Sentence:  One of the things you wait most eagerly to hear a salesman say is the amount of the allowance. A good salesman will deliberately build up your suspense. He will start your engine, <WSD>kick the tires</WSD>, run his hand over the upholstery, stick his head under the hood, but, if your fenders are undented and the glass unbroken ... 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To inspect a vehicle's tires by kicking them to check for defects or poor quality.