the school run with at least three spherical kids inside, and if you can spot -in traffic , from behind - more than one dented panel, you can bet there's at best 2mm of tread left on 25% of at least one tyre, the other three being ..shot. and underinflated; and the driver distracted.
Things I actively steer around ...)
I won’t even consider a car for sale unless there are 4 matching decent make tyres. Tells me everything I need to know.
Said Picassos etc with ditchfinder slicks will commonly have a ‘stay back - child on board’ sticker or what have you. Trouble is, if they don’t stay back when behind you, they (and you) have got no chance if you have to brake hard.
The more I think about this, the more I’d ban these crap tyres. If you won’t maintain your vehicle properly, it can stay off the road.