Choosing new rims for your car can be confusing. There are so many different brands, styles, finishes. Over on our official YouTube Channel, you'll find reviews of some of the top rims. We walk you through the specs of each wheel and even provide background on the design of each model. If you're considering the Pro Comp 5035, take a look at our review below. It's a short video, but it packs a lot of information about the 5-spoke, racing-style design, including size, features, what car(s) it's i [...more]

[caption id="attachment_2479" align="alignleft" width="300"] Bugatti Veyron[/caption] Those in the celebrity world have the paparazzi glued to them, desperate to find the next scandal to sink their teeth into. We, however, are interested in the lives of celebrities for a very different reason. Many celebrities, either publicly or privately, own a variety of cars in their vast collections. Celebrity comedians like Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, and Tim Allen are all known for having an impressive car [...more]

Our 18th Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive & Hot Rod Happening is almost here! Starting November 1st (this Sunday) you can drop off non-perishable food or send in a donation.  We'll be collecting food right up until our annual event on November 22nd. That Sunday we'll be at our retail location at 3910 Cherry Ave, Long Beach, from 8 am to 11:30 am.  Volunteers will be packing up boxes of food and there will be classic vehicles on display, live music, free coffee and donuts, and an appearance by [...more]

There are roughly 260 million vehicles in the United States. A public with lots of vehicles unfortunately has a lot of vehicle accidents. These collisions disproportionately injure and kill teenagers. In response to a dire situation, Congress established the third week of October as National Teen Driver Safety Week. This year it takes place October 18th – 24th. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 14 – 18 year olds [...more]

If you're dreaming of modifying your truck, it might be a good idea to check out what has been done by others. No time like the present to seek out inspiration from those who have already been there, done that. Here's a good place to start. The 2014 "Leaving SEMA Show" -- a cruise featuring customized trucks:   Here's another collection of tricked out trucks, including semis, antiques and specialty trucks: Looking to trick out a Ford? Take a look at this modified Ford Explorer:

Full-size pickups have made up the single best selling vehicles in the United States for nearly four decades. That means there are a lot of trucks available to buy, new or used, and there are an absolute gargantuan amount of modifications available. Let’s cover some of the basics here, so you don’t end up on “Pimp My Truck.” Start Right First of all, you’ll need a truck, obviously. Brand preference is hotly debated, so we’ll steer clear of that for now. Just know that what you plan to do with yo [...more]

Every year we hold a food drive and cap it off with a big classic car show in Long Beach in November.  Over the past 17 years we collected enough food to feed over 9,000 area families. The Hot Rod Happening is always a hit with the local classic car community.  Check out this video made by an attendee at last year's event.

If you're looking for rims, there are so many to choose from that you might feel a bit lost as to where to start.  We created a series of rim reviews on our YouTube channel that show you some of the premiere wheels that are available. This video takes a look at the TSW Jarama Rim. This rim comes in three finishes and fits a variety of wheel diameters.  Check out the video for the specs, what cars it is best suited for and what we think of the overall quality of the wheel. Here are links to t [...more]

Our big summer vintage car show is this weekend!  If you're in Southern California, please consider stopping by our Drive In to Drive Out Hunger event. Saturday, August 15th from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. The big appeal, of course, is the incredible vintage cars. To enter your car in the show there is a $20 entry fee and we'll be giving out awards for the Top 5 Cars. You'll also get a goody bag of, well, goodies, including a $25 Performance Plus Tire coupon. Come to see all the hot vintage wh [...more]

Does it really need to be stated (again) that you shouldn't leave your pets alone in a hot car? It's the "hot" part of the equation that matters, not how many pets you leave. We've known for decades that it's a bad idea to leave pets in hot vehicles. Just check out this retro PSA from the Humane Society: Some groups use humor to try to get the point across, but the message is the same: don't do it! If you still think it's okay to leave them alone "just for a few minutes", take a look at h [...more]

Summer is here, and while that means clear sunny skies for most of us, some drivers will see quite a different weather report. Summer is also the season of hurricanes, monsoons, and torrential downpours, so be prepared with these quick driving tips. Slow Down Sure rain isn’t ice, but you still should slow down a bit. During a prolonged dry spell, roads and highways develop a sheen of oil from vehicles that are not well maintained. When the dry spell breaks with a downpour, the rain makes the roa [...more]

Before you buy new wheels for your vehicle, you want to know everything you can about it, right? We have a series of reviews on our YouTube channel that gives you an in depth look at a variety of rims. This video takes a look at the TSW Interlagos wheel. Want to know why it's called Interlagos? How it is manufactured? What sizes and finishes are available? How much it weighs? All that is in this video: It comes in black matte finish and silver with mirror cut face.

