Sooner or later, you are going to need to replace the tires on your car, and if you’re on a fixed income, you can choose to buy used rims - instead of shelling out a lot of money for new ones. Places like small family-operated tire centers, and junk yards where you pull your own parts, are godsends when it comes to finding great deals.

But what should you look for in a used tire, so you can be sure that your “bargain” price includes quality - as far as safety and the performance of your car is concerned? Keep reading for a brief summary.

The main thing to remember is that a car’s wheels should always be the same size. For the rear of the car, as long as a tire is in decent condition as far as tread goes, and it’s the same size as the rest of your wheels, it should work fine for you. However, there are slightly different rules of thumb for the front wheels. Because the front tires affect the way your car handles on the road - and the wrong ones can damage your vehicle, and even cause an accident, in some cases - you want any new tires you get to also have exactly the same tread as the rest - and if possible, also be of the same brand.

In inspecting used tires, keep some important things in mind as to the condition of the tread it has left. Examine each one carefully - before you buy it - and look for dead giveaways, like multiple dry cracks in the rubber, AND if there is any rubber MISSING from around the belts. Also, make sure that no part of the steel belt is showing through. These are clues that the tire is worn out, and not safe, and is one you want to stay away from. And, if you find a wheel that has already been “patched” multiple times, this is one whose shelf-life is over.

Here is a fun way for a novice to check the tread on a used tire. You do this with an ordinary Lincoln-head penny. Insert the penny into the tread on the tire, with the president’s head facing downward. Make sure to do this in different places on the tire. If his face and head are still covered by the tread in all the places you insert it, then the odds are it’s OK to put it on your car. But, if you can see the president’s face or head at any of the insertion locations, put that tire back, and keep looking.

If you are a girl, then you probably aren’t an expert in the field of automotive. In this case, it’s a good idea to have your spouse, or boyfriend, accompany you when you’re shopping for used tires. It’s not so crucial at one of the “family run” tire shops, as they have people on staff that know about tires, and will help you with what you need.

However, this is not the case at those “pick and pull” places you visit. There, you are on your own as far as any service goes. YOU locate the wheels you want, YOU pull them from the junked car, YOU haul them up to the checkout counter to pay for them - and YOU take them home, and install them on your car. So, as you can see, if you don’t know what you’re doing, you could be headed for disaster.

So, remember that you can find good used car wheels for your car, but just remember that there is a different set of rules in making a good choice. You don’t have to be an auto-mechanic in real life…just learn what to look for, before you buy alloy wheels. You don’t want to end up in an accident over a minor detail that could have easily been prevented.