Hyundai’s anti-theft software update is supposed to stop USB-cable thefts — but a Hyundai Tucson running it was stolen this month anyway, a reminder that even a well-designed fix can’t protect a car that isn’t actually using it. The theft happened in roughly two minutes, the same way thousands of Hyundai and Kia thefts have … Read more
Here’s how to break in new tires properly: fresh rubber doesn’t grip as well as it will after a few hundred miles, and most drivers have no idea. Straight off the shelf, every tire still has a thin layer of mold-release compound on its surface — a residue left over from manufacturing — and the … Read more
Brake fluid doesn’t get the attention oil does, but it’s just as important — it’s the medium that turns your foot pressing a pedal into actual stopping force at each wheel. Here’s how to check brake fluid in under two minutes and what the level and color actually tell you. Find the Reservoir Pop the … Read more
A flat tire always seems to happen at the worst possible time. Here’s how to change a flat tire in about 20-30 minutes, with no special tools beyond what’s already in your car — and once you’ve done it once, you’ll never be intimidated by it again. Before You Start Pull as far off the … Read more
The Slate electric truck preorder window opens June 24 for the Bezos-backed EV startup’s stripped-down pickup. Over 160,000 people have already put down a refundable $50 deposit just to hold a place in line, which says a lot about the appetite for a genuinely basic, genuinely cheap new vehicle in 2026. What You’re Actually Buying … Read more
Subaru’s manual transmission 2027 lineup is now official. While most of the industry keeps quietly phasing out the manual gearbox, Subaru just went the other direction. The automaker confirmed three new manual-transmission models for the Japanese market by 2027, announced around the Fuji 24 Hours race during Japan’s Super Taikyu endurance series — a fitting … Read more
Here’s how to check engine oil level and condition in about five minutes — one of the easiest ways to catch a problem before it becomes an expensive one. Most modern cars can go a while between oil changes, but the level and condition can still tell you a lot in between — and it … Read more
A dead battery is one of the most common roadside problems you’ll ever run into, and it always seems to happen at the worst time. The good news: here’s how to jump-start a car safely once you know the correct order of steps — it just takes a little care around the battery terminals and … Read more
Your first track day is one of the best ways to find out what your car — and you — are actually capable of, in an environment designed for exactly that. No oncoming traffic, no speed limits, runoff room when you get it wrong, and corner workers watching every inch of the circuit. But a … Read more
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