The Smoking Tire

Love old Mercedes shapes but wish they had modern power? How bad was quality control in the 80s? What if you desire a one-off AMG that never existed? CMS Motorsports is who to call. Owner, Shant Meshefedjian, has been in love with wide-body Benzes since he was 8 years old. He grew up around fabricators and body-work experts. Now he builds and restores the coolest Mercedes cars from the '80s and '90s. Many of his cars have won awards all over the country. Odds are you've seen his work. His story is inspiring, his passion and knowledge run deep.   Patreon questions include:   What's harder: finding original bodykits or doing engine swaps? Best improvement for an E55 AMG The new C-class' giant screen Thoughts on MB-Tex When cars companies started to care about seating position Dream Mercedes project How to improve the complexity of an aging Mercedes Can I make this old diesel cool?   Recorded APril 21, 2026   Mac tools Go to https://mactools.org/tire to learn more and see if there’s an open route near

Matt Farah completed a Road & Track Experience of the Southwest and has things to say about the new Dodge Charger; Zack Klapman reviews Skip Barber's -day Advanced course AND now has a racing license; we look at classified ads from 1981; a Waymo was lane-hogging; and Patreon questions include: What happens when your hobby is your job? Will physical gauges return with the buttons? The 911 GT3 Cabrio Get a weird fun car and normal daily or vice versa? Favorite M2 generation/spec Ecoboost Mustang vs GR86 The Ford vs Porsche vs Chevy 'Ring battle Elantra N: '22 or stretch for the '26? The search for tactile feel How to deal with gatekeepers GTS 4.0 vs GT350 vs Emira vs....? Your watch is cool, don't worry Record 4/20/2026 mannnnn   Show Notes:   Mac tools Go to https://mactools.org/tire to learn more and see if there’s an open route near you   Factor Head to https://Factormeals.com/tire50off and use code tire50off to get 50 percent off and free daily greens per box, with new subscription only, w

LIVE from the annual Heritage Invitational at the Ten Tenths Motor Club in Charlotte, NC, we cover: Motorsport crime; Ed Bolian's exotic journey; Matt vs Zack in a game of "$1M Charlotte Dream Garage", and Roast My Car w/ Captain Crankshaft's Jackson and Will! Recorded at 10/10ths Motor Club in Charlotte, NC on April 10, 2026   https://www.instagram.com/tententhsmotorclub/ https://www.instagram.com/heritageinvitational/   Mac tools Go to https://mactools.org/tire to learn more and see if there’s an open route near you    Butcherbox New listeners can get their choice between chicken breast or top sirloin for a year OR ground beef for life, PLUS $20 off when you go to https://ButcherBox.com/tire   DeleteMe Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to https://joindeleteme.com/tire/and use promo code TIRE at checkout.    TrueWerk Upgrade to the T2 WerkPant and stay comfortable no matter what the day brings. Get 15% off your first order at https://TRUEWERK.com with code tire.    Drive Season 4 Listen to Drive wi

What was Vaughn Gittin Jr's first car? How about his favorite Mustang ever? His thoughts on EVs? The answers will surprise you as much as they did us.   Vaughn Gittin Jr has climbed the automotive ranks to impressive heights. From humble beginnings, drifting for fun led to sponsors, wins, championships, and eventually partnering with one of the biggest OEMs on Earth: Ford.  On this episode we learn about: his RTR Mustangs (available to order now); his first car (you aren't ready); his favorite Mustang; cars he loves outside those wearing the blue oval; the challenges of building cars at scale; what he said no to; his secret to winning; and so much more. Recorded April 8, 2026   His new book, "Ready to Rock" is available for pre-order now. https://www.carrarabooks.com/rtr-vehicles-book https://www.instagram.com/vaughngittinjr https://www.rtrvehicles.com/   Mac tools Go to https://mactools.org/tire to learn more and see if there’s an open route near you    Butcherbox New listeners can get their choice between c

