The Smoking Tire

Matt Farah got a scary estimate for his Countach project; a new smog  law in CA might be a good thing;  an oil test comes back positive; Zack Klapman learns how to adjust something; and we answer Patreon questions including: How much stereo is too much? Which car will hipsters gentrify next? ZR1 or used McLaren ? Are new gears worth it? The right sports car for a flatter landscape is... Will "blob" cars ever return? Does Aston Martin need a G-Wagen? Are my tires really too old? Can you DIY a Singer-style restomod? How do I find a tr...

Matt Farah and Zack Klapman have returned from the frigid motorsport party that is F.A.T. ICE RACE 2026 held in Big Sky, MT and they have stories! Rare cars were slid (and in some cases, crashed), race cars went slowly, rev limiters were hit, rally cars rallied, and the beats banged.   We tell you who was there, what happened, the cars we want to bring for next year, and what it's like learning to drift in front of 2000 people.   Then we answer Patreon questions including:   BMW 230i c...

Wes Siler is a journalist who spent 20 years writing about adventure, vehicles, gear, and the great outdoors, most notably being one of the most popular writers for Outside Magazine. On this episode Matt Farah talks to Wes about why tech isn't rewarding journalism, how both parties are effecting our public lands, towing, hunting, climate change, and so much more. Wes is a well of knowledge and worth paying attention to. https://wessiler.substack.com/ IG: @wessiler Recorded February 25, 2026 SHOW NOTES   DeleteMe Get 20% off y...

Matt Farah and Zack Klapman find out if Maserati MC20 GT2 Stradale is the track car it looks to be; Matt goes deeper down the rabbit hole of a new collectible; we ponder why Buick still exists; and Patreon questions include: Our favorite Subaru ever Will the U.S. EV market shrink? Resurrected names that were better than the original. Is my watch tough? What would we drive in a 1000-mile vintage race? Ducktail spoilers: verdict Should German car companies keep making middling performance cars?<...

Matt Farah and Zack Klapman review the 2026 Acura Integra Type S; a new contestant to our towing vehicle list; can you "fix" a 20 year-old Subaru; why your project car needs an e-brake; and Patreon questions include:How to get CARB organization into car cultureDid we ever steal our parents' cars?Favorite crazy modded cars we've drivenRWD sedans with a Miatas ethosHas this CPO Lexus LC500 had too many tires?If we could only have one rental car ever...Does Ford suck at colors?Why do small hypercar companies use the outdated single-clutch gearboxes?Is aesthetic carbon played out...

Matt Farah modified his watch; the EPA will stop paying attention to cars (and a whole lot more); driving a special Inokinetic Lotus Exige at Willow; and....Patreon Questions include:HELP! My terrible-driving friend wants to go racingA programmer's opinion on the AI discussionBase 981 Cayman: Good intro track car?Is the GR86 a "mini 911"?Ferrari 812 GTS vs 12CillindriShould EVs flash brake lights when using regen?Would Acura ever make an AWD Integra Type R?Cars you could identify by smellAre Hublots cool?Best month to buy/sell a car?What's wrong with the diesel crowd?Why no love...

Strap in. Jonny Lieberman brings whiskey and opinions. We talk about that new, controversial Ferrari interior; the secret design history of the Lamborghini Diablo; Matt Farah's Countach progress; and then get into a heated discussion about Jonny's new app that's designed to help you bid on cars smarter by using....AI. It's loud and friendly. Let's go. Recorded February 11, 2026SHOW NOTESFactorEat smart at FactorMeals.com/tire50off and use code tire50off to get 50% off your first box, plus Free Breakfast for 1 Year.Eat like a pro t...

Matt Farah and Zack Klapman discuss whether tires "fixed" what they didn't like about the new Porsche GT3 RS; there's an update to a legal scuffle between Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca and the owner of an amazing R34 GT-R; we get some ideas for tow vehicles; why Porsche won't build a "cheap" 911; and Patreon questions include:Weekend track car idea: NC Miata or BMW 135i?Why are early 2000s Mini Cooper S underappreciated?Can you have wide front tires AND good steering feel?How to avoid being labeled a "Florida car"?Easy, impressive meals to cookHow does a...

Patreon questions include:Will our next car be a depreciated classic or a lease?Thoughts on the Capricorn ZagatoWHY do cars have screens if no one likes them?What's really behind auction prices?Sports cars for someone TALLIs a 997 911 S worth it over a 987 Cayman S?When we stole our parents' carsWhat car would we bring back to 1902?Should license plate covers be illegal?Why doesn't the Countach have rims?The next car we...

Matt Farah and Zack Klapman went off-roading in the new 2026 INEOS Grenadier Station Wagon Trialmaster and it almost went very wrong; a full review of the INEOS and its competitors; Tesla is ending production of the Model S and X, so we talk about why and what it means for the future; Washington D.C. is going to have an INDY street race apparently; and we answer 50 questions from our Patreon members, including: Would we rather be mid-tier racing drivers or have our current jobs?Which supercar should have had a diesel engine?Miata RF or s...