Summer is here and it’s hot outside. Nowhere is this more obvious than on a large stretch of dark pavement. If you think it’s hot, your tires do too. When the pavement starts melting, the excessive heat can lead to premature tire failure. Here’s a few tips on how you can keep your tires in great shape, no matter what the thermometer reads. Know the Pressure Under-inflated tires deform the tread profile and drastically increase rolling resistance, friction, and heat. Proper air pressure is the si [...more]

The 20th century was filled with attempts to break the sound barrier. It wasn't until the end of the century, in 1997, that a car was able to fly past that milestone. The "barrier" refers to the effects on a vehicle (usually aircraft) as they approach supersonic speed, 767 mph (343 meters per second). For years it was believed that aircraft (and other vehicles) would not be able to surpass that barrier, and then they did. On October 15, 1997, the Thrust SSC or "Super Sonic Car" surpassed that [...more]

Teens seem to love dangerous activities, but unfortunately, accidents are the number one cause of death for teenagers. Relatively new to their choices of stupid and dangerous activities is car surfing. Car surfing is where one person drives a vehicle on public roads while one or more people get out and onto the roof, hood, or trunk. It was popularized decades ago by the movies “Teen Wolf” (see clip below) and “Footloose.” While both ‘80s movies have memorable scenes where characters ride on the [...more]

As you likely already know, we're in the middle of National Tire Safety Week (May 24th-30th). Cooper Tires is a big supporter of tire safety and have their own campaign "Know B4 U Go" to remind drivers of the importance of tire maintenance.  The video below features Arie Luyendyk, Jr., a popular race car driver who currently competes in TORC racing on Cooper tires.  The video shows you how easy it is to check tread, tire pressure, and evaluate the condition of your tires before you hit the road [...more]

Did you see our recent blog post on the Biggest & Best of the world's road rallies? Or maybe you've always been a fan of the rally experience. The mix of race, party, and endurance challenge all rolled into one attracts car lovers, race fans, and wannabe drivers all over the world. For those who have never experienced a road rally in person, we've gathered a few videos to give you an insider's view of these amazing events. The first is a recap of the 2014 Gumball 3000 as lived by Team Betsa [...more]

Road rallies like to say they are all about the cars, but really it’s a combination of cars, big personalities, speed, hype and alcohol. With nearly every rally claiming to be the best on their homepage, it’s time for some organizing. Here are our picks for the biggest and best road rallies in the world. Gumball 3000 Gumball is a whole lot of hype, but for the most part, it actually lives up to it. Sure, there is massive media coverage about the celebs and their multi-country party road trip, bu [...more]

Race season is in full swing across the US.  Ever wondered what tires are used by racers? Let's take a look at a few of the different tires used in different types of racing. NASCAR [caption id="attachment_2380" align="alignleft" width="300"] photo by Raniel Diaz[/caption] NASCAR’s Sprint Cup series is undoubtedly the most popular racing series in the United States. The Stock Cars wear Goodyear Eagle racing slicks. At 11.5 inches wide, and fitting a 16 inch wheel, these tires are designed to he [...more]

Since winter refuses to let go of certain parts of North America, we tried to determine what is the best thing about winter hanging around. Our conclusion: a longer season for ice racing! If you didn't know, ice racing has been around as long as there have been motor vehicle driving on snowy/icy roads.  Only now people do it on official tracks as well as out in the wild.  Check out the videos below for a cross-section of ice racing fun -- and a near crash or two. Drifting: A 3rd generation r [...more]

That darn groundhog was no help this year, but rest assured, spring is on its way. This means longer, warmer days, and excellent evenings for cruising. While the weather gets ready, you should too, so let’s look at some prep work you should do now to be ready for spring. If your cruiser was put up for winter, there are a few steps to take before firing her up and heading off. First off is of course removing any covers you may have put on your vehicle last fall. Do a visual once-over to make sur [...more]

Ice and snow means skids and accidents. If you're really unlucky, your truck (or car) could fall through the ice into a stream, pond, lake or river.  If you ever need to pull your truck out of an icy waterway, here's what NOT to do (NSFW: language): There IS a right way to handle such situations.  Just watch these experts pull a semi out of a frozen lake:

Car restorers dream of finding an abandoned classic and restoring it to its former glory.  Check out these 60 abandoned cars found in France last year: These vehicles were part of the collection of Roger Baillon, who spent several decades rescuing cars from the scrap heap in the hopes of opening a car museum.  When his financial empire collapsed, he was forced to sell some and abandon the rest. In 2014 his grandchildren inherited the estate and discovered this treasure trove. A few weeks ag [...more]

You might have an all-wheel drive car with snow tires and think it’s awesome in the snow. You’re probably right. However, there are some situations where even snow tires aren’t enough. It’s time to chain up. Prep First, of course, you have to buy chains for your car. They are sold in specific sizes, so buy the ones that fit your tires. There is a lot of variety in prices, but even the cheap ones are decent enough in a pinch. Once you have them home, practice putting them on. Your first time putt [...more]

This month's Rim Review gives you a close up look at the Mannheim Rim. It's a product in the Mandrus Wheels line made specifically for Mercedes Benz vehicles, though it can be used on other cars. In the video below, Glenn walks you through some of the benefits of buying a rim that was specifically designed for a given car.  He also talks about the specs and available sizes of this rim. It comes in chrome and gunmetal with mirror cut face and lip.