If you’ve had to do any brake work on your car at all recently, you might be wondering whether or not the brake pads are always in contact with the rotors. After all, doesn’t it sometimes seem like pads wear out a little too quickly? In fact, the reality is that brake pads are not… Read More
Imagine this: you’ve put your pride and joy to sleep for the winter. Come spring, you excitedly pull off the cover under which it slumbered – only to find dozens of small scratches marring the once-pristine paint. Take a deep breath – that was only a hypothetical. But it’s a valid concern whenever you cover… Read More
So you’ve bought your first motorcycle – congratulations! Now comes the fun part: picking out all that sweet gear. You’ll want a helmet, of course, and a good pair of gloves and riding boots. You’ll also need a jacket – and no, your dad’s old leather bomber jacket won’t cut it. Motorcycle jackets are made… Read More
Mini bikes – those pint-sized motorcycles you might see someone riding along the shoulder – offer outsized fun for a little upfront cost. Their entertainment value far outstrips their price tags. But in the world of power sports, “cheap and fun” is rarely safe – and mini bikes are no exception. On a machine like… Read More
So you’ve decided to toss aside the wimpy all-seasons that came with your truck in favor of meaty, chunky all-terrain tires. That’s excellent – but how do you know what size tire you can upgrade to? There’s a lot to that question, and we’ll answer it fully in a moment. But be forewarned that there’s… Read More
If you’ve ever dealt with a dead car battery, you know firsthand what a pain jumping the battery can be. Digging out the jumper cables and flagging down a passerby is frustrating, annoying, and inconvenient – and that’s even if anyone stops to help in the first place. That’s where battery chargers come in. These… Read More
Scooters – those zippy little two-wheelers that populate seaside hamlets and trendy downtowns – are fun to ride, cheap to run, and a cinch to park. But are they safe? That one question remains at the forefront of prospective scooter shoppers. Many would-be buyers and users ultimately pass on the experience for fear of what… Read More
A car cover is one of the best ways to protect your pride and joy during long-term storage. Covers keep the dust, dirt, and grime from settling on the paint; they also mitigate scratches and – for those who leave their covered car outside – stymie the effects of the elements. In short, they keep… Read More
Cars are finicky things, made up of what seems like a million parts that work seamlessly together only thanks to some sort of forbidden voodoo magic. If your car starts acting up, it’s easy to feel helpless. After all, it seems like a trip to the mechanic is inevitable – and that usually costs big… Read More
When it comes to cleaning leather, there’s no shortage of products on the market that promise they can clean your leather safely, easily, and quickly. One option someone may suggest is coconut oil. But is coconut oil actually good for leather? The answer is a bit murky. On the one hand, coconut oil – and… Read More
If you’re getting into riding motorcycles, you’ll need to gear up. And one of the first things you’ll want to purchase? A good motorcycle jacket. Motorcycle jackets aren’t just to win style points as you snag apexes on your local backroads. Motorcycle jackets keep you insulated from wind and weather, defend against the inevitable barrage… Read More
Any truck is only as capable as its tires. These rubber pizza cutters impact every variable of a vehicle’s performance: speed, acceleration, handling, fuel economy, even payload and towing. A set of tires can literally make or break your driving experience. But it’s all too easy to forget about tires – and that they don’t… Read More
Walk into any auto parts store and you’ll be greeted by row on row of brightly-colored bottles of leather conditioner featuring cars showing off sparkling paint jobs, fancy wheels, sultry models, and pristine interiors. One thing in common with all these different products is that they promise the moon; all swear they can rejuvenate your… Read More
It’s a common question for those who are just getting into motorcycling: do motorcycle jackets really protect you in the event of an accident, or are they just bad-boy fashion statements? The reality is that, while some biker jackets are no more effective than a Kohl’s leather bomber if you drop your Harley at speed,… Read More
Winter is coming, and your garage is still packed with your mother-in-law’s old furniture that you had promised to auction off months ago. While the Victorian-era living-room set slumbers beside your mountain bikes, your car will be sitting out the season in the cold and taking the brunt of the bad weather. Faced with this… Read More
New cars – or new-to-you cars – are a big deal, even if you’re not a gearhead. After all, they represent the most expensive asset you’ll likely ever purchase aside from your home. And with leather upholstery more common than ever, you’ll want to learn how to protect leather seats so they remain soft, supple,… Read More
If your car battery is in immediate need of some electrons so it can get you home, you have two options: flag down a passerby with jumper cables or hook up a portable charger. While the former method is the time-tested way of getting juice to a drained battery, a battery charger is the safer,… Read More
Leather looks great when new – but it doesn’t take long for rich hides to start showing their age. Distressed leather might be trendy on furniture, but in a new car it’s the last thing you want. To prevent your leather from drying out and cracking, you’ll need to regularly clean and condition it. But… Read More
If you’ve ever used a battery charger to keep your car battery juiced, you may be surprised at how hot it can get during operation. It’s natural to wonder how safe this condition is; after all, nobody wants to inadvertently burn down their garage. Thankfully, a hot battery charger isn’t an issue. In fact, it’s… Read More
Contrary to popular belief, not all tires are created equal. This is especially true with trailer tires, which differ significantly from their automotive counterparts. Exactly how different trailer tires are from regular tires is a debate that hasn’t yet been settled; internet forums remain ablaze with wildly different opinions on the issue. But talk to… Read More
Cars and motorcycles are clearly street-legal machines – but what about scooters? Like other obscure, alternative forms of low-cost transportation – such as go-karts, for instance – the legality of scooters is a tricky topic. With the federal government remaining mum on the issue, it has been left to each state to determine when, where,… Read More
Go karts are furious little machines that entice with big speed, low weight, and huge thrills, and in America, they remain a popular pastime for both young and old alike. If you’re just getting involved with karting, you probably have plenty of questions as you learn the ropes. One common refrain from inexperienced or novice… Read More
If your brakes have been giving you trouble recently, you might be inclined to change your brake pads. After all, brake pads are a consumable item, a wear part that inevitably requires replacement eventually. Some brakes will need to be changed more frequently, depending on the driver. The question is, are brake pads easy to… Read More
Mini bikes are a cheaper and less intimidating foray into the wonders of two-wheeled fun than a motorcycle. Why drop a few grand on a Honda Rebel or Yamaha V-Star when you can scoop up a new mini bike for under $1,000 and see if you’re fit for motorcycling? Because there are so many options… Read More
Tires are a critical element of your truck, as they literally keep you rolling. But like anything else, tires don’t last forever – and even the most affordable truck tires aren’t cheap. So what are the top truck tires on the market? To track down the best options, we scanned the market and read real… Read More
Going fast is all fun and games—until it’s time to slow down. When it comes time to hit those stoppers, you want to be confident that you can scrub speed safely and smoothly. Brake rotors play a significant role in providing this peace of mind, but which ones are the best? We took a look… Read More
Oil is the lifeblood of your car. Without the right viscosity flowing through your engine, things would go south in a hurry. If you did nothing else but keep up the oil, odds are your engine would last far longer than you might expect. Simply put, it is the most important element of automotive maintenance…. Read More
Interested in getting out to the wilderness, but don’t want to leave your master suite at home? What if you need to truck your Clydesdales across the country, or maybe just tote some junk to the local transfer station? Whatever your towing needs, your trusty trailer – be it a simple dolly or glamorous fifth-wheel… Read More
OBD2 scanners are invaluable tools when the worst happens and your vehicle’s check engine light comes on, but you have no idea what the problem is, but are OBD2 scanners universal? We’ve all been there before: you’re driving along and in your periphery, a bright orange light suddenly appears. Your stomach drops. You glance down… Read More
A quality car battery charger is important for the proper maintenance and upkeep of your vehicle. Years ago, these devices weren’t the easiest or most convenient to use, leading many to resort to keeping a pair of jumper cables handy. Things have come a long way since then, however. Modern units are now capable of… Read More
Hate wiping up the slop from those fast-food burgers off your pristine white leather seats? Or do you want to show the world your love of cats or camping beyond your bumper-sticker collection? There’s a simple solution to both of these conundrums: buying a set of car seat covers. Car seat covers have become a… Read More
Whether you’re a weekend cruiser or a ride-or-die enthusiast, every biker needs a quality motorcycle jacket—or two—in their closet. Motorcycle jackets don’t just look cool, either: they help make you visible to others, protect you from the elements, and guard against road rash. With a variety of options available on the market, it’s important to… Read More
Is your kid into slinging mud in the woods? What about chasing narrow forest trails through thickets of trees? If so, off-road go karts may be their type of fun. These go karts, also known as dune buggies or off-road buggies, offer endless fun on any terrain. They’re great fun for kids who have taken… Read More
