Tyre Kickers

[LeedsRhinos]

why are time wasters refered to as tyre kickers?

[Buenchico]

You've obviously not watched many episodes of (the original) 'Minder'! ;-)

The phrase clearly comes from the (alleged?) habit of people who're lacking in knowledge (or, more likely, just lacking in interest) of 'inspecting' a secondhand car by simple walking around it and kicking the tyres as a gesture of examining the vehicle.

An experienced car dealer will know that he's got a potential sale when a 'customer' insists on looking under the bonnet and under the car. If the 'customer' simply kicks the tyres he's either a complete fool or, far more likely, a complete time-waster.

Chris

[Mamyalynne]

there`s no allegedly about kicking tyres or thr other favourite pressing on the wings (purportedly to test suspension) have sold enough cars to have seen most bizarre attempts at convincing the seller that they know more.
M

[shivvy]

I have seen ads which discourage 'lookers' by saying . . .
"no time-wasters or wine-tasters".
Quite funny!