Matt Farah and Zack Klapman review the 2026 BMW M2 CS; Matt has updates on both of his exotic projects; there's a wrinkle with on an E500 Cabriolet build; and Patreon questions include: What BAD car changed the world? Lotus vs Supra vs Boxster vs GT350 Will Jaguar survive? Is this 4,000 trip a crazy idea in a BRZ? Perfect environment for each of our cars Do people buy "appliance watches" like they do cars? Quietest compact commuter What will be the next Nissan Altima? Performance EV or naw? Why restoring performance cars doesn't fill the hole My tires squeal a LOT When will the Cybertruck be an ironic purchase? Freaky Friday garage edition Trading in: fix the small things?   Recorded April 6, 2026   Fitbod Join Fitbod today to get your personalized workout plan. Get 25% off your subscription or try the app FREE for seven days at https://fitbod.me/TIRE   BlueChew Right now, when you buy two months of BlueChew Gold, you get the third for FREE with promo code TIRE.  Visit https://BlueChew.com for

Matt Farah and Zack Klapman review the new Aston Martin Vantage S; would a rear collision avoidance system work; listing every hypercar Matt has driven; a special Ford GT just set a blistering Nurburgring record; why they're spending car week in Detroit this year; try to sort out the best car for the Woodward Dream Cruise; and answer Patreon questions including: Will a Golf R replace my Audi S4 sadness? What cars are better when they're worse? How to sell a project car Need a commuter for quarterly track days Is $40k "worth it" for a 996? Are hypercars serviced by mileage or time? The 2026 Lexus IS refresh Our thoughts on Rivian dating Uber Dream show at the Vegas Sphere? Where to test a car General advice for people in their 20s Do you need a car in Tuscany? And more! Recorded April 2, 2026   Fitbod Join Fitbod today to get your personalized workout plan. Get 25% off your subscription or try the app FREE for seven days at https://fitbod.me/TIRE   BlueChew Right now, when you buy two months of BlueChew Gol

Brett Berk might be the busiest freelance journalist we know. He has the incredible power to drive one car and extract 3 interesting, unique stories from the experience. That's why he's driven Jaguar's new EV, a very special Bentley, driven cars on boats (yes, that's a thing), and toured factories.   Patreon questions include: Best used AMG car for under $40k? Can we fix bad drivers? Will Aston make an entry-level mid-engine car? Cameras vs lidar Toddlers vs supercar owners Best bang-for-buck car EPA's move to 15% ethanol Do Alpina's last longer than BMWs? Are convertibles always worth more than coupes? Is car-themed luggage gauche? BRZ: best chassis you can buy under $100k? And more! Recorded March 31, 2026   Find links to all Brett's work here: https://muckrack.com/brett_berk http://brettberk.com/   DeleteMe Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to https://joindeleteme.com/TIRE and use promo code TIRE at checkout.   Hello Fresh Go to https://HelloFresh.com/smokingtire10fm to Get 10 free m

  Matt Farah tells the tale of driving and drifting the incredible thing that is the Aston Martin Valhalla. 1,064HP of active aero-wearing carbon fiber; a big new step for the British company known for Grand Touring sports cars. Plus, why watching can be better than owning, and Patreon questions include: Am I garbage for this Amazon delivery situation? Was DUB magazine important? What's Top Gear for the younger generation? Best concept car at a recent show Valhalla vs Koenigsegg vs Pagani Is Safari-ing dead? Matt's plan for an air-cooled Porsche Zack's next car How to get rid of gas fumes in a garage Normal cars that get attention An overlanding van for $15k Manual swap a C63 AMG? Are used Lucid's a smart buy at $30k? Old stuff that we do Things we miss about YouTube's past And more!   Recorded March 30, 2026   DeleteMe Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to https://joindeleteme.com/TIRE and use promo code TIRE at checkout.   Hello Fresh Go to https://HelloFresh.com/smokingtire10fm to Get 10 free meals

Matt Farah finds out if the Singer DLS is as perfect as they say; he and Zack Klapman trade opinions on the Volvo EX30 they drove; a "Demolition Man" prop slips through fingers; and Patreon questions include:   Why aren't there more Lotus engines? Maserati Gran Turismo vs Aston V8 Vantage Mansory's model lineup is INSANE Will high gas prices = higher EV sales? How to pick your enthusiast sports car What news cars should be more "raw"? Why the WRX lost its popularity How to drift a car for camera JSX vs airlines And more! Recorded March 25, 2026 Support the Right to Repair law   Enter to WIN our AMAZING 2025 Porsche 911 Turbo S!! https://www.dreamgiveaway.com/tickets/porsche?promo=SMOKINGTIRE Promo Code Offer: Get 4X bonus tickets with any donation of $25 or more. With every donation you are helping benefit some wonderful veterans' and children's charities. Podcast Promo Code: SMOKINGTIRE       *The Porsche 911 Restored and Reimagined by Singer as the DLS Want your question answered? Want to wa

There's a new Corvette Grand Sport; Cadillac finally cancels its terrible naming scheme; Ferrari admits the real reason for those terrible controls; gas prices are yuge; and Patreon question include: Is a manual-swapped Ferrari F430 the key to happiness? WHEN is the right time to manual-swap anything? Can you enjoy a track day without being competitive? Why are b-pillars boring black? How do you tell another car their brights are on? Cars we'd gift to Cuba Careers we bailed on Bad driving habits we'd banish Will BMW CS cars hold their value? Racing teams that built engines for OEMs 1 show car, 1 track car, 1 daily How to use a radar detector New cars bought by true car nerds Thoughts on the INDY America 250 race And more!   Recorded March 23, 2026   DeleteMe Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to www.joindeleteme.com slash TIRE and use promo code TIRE at checkout.    Enter to WIN our amazing 2025 Porsche 911 Turbo S!! https://www.dreamgiveaway.com/tickets/porsche?promo=SMOKINGTIRE  P

Journalists Matt Farah and Zack Klapman discuss a Rennlist posts accusing dealerships of colluding to pump the price of Porsche GT cars; a tariff bill for a cheap car part; weird cars seen in the BVI; which cities are using the Montana scam the most; and Patreon questions include: Integra Type S or Audi RS3? Have Radwood cars plateued in price forever? F/M/K: AMG, M, RS Are black watches cool? Why doesn't the Emira have a rear seat? Would modern us like our high-school modifications? Porsche merging Taycan with Panamera How to set your auction reserve price What will get people to buy EVs? Will Porsche join F1? The BMW Neue Klass 3 series Is the Nissan Z Performance the right daily? Do hybrid systems fix Audi's handling issue? Weirdest driveway we've ever seen When to PPF the whole car B7 Audi RS4 a good weekend car? And more! Recorded March 19, 2026   The Rennlist writeup: https://rennlist.com/forums/992-gt3-and-gt2rs-forum/1506502-bat-and-gt3-prices-a-study-in-manipulation-by-chicagomarke

We're on a boat! What's it like? What did we get wrong? Would we still car if we lived here? What's happening with Montana car registry vs California? Why is Honda abandoning EVs? And Patreon questions include: This vs that: A/C that doesn't work or a car that runs out of gas? Track toy: Mustang Mach 1 or Boss 302? What second podcast would we make? Will boring cars that have manual transmissions hold their value? Which cars would Matt's cats drive? Are cheap mid-engine cars still special compared to cheap front-engined cars? Does the mob miss sedans? Bronze watch recommendations And more!   Enter to WIN a 2025 Porsche  911Turbo S!! Podcast Promo Code: SMOKINGTIRE Podcast Link: https://www.dreamgiveaway.com/tickets/porsche?promo=SMOKINGTIRE   Recorded March 15, 2026   About Dream Giveaway https://www.dreamgiveaway.com/about SHOW NOTES Hello Fresh Go to https://HelloFresh.com/smokingtire10fm to Get 10 free meals + a FREE Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value) on your third box. Offer valid while supplies last. Free

Matt Farah drove the rare and fast Lotus Carlton; he and Zack Klapman have a surprising review of their 2025 Chevy Blazer rental; the perfect Ferrari might be on BaT right now; and Patreon questions include: What brand could become as cultish as Porsche? Best car for red light / green light Bad to mediocre with a few mods 4Runner vs Land Cruiser Best investment as a cat owner Watches for your wife Favorite UK race tracks Favorite tailpipe configurations Why is Porsche out of money? Do we need a term between GT and Sports car? Inexpensive Radwood cars Will gullwing doors come back? And more! Recorded March 6, 2026   SHOW NOTES   DeleteMe Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to www.joindeleteme.com  and use promo code TIRE at checkout.    Fitbod Join Fitbod today to get your personalized workout plan. Get 25% off your subscription or try the app FREE for seven days at Fitbod.me/TIRE. Factor Eat smart at FactorMeals.com/tire50off and use code tire50off to get 50% off your first box, plus Fr

Magnus Walker explains why he is selling a LOT of his cars, the other items he's letting go, how collecting gets out of hand, what's next for him, and so much more. When does collecting become more pain than joy? The sale price of his famous 277 car What makes an "outlaw" Porsche? Unpopular Porsche configurations he likes Did downtown L.A. ever "thrive"? The first factory car to outperform RUF's Yellowbird Favorite Mercedes and BMW cars What separates tuner companies that last with those that are a flash in the pan? Essential Porsche experiences And more! Recorded March 6, 2026 https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/mw26/   SHOW NOTES   DeleteMe Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to www.joindeleteme.com  and use promo code TIRE at checkout.    Fitbod Join Fitbod today to get your personalized workout plan. Get 25% off your subscription or try the app FREE for seven days at Fitbod.me/TIRE. Factor Eat smart at FactorMeals.com/tire50off and use code tire50off to get 50% off your first box, plus Fr

Matt Farah got a scary estimate for his Countach project; a new smog  law in CA might be a good thing;  an oil test comes back positive; Zack Klapman learns how to adjust something; and we answer Patreon questions including: How much stereo is too much? Which car will hipsters gentrify next? ZR1 or used McLaren ? Are new gears worth it? The right sports car for a flatter landscape is... Will "blob" cars ever return? Does Aston Martin need a G-Wagen? Are my tires really too old? Can you DIY a Singer-style restomod? How do I find a trustworthy car shipper? And more! Recorded March 6, 2026   SHOW NOTES   DeleteMe Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to https://www.joindeleteme.com/TIRE and use promo code TIRE at checkout.   Truewerk Get 15% off your first order at https://www.TRUEWERK.com with code TIRE.   Want your question answered? To listen to the episode the day it's recorded? Want to watch the live stream, get ad-free podcasts, or exclusive podcasts? Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon

Matt Farah and Zack Klapman have returned from the frigid motorsport party that is F.A.T. ICE RACE 2026 held in Big Sky, MT and they have stories! Rare cars were slid (and in some cases, crashed), race cars went slowly, rev limiters were hit, rally cars rallied, and the beats banged.   We tell you who was there, what happened, the cars we want to bring for next year, and what it's like learning to drift in front of 2000 people.   Then we answer Patreon questions including:   BMW 230i coupe for a fun used buy?   Past content we screwed up   Which Italian design studio we'd most want to work with   Are white wheels ever good?   Ford's new cheap EV truck idea   Best used supercar   Will the car market soften in 20 years?   Do we like aesthetic special editions?   And more!       Recorded March 2, 2026   SHOW NOTES   DeleteMe Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to https://www.joindeleteme.com/TIRE and use promo code TIRE at checkout.   Truewerk Get 15% off your first order at https://www.TRUEWERK.com with

Wes Siler is a journalist who spent 20 years writing about adventure, vehicles, gear, and the great outdoors, most notably being one of the most popular writers for Outside Magazine. On this episode Matt Farah talks to Wes about why tech isn't rewarding journalism, how both parties are effecting our public lands, towing, hunting, climate change, and so much more. Wes is a well of knowledge and worth paying attention to. https://wessiler.substack.com/ IG: @wessiler Recorded February 25, 2026 SHOW NOTES   DeleteMe Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to www.joindeleteme.com slash TIRE and use promo code TIRE at checkout.    AG1 For a limited time only, get a FREE AG1 duffel bag and FREE AG1 Welcome Kit with your first subscription order! Only while supplies last. That’s DRINK AG1.COM/ TIRE. DRINK AG1.COM/TIRE.   Want your question answered? To listen to the episode the day it's recorded? Want to watch the live stream, get ad-free podcasts, or exclusive podcasts? Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.c

Matt Farah and Zack Klapman find out if Maserati MC20 GT2 Stradale is the track car it looks to be; Matt goes deeper down the rabbit hole of a new collectible; we ponder why Buick still exists; and Patreon questions include: Our favorite Subaru ever Will the U.S. EV market shrink? Resurrected names that were better than the original. Is my watch tough? What would we drive in a 1000-mile vintage race? Ducktail spoilers: verdict Should German car companies keep making middling performance cars? Does a C8 Z06 really feel that different from the regular one? How to brake in a high-downforce car? Isn't ADAS good for normal people? MK7 GTI or Golf R? And more! Recorded February 23, 2026 SHOW NOTES   DeleteMe Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to www.joindeleteme.com slash TIRE and use promo code TIRE at checkout.    AG1 For a limited time only, get a FREE AG1 duffel bag and FREE AG1 Welcome Kit with your first subscription order! Only while supplies last. That’s DRINK AG1.COM/ TIRE. DRINK AG1.COM/TIRE.

Matt Farah and Zack Klapman review the 2026 Acura Integra Type S; a new contestant to our towing vehicle list; can you "fix" a 20 year-old Subaru; why your project car needs an e-brake; and Patreon questions include:How to get CARB organization into car cultureDid we ever steal our parents' cars?Favorite crazy modded cars we've drivenRWD sedans with a Miatas ethosHas this CPO Lexus LC500 had too many tires?If we could only have one rental car ever...Does Ford suck at colors?Why do small hypercar companies use the outdated single-clutch gearboxes?Is aesthetic carbon played out now that Ferrari says so?Is a C6 Z06 that good over a C5?Vintage GT carsHow to drive a RHD carRap video carsIs spray-on PPF any good?And more! Recorded February 17, 2026 Show NotesHello Fresh Go to https://HelloFresh.com/smokingtire10fm to Get 10 free meals + a FREE Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value) on your third box. Offer valid while supplies last. Free meals applied as discount on first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan.  AG1Fo

Matt Farah modified his watch; the EPA will stop paying attention to cars (and a whole lot more); driving a special Inokinetic Lotus Exige at Willow; and....Patreon Questions include:HELP! My terrible-driving friend wants to go racingA programmer's opinion on the AI discussionBase 981 Cayman: Good intro track car?Is the GR86 a "mini 911"?Ferrari 812 GTS vs 12CillindriShould EVs flash brake lights when using regen?Would Acura ever make an AWD Integra Type R?Cars you could identify by smellAre Hublots cool?Best month to buy/sell a car?What's wrong with the diesel crowd?Why no love for the Porsche 914?Efficient commuters for TALL peopleIs a McLaren 570S a good budget supercar?How to stop distracted drivingAnd more!Recorded February 13, 2026 Show NotesHello Fresh Go to https://HelloFresh.com/smokingtire10fm to Get 10 free meals + a FREE Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value) on your third box. Offer valid while supplies last. Free meals applied as discount on first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan.  AG1For a l