At some point, your automobile is going to need one or more of its tires replaced - so, if you're trying to watch your budget, you might want to look into getting used rims tires, instead of new ones. Many times, you can find some great deals at your local "family" tire shops, or at wrecking yards where you "pick and pull" the car parts you need, yourself.

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 wheel tire packages, 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.

If you have to inspect a tire yourself, you're going to need to know what to look for as far as the tread that's left on it. Before you purchase it, look for clues, such as missing rubber from the belts, and rubber with many numerous cracks. You also don't want to see any steel showing through the rubber. These are all signs of a worn out tire that doesn't belong on your car. In addition, you want to stay clear of any tire that has been patched or shows sidewall damage.

If you're not quite sure if there is enough tread left on a tire, there is another way to check it yourself, with the common Lincoln head penny. You just take the penny - with President Lincoln's head facing downward - and insert it into the tread in different locations around the tire. If the tread covers his face and head, the tire has plenty of life still left, and it's probably safe to buy. But if you can see the president's face or head - put that tire down, 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 custom rims 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 tires and wheels. You don't want to end up in an accident over a minor detail that could have easily been prevented.