Tires and wheels

Although original-equipment tires can last for 50,000 miles or more, how long any tire lasts is dependent not only on the tire itself, but on how that car is maintained.

Even though a wheel alignment isn’t a normal maintenance item, and there isn’t a set mileage or time interval for having it done, you should recognize the indications for when it might be needed for your vehicle.

Although the ideal way to check tire tread wear is with a tread-depth gauge, you can get by with what’s known as the “penny test” or just using your fingers.

Your car’s wheels spin around a stationary axle, and in order for them to do so, something has to allow for “slip” between the two. That something is a wheel bearing.

Larger wheels give cars a more aggressive stance and greater stage presence, which is why automakers install king-size rims on concept cars. They look cool.

After a break of 17 years, the Ford Mustang Mach 1 is roaring back onto the muscle-car scene for 2021 with a 480-horsepower, 5.0-liter V-8 engine.

The 2022 Taos is a new SUV with a length and a wheelbase landing part way between the Tiguan and micro-SUVs like the Ford EcoSport or Chevrolet Trax.

The 2021 Santa Fe’s powertrain upgrades, even without the addition of a hybrid option, are significant compared to the laggy 2020 Santa Fe.

Honda’s popular Accord and Accord Hybrid roll into the 2021 model year with minor, but important, enhancements as well as refreshed front styling.

It’s been four years since Ram first teased us with the idea of an SRT Hellcat-powered full-size pickup truck — and now the brand has delivered one with the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX.