In Wheel Time - Cartalk Radio

Glowing tires were once pitched as one of the most dramatic developments in automotive history, and we can’t stop thinking about how close it came to being real. We dig into Goodyear’s illuminated tire experiment from the late 1950s and 1960s: translucent polyurethane “neothane,” dye colors, and small lights mounted inside the rim so the whole tire could shine at night. It’s a perfect slice of retro car culture, equal parts engineering ambition and marketing bravado, right down to the promise that your tires could match your car or even your outfit. Then we change gears into travel mode with quick, practical Texas Hill Country getaway ideas built for comfort, quiet, and big skies. We talk through glamping destinations near Austin and beyond, including 21+ spots designed for couples, luxury tents that actually feel like tiny cabins, and futuristic pods with patios and private jacuzzies. If you’re planning a Mother’s Day trip or just need a weekend reset, these recommendations focus on what matters: vibe, views

A modern car can fail you in two very different ways: a broken part you can hear and feel, or a software and security issue you never see coming. We start with the real-world stuff first, running down this week’s biggest automotive recalls, including the Ford F-150 transmission problem that can trigger an unexpected downshift, plus a long list spanning Kia, Hyundai, Honda, Toyota, Lexus, Tesla, Volkswagen, and more. We also revisit the Takata airbag mess and the simple step that still matters most: check your VIN and get the remedy done through the manufacturer.Then we lighten the mood with a listener-favorite game: “guess what it sold for.” We throw out bids on everything from a 1970 Dodge Coronet and an underappreciated 1984 Mustang convertible to a true jaw-dropper, a 1958 Chevrolet Impala convertible with a 409 that proves just how crazy classic car auction prices can get when rarity and originality line up.To close it out, we share Texas driving destinations with a Hill Country twist: glamping for grown-

Gas at $6.50 a gallon changes the mood of any car conversation fast, and it kicks off a wide ranging hang with auto journalist Jack Nerad as we compare California’s pump prices with the rest of the country and unpack the idea of a coastal “weather tax.” We talk about why the Golden State stays irresistible to visit even when the politics, taxes, and cost of living feel like a constant headwind, and what those pressures mean for everyday drivers.From there, we get into the good stuff: what’s actually fun to drive right now. Jack’s pick, the Volvo V60 Cross Country, is a reminder that a great station wagon still has a place in 2026, especially when it’s practical and genuinely enjoyable on real roads. We also dig into electric vehicles with fresh impressions of the all electric Toyota C-HR and Subaru’s newest small EV, including the punchy acceleration that can surprise you even if you think you’re “over” EV hype. If you care about modern car reviews, EV performance, and how these new platforms change cabin spa

Recalls are supposed to be rare. This week proves they’re practically a genre of automotive news all by themselves. We start by sorting through a big stack of safety and compliance issues across major brands, from Ford truck and SUV problems like wiper arm failures and trailer braking or signal concerns to GM’s backup camera glitches and even scarier talk of rear wheel lockup risk on diesel trucks and SUVs. If you follow automotive recalls, new car reliability, or just want to know what could affect your daily drive, you’ll leave with a clearer picture of what’s happening and why it matters.Then we switch gears into pure fun with “Guess What It Sold For,” pulling recent online sale results and putting our instincts to the test. We bounce from an affordable 1968 Chevrolet Corvair and a scruffy 1967 Mustang convertible to a classy 1946 Cadillac Series 62, a 1972 Dodge Challenger, and a 1993 Ford Ranger that somehow still brings real money. The collector car market is equal parts logic and emotion, and you can h

EV demand slows down, a classic American brand hints at a sedan return, and BMW flat-out says software is now the core of the car. That’s a lot of change for one Saturday, and we talk through what it means for real drivers and real enthusiasts when factories idle, platforms get shared, and “digital functions” become as important as horsepower.We hit the week’s automotive news from multiple angles: GM’s EV production pause in Detroit, the surprising direction of Buick’s future lineup, and the broader race where legacy automakers are trying to keep pace with Tesla and the rapid-development mindset coming from Chinese electric vehicle makers. Along the way, we get nostalgic about the old auto show era of clay models and concept shells, then contrast it with today’s reality where the biggest upgrades often arrive as software, screens, and updates.Then we switch gears into pure car culture with a mini deep-dive on the Model T Ford launch. If you’ve always believed it was black from day one or that the moving assem

The Ford Model T gets talked about like a simple origin story, but the real history is full of weird details and big misunderstandings. We walk through the facts that actually explain how the Model T changed American transportation and manufacturing, including what it cost in 1908, why “black only” became a thing, and how Ford’s choices around simplicity and efficiency helped put everyday drivers behind the wheel. We also clear up a major myth: the Model T didn’t launch with the moving assembly line, and the timing of that innovation matters if you want to understand how mass production really took over.From there, we widen the lens to the human side of early cars and car culture. Starting a Model T could be physical and even dangerous, and the engineering workarounds like early ignition solutions show just how fast the auto industry was evolving. We also connect the Model T to a bigger story about roads and infrastructure, because the car shows up before America has proper roads, then helps create the demand

A giant EV factory can feel like a town’s future on opening day and like a crater on closing day. We sit down with Sunderesh Heragu, professor at Oklahoma State University and President of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, to unpack what really happens when EV manufacturing plants, battery factories, or assembly projects get paused midstream. We talk about why EV production is built differently than internal combustion, and why that difference can make a restart or a quick replacement tenant harder than people expect.We also zoom out to the forces driving these decisions: gasoline prices, inflation, disposable income, and the uncertainty that freezes investment when executives can’t get a clean read on demand. Then we widen the lens even more, looking at global EV growth and the competitive pressure from overseas makers like BYD. Trade relationships, tariffs, and supply chain redesigns all show up in the background, shaping where the next wave of production could land and who might buy up idl

The gas price sign can feel like it’s mocking you: crude oil dips on the news, but your local station still sits above four dollars a gallon. We walk through the real mechanics behind that disconnect and why it’s rarely a simple one-to-one relationship. From supply and demand to politics, weather, shipping constraints, and the time it takes crude oil to become finished gasoline, we map the chain that turns headlines into what you pay at the pump. If you’ve ever asked why prices jump fast but fall slowly, this conversation is for you. We also dig into the global pressure points that can move markets overnight, including the Strait of Hormuz and the ripple effects of uncertainty across worldwide oil pricing. Then we bring it back home: how U.S. benchmarks influence regional costs, why refining and state-specific fuel requirements can raise prices, and how gas taxes and local distribution help explain why two stations in the same neighborhood can show different numbers. We keep it practical, focused, and grounde

A one-door BMW microcar shows up at a Texas cruise-in and instantly steals the whole parking lot. We’re live from the Tailpipes and Tacos Cruise-In in Katy, and we sit down with the owner of a 1959 BMW Isetta to unpack why this tiny, strange-looking classic is actually a rolling masterclass in packaging and creative engineering. From the front-opening body to the steering wheel mounted on the door, the Isetta is proof that great design is not always about speed. We also zoom out into the real life of a collector who keeps an eclectic mix of classics and vintage trucks drivable, then share the kind of story every car person understands: tracking down the exact Porsche 911 you ordered new, sold after your wedding, and finally bought back years later for a full factory-fresh restoration. It’s nostalgia, research, and commitment all in one garage. Then we flip to modern practicality with our 2026 Kia Carnival review, focusing on why this hybrid minivan that looks more like an SUV is winning people over. We talk d

The easiest way to understand car culture is to hear it happening in real time, with engines cooling in the parking lot and families weaving between rows of chrome. We’re live from the Easter weekend Tailpipes and Tacos cruise-in at Lupe' Tortilla Tex-Mex in Katy, Texas, where breakfast tacos, hot sauce debates, and a surprise Easter Bunny are all part of the soundtrack.Then we jump into a fast, addictive “sold car roundup” game: we name a car, guess the sale price, and reveal what it actually brought at auction. The numbers are eye-opening, from a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro that lands at $66,150 to a Bullitt-styled 1967 Mustang in the same range. We hit plenty of variety along the way, including a 1969 Pontiac Firebird, a 1977 Pontiac Le Mans, a budget-friendly 1978 AMC Concord wagon, a clean 1962 Oldsmobile Starfire, a 1969 Mercury Cougar, and the quirky-cool 1975 Bricklin SV-1 with its standout doors. If you care about classic car values, collector car trends, and real-world auction comps, this segment giv

