(idiomatic,colloquial) To shop for a vehicle or other item to purchase or invest in.
1993, Road & Track, volume 45, page 142:
... on standard equipment, options, warranties, safety equipment, fuel-economy ratings and – of course – prices, so you can go kick some tires in confidence.
2001, Brian O’Connell, Bill Griffeth, CNBC creating wealth: an investor’s guide to decoding the market, →ISBN, page 181:
Kick some tires. What is the fund’s expense ratio, and how does it compare with those of its peers?