If you frequently travel and need an effective way to carry gear, a roof rack is a much-needed tool. Roof-mounted rack and rail systems give you more interior space, let you carry irregularly shaped items like bikes and kayaks, add aesthetic appeal, and can even be safer than a trailer or piling everything in the […]
Category: Aftermarket
Installing Interior Ambient Lighting: What You Need to Know
Basic interior car lighting, like overhead and map lights, is standard equipment throughout the industry. In recent years, more high-end vehicles and trim levels have been offering ambient interior lighting. These strategically placed decorative lights add a lot to a vehicle’s ambience and atmosphere. I’ve sat in vehicles with ambient lighting before, and it was […]
Beadlock Wheels 101: What You Need to Know
You may have seen various performance models that can be armed with beadlock wheels, but what exactly does that mean? Typically, these specific wheels are available for off-road vehicles, but they used to be primarily utilized by the military and were originally referred to as “combat wheels.” Military-inspired vehicles and features have become commonplace in […]
How to Dechrome Your Car: The Pros and Cons of Each Option
For decades, chrome accents, trim, and badges have been the industry standard. However, popular opinion is starting to swing the other way. Chrome was once seen as a long-lasting way to protect metal against corrosion and make cars look better. However, it’s now widely known that the hexavalent chromium compound can cause severe health issues […]
Convenience Store: Accessories to Elevate Your Driving Experience
Car modifications come in all shapes and sizes. From cold-air intakes, turbochargers, and performance exhaust systems designed to max out horsepower to spoilers, sport tires, and body kits that can turn even some of the most mundane models into ready-made racers, mods give drivers the opportunity to create a bespoke driving experience. While these flashier, […]
Options for Replacing and Upgrading Motorcycle Levers
Having the right levers on your bike is for more than looks. Motorcycle levers are crucial for performance, affecting how well the bike shifts and brakes and how comfortable your ride is. Unfortunately, as one of the more exposed parts of the bike and often one of the more brittle, they are highly susceptible to […]
Adding a Touchscreen Infotainment System to an Older Vehicle
Cars, trucks, and SUVs are staying on the road longer than ever. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports that in 2023, the average lifespan of a light vehicle in the US was 12.5 years. Whether it’s a classic muscle car you drive for pleasure or a ruggedly-built daily driver that’s tiding you over until you […]
Car Wrap Wrap-Up: Types, Tips, and The DIY Question
There’s nothing like a fresh coat of paint to breathe new life into your ride–or is there? While expensive paint jobs were once the only option for those looking to refresh their car, truck, or SUV, vinyl wraps have become an increasingly popular alternative in recent years. A vinyl car wrap offers a number of […]
How to Install a Remote Start System in Your Car
For many of us, one of the great joys in life is working on our vehicles to either maintain them or add new features that let us customize our rides to offer everything we want. There’s no shortage of ways to add new features to your vehicle, and while some of them are quite simple, […]
Heads Up! What to Look for in an Aftermarket HUD
From countless sci-fi spaceships to the very literal versions sported by the likes of Iron Man, the Predator, and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800, few pieces of tech so well encapsulate cutting-edge futurism as a head-up display. The ability to see relevant driving stats projected directly into your field of vision can make any car, truck, or […]
What to Know About Laminated Glass
Almost everyone reading this has experienced at least one chip or crack in their vehicle windshield. Have you wondered why the windshield simply cracks instead of breaking into thousands of tiny pieces when a rock strikes? You can thank laminated glass for that. Pioneered in the early 1900s just as the automotive industry was finding […]
The Open and Shut Case of Hood and Liftgate Strut Replacement
Life behind the wheel doesn’t come without its risks, but sustaining a head injury while unloading your groceries or refilling your windshield wiper fluid shouldn’t be one of them. The hood and liftgate struts found in many of today’s cars, trucks, and SUVs offer a convenient way to access the engine or rear storage area––right […]
The Rundown on Brake Rotors
If you’re anything like me, then for the longest time, what you knew about brake rotors came from early 2000s movies and video games. That meant that if you wanted a car to stop quickly, the disks absolutely needed to be gold, drilled, and, most importantly, connected to a red caliper. Then, when you got […]
Getting a Grip on Aftermarket Steering Wheels
Installing an aftermarket steering wheel is often an aesthetic decision, but in some cases, it can have a big impact on the overall driving experience. In fact, in certain applications, like high-performance racing and other activities common to the North American speed demon, drivers wouldn’t be caught dead with a stock steering wheel. Generally speaking, […]
Unpacking the Basics of Crate Engines
If you’ve been around automotive magazines, blogs, and vlogs long enough, you’ve heard about crate engines. But if you’re like me and haven’t spent a lot of time in a garage, you might have questions about what that term means. In my case, the pronoun “Krait” has been subconsciously associated with a spaceship marque in […]
PowerStop Versus DFC: Who’s the Aftermarket Brake Boss?
The stock brake pads that come on most vehicles are thoroughly tested to ensure reliable, consistent stopping power. They’re often relatively quiet, produce little dust, and are designed to make the braking process feel as smooth as possible. These are all great qualities when it comes to a daily driver, but once you start adding […]
How to Armor Your Truck for Adventure
When you are building a vehicle to take off-road, there are many aspects to consider. Big all-terrain tires and a suspension lift are two of the most important features, and are usually the first thing any adventurer adds to their truck. However, one of the most important upgrades is armor. From skid plates and rock […]
Do BMW OEM Parts Make a Difference?
Picture this: you’re going about your day, running errands around town in your BMW 3 Series, and something goes wrong. It could be a distressing noise, a strange smell, or an illuminated dashboard light, but no matter the issue, it’s a sign to head to your trusted mechanic or a BMW store. This can be […]
Spare Parts For Less: Are Aftermarket Parts Worth It?
If you’re looking to customize your vehicle, increase performance, or save a little money on your next repair, aftermarket parts are worth a closer look. While they often get second-billing to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts, aftermarket components are normally just as reliable while carrying a much lower price tag. That said, not all aftermarket […]
Rubber Match: Comparing Summer and All-Season Tires
A dedicated set of summer tires can have a noticeable effect on overall vehicle performance, control, and comfort. Summer tires—also commonly known as performance tires—might not be as versatile as the all-season tires typically found on most vehicles, but if you’re looking to unlock the potential of your sports car, performance vehicle, or EV, they’ll […]
Tidying Up: The Pros and Cons of Motorcycle Tail Tidies
Whether you’re cruising cross-country on the back of a classic touring bike, carving through hairpin turns on a sport bike, or tackling both on and off-road routes on an adventure bike, customization is a key part of motorcycle culture. From custom gauges and crash bobbins to heated grips, aftermarket indicators, and performance tires, there are […]