The moment a repair estimate lands, every driver asks the same question: am I maintaining a car or financing its last years? We get specific about the “sell it” repairs that blow up budgets fast, from a blown head gasket to a transmission replacement, cracked engine block, air suspension failure, and the kind of electrical problems that eat shop time without guaranteeing a clean fix. We also talk overheating damage like warped or cracked cylinder heads, heater core replacement that requires major dash work, and timing chain or timing belt failures that can turn into valve and piston damage on interference engines. The goal is simple: help you make a calm decision when repair costs start to outrun your car’s value.Once you choose not to repair, we walk through what to do with the vehicle next: selling privately, trading it in, donating it for pickup, or turning it into a project car. If you’ve ever stared at a “fix it or sell it” crossroads, this part gives you practical next steps instead of guilt.Then we shi

New car shopping feels like it should be getting easier, yet the spring market is doing the opposite. From our live remote at the Tailpipes and Tacos Easter edition at Loopy Tortilla in Katy, we break down why U.S. auto sales are sputtering as the season changes and why volatility may be back on the menu.We connect the dots on the big forces squeezing buyers right now: vehicle affordability, a jump in gasoline prices, soft job growth, and consumer confidence that just is not there. We also talk about how the loss of a federal EV tax credit can ripple through electric vehicle demand, and we debate the kind of leadership decisions that leave enthusiasts shaking their heads, including the controversy around dropping V8 models even as brands try to pivot.Then we switch gears into pure summer planning with a driver-focused national parks road trip guide. We cover standout roads like Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road, Yosemite’s Tioga Pass, and Rocky Mountain National Park’s Trail Ridge Road, plus pract

Your car does not usually “die” in one dramatic moment. It wears you down with a stack of estimates, a new noise every week, and that sinking feeling when the shop calls back. We’re broadcasting live from the Tailpipes and Tacos cruise-in at Lupe Tortilla Tex Mex in Katy, Texas, and we bring the same energy you get walking a real parking lot full of drivers, hot rods, classics, and daily beaters with stories. Along the way we talk community, the fun of showing up even when the weather threatens, and why we’ll always lean toward cars that get driven, not hidden. Stan Holt drops in with racing talk and a deep dive on a serious build: a 55 Chevy wagon project headed toward NHRA-style competition. We get into what it means to chase a “SEMA ready” look while still planning to run it hard, how a project can pivot from a classic 283 and four-speed plan to an LS swap, and what that change does for performance, maintenance, and class strategy. If you like drag racing details, gear talk, and real-world build decisions,

Seven big events can shape your whole driving year if you know what you’re looking for. We lay out a coast-to-coast hot rod and classic car travel plan, starting with the Goodguys Del Mar Nationals and the Pigeon Forge Spring Rod Run, then moving into the Hot Rod Tour of Texas, the massive Hot Rod Power Tour, the Goodguys Summit Racing Nationals in Ohio, the NSRA Street Rod Nationals in Louisville, and the bucket-list Woodward Dream Cruise. If you’ve been searching for the best hot rod events, street rod nationals, or classic car road trips, we give you the quick “why it matters” for each stop so you can pick the one that fits your style and your schedule.Then we get practical with weekly automotive news you can use, running through current vehicle recalls across major brands. From wiring and seat frame issues to EV battery module concerns and moonroof hardware, we translate the headlines into clear owner takeaways so you know what to watch and what to fix.To keep the fun rolling, we play “what it sold for” a

Gas prices are high, but the fastest way to make them worse is chasing “savings” with the wrong plastic. We sit down with Chip Lupo from WalletHub to sort out the confusing world of gas credit cards, gas rewards, and cash back credit cards, including why some gas cards run 30% to 40% APR and the one rule that makes rewards actually work: pay it off in full every month.We get specific about how to choose a card without wrecking your credit score, from hard inquiries and timing your applications to avoiding annual fees that never pay you back. Chip also explains how intro 0% APR offers and sign-up bonuses can be helpful tools or expensive traps, and we talk through a real example of category-based cash back that can boost your fuel savings without changing your routine. Then we zoom in on the pump itself: credit card surcharges, when cash pricing can win, and why using a debit card at the pump is a fraud risk you do not need.After the money talk, Jeff’s Car Culture heads into the garage with five tool brands me