Keeping an OBD2 scanner tucked in your trunk or glove box can be handy when your vehicle’s check engine light suddenly decides to light up the dash. This is the sort of little gadget that you hopefully won’t need often – but is sure handy to have when an inspection deadline is staring you down… Read More
Let’s be honest—most of us only think about our brakes when we need to panic stop. Otherwise, we take this critical safety system for granted every time we bring ourselves to a gentle halt with each stop light and four-way. But our brakes demand and deserve more attention—and at the very least—brake pads will need… Read More
Looking to enliven your commute while saving the planet? Electric scooters, also called e-scooters, might be just the ticket. No longer just a toy for suburban kids, these practical little runabouts have become a serious mode of transportation for adults across the nation. However, trying to find the best scooter on the market can be… Read More
Scooters are small, light, zippy, and buckets of fun. One thing we didn’t include in that description: fast. But even if you won’t be breaking land-speed records on a scooter, the question remains: how fast do scooters go? The answer, as always, is that it depends. There are a multitude of scooters on the market… Read More
Do you really need car seat covers, and if so, when should you use them? When you acquire a new car, odds are you want to keep it pristine as long as possible. Maybe you ban passengers from consuming food and drink; maybe you make your friends take their shoes off so as to not… Read More
The fun you can have on small motorbikes seems to be inversely proportional to their diminutive size. Minibikes – also known as pocket bikes, pit bikes, monkey bikes, and a slew of other informal terms – are small enough for a child to ride comfortably, yet can travel as fast as 50 mph. Such speeds… Read More
Your mother always warned you how dangerous motorcycles are. But what were her thoughts on go-karts, and are go-karts dangerous? These machines have also been enshrouded by an air of danger, and for good reason: small, fast, and exposed, go-karts aren’t exactly protective cocoons. But how dangerous are go-karts really? We wanted to dig a… Read More
Car seat covers have been around almost as long as there have been automotive seats to put them on. Up until recently, no one thought much about their seat covers beyond picking the camo or Navajo pattern. But with many front seats now packing side-impact airbags, there is fresh concern over whether car seat covers… Read More
If you’re dealing with car troubles, you might be wondering, “How accurate are OBD2 scanners? Are they worth using to diagnose my vehicle’s issue?” Our cars are more and more controlled by computers, sensors, motherboards, and CPUs. This has brought great benefits to car ownership – what would we do without adaptive cruise control and… Read More
If you’re debating on whether to try synthetic oil for your vehicle, you’re probably wondering, “Are synthetic oils worth it?” Oil is the lifeblood of your powertrain, and it’s widely understood that purchasing the correct viscosity is critical to ensuring your engine never skips a beat. But start talking about synthetic and organic oils and the… Read More
If you’re thinking about buying one, you might be wondering if go karts are street legal. You’ve ridden them in fairs and have seen them racing on the track. Maybe their teeny size, loud noises, and riotous speed and handling have you pining for one. But before you cough up the cash for a go-kart,… Read More
If you do your own car maintenance – or ever had to change a tire – odds are you’ve found yourself loosening the lug nuts, jacking up your car, and pulling off the wheel. That last step may have left you with an unexpected surprise: a loose brake rotor. Encountering a loose brake rotor during… Read More
Many people wonder if brake pads are the same as brakes, and knowing the difference and how a vehicles’ braking system works can help you ensure proper maintenance for your vehicle. You’re in the waiting room at the repair shop, thumbing through their stack of last year’s magazines, when the mechanic comes in and delivers… Read More
All tires will need to be replaced eventually, and trailer tires are no exception. But how soon is eventually? Are they like your typical car and truck tire, many of which have a tread life of 50,000 or 75,000 miles? And what makes a trailer tire so special, anyhow? We wanted some straightforward answers, so… Read More
The question of whether or not to balance your trailer tires is a contentious one within the trailering community. Some trailer owners swear by balancing their trailer tires; others see it as an expensive waste of money. Some service technicians insist on it even as many manufacturers don’t necessarily recommend it. So who’s right? Well,… Read More
It’s hard to understate the importance of tires. Besides keeping your truck tethered to the road, they have direct implications on how your truck rides, handles, turns, and stops. For all they do, tires are fairly low maintenance, but the little upkeep they do require is especially important. Rotating your tires is easily overlooked but… Read More
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