kick the tires

verb3

1. •
   To inspect a vehicle's tires by kicking them to check for defects or poor quality.

   • If the dealer or his used car manager goes out to the car, he may kick the tires as though he expected them to collapse at the force of the blow. — 1929
2. •
   (informal) To inspect something to ensure it meets expected standards or has favored characteristics, typically before committing to purchasing or otherwise selecting it.

   • But, like the Color-Sonics machine, US operators have had no opportunity to "kick the tires" on Cine-Jukebox. — 1966
3. •
   (informal) To make a superficial assessment of, or a show of interaction with, an item for sale, without any real intent to purchase.

   • Are you planning on buying anything, or are you just here to kick the tires?