Kickin' Tyres

What's it really like to make a living as a freelance motoring journalist in 2026? And is the Polestar 3 still worth buying after its shock US ban? In Episode 6 of Kickin' Tyres, Adam Gray and Tim Barnes-Clay catch up after a longer gap than usual — Adam's back from a much-needed holiday and reflecting honestly on burnout, freelance life, and the dangers of never stepping off the treadmill. Adam s...

Are car brands making a mistake by chasing influencer reach over earned media? And what does it take to build lasting relationships in this industry? In Episode 5 of Kickin' Tyres, Adam Gray and Tim Barnes-Clay get honest about the state of motoring journalism — the good, the frustrating, and the truths nobody else wants to say out loud. Adam and Tim both attend SMMT Test Day 2026 at Millbrook Pro...

Are EVs really cheaper to run? And what's it actually like living with one day to day? In this episode of Kickin' Tyres, Adam and Tim swap press launch stories and get refreshingly honest about the realities of motoring — both as journalists and as everyday drivers. Tim heads to Scotland for the third-generation Mazda CX-5 launch, reporting back on why Mazda's global bestseller still deserves its...

Are flying cars and fully self-driving tech closer than we think? In this episode of Kickin’ Tyres, Adam and Tim compare two very different trips—one to XPENG’s cutting-edge facilities in China, and the other to Marseille for a first drive of the new Peugeot E-408. Adam shares his experience witnessing a real flying “land aircraft carrier” in action, alongside a deep dive into XPENG’s VLA 2.0 full...

Can electric SUVs now rival the very best petrol-powered luxury cars? In this episode of Kickin’ Tyres , Adam and Tim recap a hectic run of three car launches in three days, including first drives of the MY26 Polestar 3, and a comparison with the Bentley Bentayga Speed. They explore whether high-performance EVs are finally delivering on their promise, or if traditional luxury SUVs still hold the e...

Are Chinese electric cars taking over? In the debut episode of Kickin' Tyres, motoring journalists Adam Gray and Tim Barnes-Clay cut through the marketing spin to bring you the truth about the latest automotive launches. From the tech-heavy MG Tech Day in Frankfurt to "hooning" the new Changan Deepal S05 on a UK airfield, we break down what these new brands mean for British drivers. We aren't tied...

"It’s a sore subject—I don’t want to talk about it." Welcome to the official teaser for Kickin’ Tyres , the brand-new motoring podcast hosted by veteran journalists Adam Gray and Tim Barnes-Clay . In this teaser, we dive into the irony of our name—starting with Adam’s encounter with a pothole the size of a "trench" and Tim’s harrowing story of hitting a diesel spill on a 995cc motorbike. We discus...