How to Read a Tire’s Sidewall: A Quick Reference Guide

Close-up of a tire sidewall showing tread and construction detail

Here’s how to read a tire’s sidewall: it’s covered in numbers and letters that look cryptic at first glance but actually contain everything you need to know about a tire’s size, rating, and capabilities. Tire size (e.g., 245/40R18): Load index and speed rating (e.g., 94Y): Treadwear, traction, and temperature (the UTQG rating): DOT date code: … Read more

Manual Transmissions Are Having a Moment — Here’s Why

Close-up of a car's manual gear shift lever

After years of predictions that manual transmissions were on their way out, recent sales data tells a more interesting story: manual take rates are actually climbing on several enthusiast-focused models, even as they disappear entirely from mainstream vehicles. Several manufacturers have reported manual transmission take rates above 30% on performance trims of cars like the … Read more

Right-to-Repair Laws Are Reshaping the Modified Car Scene

Close-up of hand tools used for auto repair

A wave of right-to-repair laws moving through state legislatures is quietly becoming one of the most consequential developments for car enthusiasts in years — and most of the conversation around it has focused on dealerships, not garages. At the center of the issue: modern vehicles increasingly rely on proprietary diagnostic software and locked-down ECUs, making … Read more

2024 Honda Civic Type R: The Front-Wheel-Drive King

Close-up of a manual gear shifter

This Honda Civic Type R review starts with what it doesn’t have: all-wheel drive, a particularly large turbo, or any attempt to disguise the fact that power goes through the front wheels. And yet it remains one of the most universally respected performance cars on sale — for good reason. Honda‘s engineers have spent over … Read more

2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse: The Last Great V8 Pony Car?

Close-up of a Mustang V8 engine bay with valve cover detail

This Mustang Dark Horse review starts with the obvious tension: as emissions regulations tighten and competitors electrify, the Dark Horse feels like both a celebration and a eulogy for the naturally aspirated V8 pony car — and it’s a genuinely good one. The Dark Horse sits at the top of the seventh-generation Mustang lineup, packing … Read more

2024 Porsche 911 GT3: Still the Benchmark

Close-up of a sports car wheel with a yellow brake caliper

This Porsche 911 GT3 review starts with a simple observation: every few years, a car comes along that resets the bar for what a road-legal track car can be, and the GT3 has been doing this, generation after generation, since 1999 — the current 992-generation car continues the streak. The headline number is 502 horsepower … Read more

Buying a Used Performance Car: 7 Things to Check Before You Sign Anything

Mechanic inspecting a car on a lift in a repair shop

Buying a used performance car gets you into something that’s been driven harder than the average commuter — that’s the whole appeal, and also the risk. Here’s what to check before handing over a deposit, whether you’re cross-shopping something like a 911 GT3 or a more attainable enthusiast car. The takeaway: Performance cars reward enthusiasm … Read more

EV Price War Heats Up: What It Means for Enthusiasts in 2024

Close-up of an electric vehicle charging connector

The EV price war that’s been heating up over the past year has sent ripple effects into corners of the industry that have nothing to do with electric cars. As manufacturers compete on price, many are also expanding incentives on ICE (internal combustion) performance trims to keep showroom traffic moving. The result: some of the … Read more