Matt Farah describes his first BAD ride in a  Waymo; he and Zack Klapman talk about the oddities for sale at Barrett-Jackson auctions; the truth about the "kill switch" law Congress passed; the Mercedes project begins; and Patreon questions include: Why has the Porsche 911 maintained a consistent look while others can't? Favorite tuner for engines with 4,6,8,10, and 12 cylinders? Do automakers still take risks? Has Porsche reliability gone down? Best and worst swag from a press launch? Why we think the C8 Corvette ZR1 will depreciate when the C7 didn't. What to get for someone who drives a Drakan...

Matt Farah has conclusions on the Corvette E-Ray; another amazing racetrack is for sale; Bugatti has reimagined...itself; how to choose the right tire; and we answer Patreon questions including:Was the Geo brand a player?What makes an engine sound "raw"?How can Chevy improve the ZR1?Perfect car for twisty road living

Matt Farah drove a 2026 Corvette E-Ray into the desert and lived to compare it to the Z06; Zack Klapman weighs in on what they should do with a free racing trailer; a new insurance that's ONLY for Teslas that use Full Self Driving; and Patreon questions include:How long until your car is warm?Is the VR6 engine actually cool?Cars we loved as kids but now think to be lameWhy don't I love Boxsters ?Why do some people want to f*** cars?What's more expensive to own: an old BMW or old Porsche?Detuned supercar engines we...

Matt Farah reviews the new 717HP Aston Martin DBX; he and Zack Klapman talk about their time in a modified Ferrari 458 and how it might reinvigorate interest in the aging legend; an auction of prancing horses makes no sense; an old Cadillac listing has some VERY strange pictures; and we answer Patreon questions including:Is the 2014-2018 Audi RS7 a good replacement for my Golf R?Is the GTS model of a Porsche EV worth it?Crazier: $1.8M for a Ferrari 360CS or $18M for an Enzo?How would we want...

The Corvette ZR1X set a record and punches above its weight class; Matt Farah talks us through the newly-published 2026 Performance Car of the Year verdict; Zack Klapman found a very special Ferrari that defies logic; how are Fiskers driving around; the weirdest KIA we've ever seen; and Patreon questions include:Allied cars vs Axis carsOddest special versions of normal cars718 GTS or 1st gen Boxster Spider?Business advice we'd give our younger selvesShould I finance a project car?BMW X5 40i vs Lexus GX550Weird race car liveries we'd wantWhy do we still measure things in horsepower...

Arizona might get rid of speed limits; Matt Farah raced an old car in Miami and drove one of the greatest cars ever; wide-body vs narrow; Zack Klapman tells you how NOT to drive on ice; the Lotus from heaven (or hell?); where to get an amazing dog, plusPatreon questions include:F/M/K Super wagon editionMid-engine manual decision: Testarossa or R8 V10?Does YouTubing a car reduce its value?F/M/K Gazoo Racing EditionAm I using my watch wrong?Would our 2-car dream garage include an EV?Military vehicles we would driveAre gen 1...

Matt Farah and Zack Klapman review the hugely powerful RTR Spec-5 (and how it compares to the Spec 3, the GT500, and Mustang GTD); the confusing reality of bad wine; more Waymo rain problems; how the EPA changes probably won't save you $1000; and Patreon questions include:The best Ferrari to Safari?What's the difference between an electric turbo and electric supercharger?Why did GM abandon the Volt?What we would choose over the Audi S5Ford Mach-E the right commuter for a snowy office worker?Is it cool to buy a used watch?How is Toyota so different?Help...

We comment LIVE during the final minutes of Matt Farah's Acura NSX auction; Mercedes is going to make a miniature G-Wagen; an old friend stuffed a Ferrari 812 drivetrain into a Ferrari 400 and the results are both impressive and interesting; plus we answer questions about used EV deals; one car for it all; football watches; and more!Recorded December 29, 2025 SHOW NOTESFitbodJoin Fitbod today to get your personalized workout plan. Get 25% off your subscription or try the app FREE for seven days at Fitbod.me/TIRE. D...

We reveal our 2026 giveaway car! ; hilarious Farah family planning; Waymo power way-mo problems; Porsche's funny resto program; and more! Patreon questions include: What happened with the F40 tribute? Best stories from our time renting supercars Give What's up with that Devel Sixteen? Do slowing EV sales represent the end of an era? Our AeroPress coffee recipe CA vs Tesla situation The tragic Ferrari crash on...

Matt Farah reviews the new 2025 Porsche Taycan GTS and compares to his older Taycan; Zack Klapman has his first religious experience in a fast, angry air-cooled 911; the NSX is up for sale; and we find something very, very odd on a wheel.Patreon questions include:The dumbest "performance" version of plain cars?What would we daily drive if it NEVER broke?Ineos Grenadier Game Viewer edition?Racing school vs 1-on-1 coachingCould Porsche ever build a NEW air-cooled car?M3 plans?Need a luxurious, reliable daily for a LONG commuteF/M/K: FD RX7, 2003 SL500, 2006 997.1Cars with short overhangs...