You may have heard of summer tires by a different name: performance tires. For people who hit the track, performance tires are a must. The fact that the two terms are interchangeable may seem confusing, especially because their use isn’t restricted to just one season. Here’s a look at what exactly summer tires — and performance tires — are, along with the pros and cons of using them. A Performance Edge When you’re looking for optimum speed and agility, performance tires deliv

Engine gaskets perform one of the most vital roles in your engine: They keep dirt and debris out and keep oil and other fluids in. When it comes to moving parts, there’s nowhere you’ll find more than under the valve cover. So a bad valve cover gasket is a critical failure. Although it’s covered top and bottom, this gasket is often made of rubber or cork and therefore can be easily damaged from the sides or even become brittle and crack as it gets old, causing a leak. Here’s

Knowing how to safely jack your car can mean the difference between being stranded on the side of the road waiting for a tow and getting that spare tire on to replace a flat. In the spring and fall, however, it’s also a crucial skill for the thousands of vehicle owners who will be swapping their seasonal rims — moving from winter to summer rubber or vice-versa. Check out these three tips for safely jacking and supporting your ride. 1. Choose the Right Jack There are two impor

You depend on your car to get you where you need to go, so when it doesn’t start, it can be a pretty big problem. There are a number of reasons why this might happen, but one of the most common is that it isn’t getting enough electricity to start the combustion process. You may be tempted to blame the battery — and you might be right — but alternator problems could also be at fault. How do you know if it’s the alternator or battery? Knowing the difference will let you make a

There are many garage cleaning products out there, but it’s not always easy to know which ones are must-haves and which ones you can do without. With the right set of cleaners, you’ll be set to tackle any mess you might accidentally make while working on a project, which is why we put together this quick list of five essentials that should be on every shelf. 1. Degreaser One of the most useful garage cleaning products on the market is degreaser. It’s easy to understand why: S

It’s time to get back out on the water, but before you go, make sure you and your boat are ready with this year’s best boat accessories. You can check out the 2017 edition of our top boat accessory picks, then add these new items to your wish list. 1. Infant Life Jacket You should have life jackets for everyone on board, just in case the unthinkable happens. There are several types of life jackets that might work for you, depending on your activities and whether you only need

The quality of your lawn mower’s blades has a huge effect on not only how it cuts but also the health of your lawn. As you mow, you may hit a rock or branch that damages the blade so badly that you must change it. Here’s a quick look at how to replace lawn mower blades yourself and save a few bucks. Gear Up Before you begin, there are a number of items you’ll need to gather, including: • A replacement lawn mower blade for your mower’s make and model • Adjustable or socket w

When you try to slow down and an unfamiliar squishy sensation results, it points to one thing: air in the brakes. Trapped air can affect brake performance; if the problem worsens, the brakes could fail. Fortunately, the problem can sometimes be resolved by bleeding the brakes. Here’s five tips for bleeding brakes and staying safe while doing it. Keep in mind that some modern brake systems require special diagnostic tools to be serviced correctly, so it may be best to let the

What kind of engine is in your car: interference or non-interference? It’s important for you to know, because if the timing belt breaks, a non-interference engine will simply fail to start, while an interference engine could sustain heavy internal damage. Here’s everything you need to know about interference engines and why a broken timing belt may be a far more serious matter than you ever imagined. Interference vs. Non-Interference Engines The differences between interferen

Bad brake pads aren’t the most difficult components on your car that you’ll ever need to replace, but they’re definitely among the most important. Your brake pads play a critical role in bringing your car to a safe and controlled stop, and over time they gradually wear down to the point where you can no longer rely on them to do so. When the moment comes to change your pads, you shouldn’t hesitate — and here’s how to know that you should be making that appointment with your m