The wheels of a car are important for its looks and driving comfort, however, it are the parts behind the wheels that you should check carefully. Here you find the suspension, consisting out of couplings, shock absorbers and springs. You have to do a thorough visual check of these parts, especially when are buying a car without warranty or at least a fresh MOT.

Wheels

The quality of the wheels tells you something about the way the previous owner has been driving. Has the owner been driving carelessly over curbs and other obstacles, then this reflects on the wheels and probably the overall state of the vehicle. If the car has hubcaps, you can check the roundness of the wheels, by removing one of them. If the wheel lost its form, it will be impossible to replace the hubcap. Note, that replacing a hubcap is always a bit of a hassle, especially when you are working with older cars. After you removed the hubcap, check the quality of the wheel around the bolts. They do get dirty and possibly rusty, so make sure that the wheel is not worn out. This is especially important when you are in the market for a car older than 10 years.

There is a good chance that one of the hubcaps is damaged. You should let the dealer renew this hubcap as part of the pre-delivery inspection. These caps are much cheaper for the dealer, then they are for you and it freshens up the looks of the car. Are you selling your own car, know that a complete set from your local car accessory shop is in general cheaper than one original.