# kick the tires

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/kick-the-tires
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To inspect something to ensure it meets expected standards or has favored characteristics, typically before committing to purchasing or otherwise selecting it.

## Examples

- We should kick the tires on this car before we buy it.
- I always kick the tires on a new phone before I decide to keep it.
- Before we sign the contract for the new software, we need to kick the tires to make sure it works for our team.
- The manager wants us to kick the tires on the new project plan to find any potential problems before we present it to the board.
- You should visit the campus and kick the tires on the university's facilities before you apply for a degree there.
- The investors insisted on a thorough due diligence process to kick the tires of the startup before committing any significant capital to the venture.

## Origin

Early 20th century. Early automobile tyres were frequently constructed of thin rubber of unreliable quality, a circumstance that invited the prospective buyer to kick them. The gesture allowed for a tactile assessment of the rubber's thickness and an immediate, if rudimentary, test of whether the tyre was likely to deflate.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.