Stellantis ticketing employees for parking a rival-brand car at headquarters is the kind of story that sounds petty until you realize what it reveals about modern car culture and workplace control. We react to the reported policy, the fines, and the “wrong spot” rules, then connect it to other brand-loyalty pressure we’ve seen at manufacturers and even at dealerships where driving anything else meant a long walk from the back of the lot. It’s a real question for any auto worker: should your employer get a vote in what you drive? Then we jump into a hands-on 2026 Chevy Equinox EV review, focusing on what matters to electric SUV shoppers. We talk trims, the RS styling, the sharp exterior design, and the interior tech that’s actually easy to use. We also cover the details people search for when comparing EVs: horsepower and torque, towing limits, ride and handling, MPGe versus kWh, and the EPA-rated 319-mile range. If you’re cross-shopping the Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, or Tesla Model Y, we put the Equinox

Half of the frustration people feel at a dealership service department often comes down to one thing: nobody tells them what is actually going on. We dig into a new wave of customer complaints and online reviews that call out unclear updates, shifting timelines, and the awkward silence that starts the moment your car disappears into the bays. We talk about what great service advisor communication looks like, why “fast” is now a baseline expectation, and how the best fixed operations teams focus on managing the customer experience instead of just watching the clock.From there, we get practical about the real-world stuff that causes the blowups, like the “45-minute oil change” that turns into an hour and a half. We break down how process problems (parts staging, bay flow, billing accuracy, tools) create delays, and how smart dealers use reputation management and direct follow-up to turn a negative moment into a loyalty win, without getting dragged into keyboard fights.Then we shift gears into pure car culture:

Snap-on may be the headline brand, but it’s not the only way to build a serious mechanic tool setup. We walk through the tool brands professional mechanics reach for when they want strong build quality, fair pricing, and a warranty that actually helps when something breaks. Along the way, we talk about what “premium tools” really means in a working garage, and why availability and easy replacement can matter more than status.We also get honest about the kind of buyer pain that never shows up in a catalog: the lifetime warranty that turns into a dead end. From a torque wrench that won’t lock to the reality of ownership changes and manufacturing shifts, we share why researching warranty process and support is part of smart tool buying. If you’re searching for the best Snap-on alternatives, best mechanic tool brands, or how to build a toolkit on a budget, this segment is built for you.Then we switch gears into pure car culture and driving destinations with seven national hot rod events to put on your calendar, f

Southeast Texas can feel like a straight shot on the map, but it’s packed with stops that turn a simple drive into a full day of stories. We build a listener-friendly route through the Golden Triangle, starting in downtown Beaumont with the Texas Energy Museum for the oil boom history that still shapes American energy and industry. From there we keep it walkable and air-conditioned with the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, then step into a restored 1927 station at the Fire Museum of Texas, capped off by one of the weirdest legit landmarks around: the world’s largest working fire hydrant.Then we head south for more local character, from Spindletop Gladys City Boomtown Museum’s throwback oil-field atmosphere to Port Arthur’s Museum of the Gulf Coast, where the region’s music and sports history shows up in ways you might not expect. Crossing the Rainbow Bridge adds a scenic moment before Orange, where the Stark Museum of Art and the 1894 Stark House deliver culture and architecture in the same block. We wrap the t

Tailpipes and Tacos in Beaumont isn’t just a backdrop for us, it’s the whole point: real car people showing up early, swapping stories, and rolling through like a moving car museum. We’re live at Lupe' Tortilla watching everything from classic Chevy metal to modern muscle, and we hand out the Chili Pepper Trophy awards for Best Hot Rod, Best Classic, and Best Modern Classic. If you love cruise-ins, car shows, and the small details that make a build stand out, you’ll feel like you’re standing right next to us in the lot. Then we shift from the fun to the forces shaping the automotive industry right now. We talk Porsche looking for efficiencies between the Panamera and Taycan, Ineos getting the Grenadier into more hands through Hertz rentals, and Honda’s painful EV timing problem and massive impairment charge. It’s a candid look at how quickly the EV market narrative has changed and why product planning and leadership decisions matter for what ends up in your driveway. We also dig into two wallet-impacting