“Developing a tire specifically for electric vehicles requires a number of considerations you do not encounter when working with internal combustion engines,” said Ian Coke, chief technical officer at Pirelli North America. “Electric vehicles are heavier, have more powerful and faster acceleration off the line, and require lower rolling resistance.” Rolling resistance refers to the…
We ask our members about the products they own, and we use that data to make projections about how new models from a given brand will hold up over time. In a previous survey, CR members told us that they expect to use their blenders for about eight years, and 92 percent of all blenders…
The portable models in our generator ratings run on gasoline, burning through 12 to 20 gallons per day, depending on the unit’s output and the load being powered. That means you’ll have to store a significant quantity of gasoline, start the generator manually, and refill it (when it’s off, to minimize fire danger) after running…
Bottom-freezers—as well as top-freezers—typically take up less space than other configurations. Bottom-freezers start at 24 inches wide and go up to 33 inches, making them suitable for a tight space. Our most recent surveys of CR members found that bottom-freezers tend to offer better reliability than some other types, too. For example, LG French-doors receive…
Don’t try to remove the ice dam yourself. Few outdoor home repairs are as dangerous as working on a ladder resting against an icy gutter. The solution is to call a professional roofing contractor. They can remove excess snow from the roof and melt the ice that’s causing the backup. Climbing onto a slick and…
I first encountered the ideas of ultralight backpacking in 1994, in an article in now-defunct (and much-missed) Backpacker magazine. It was titled “Less is More,” by Mark Jenkins. (I still have a PDF copy I scanned years ago.) Jenkins wrote about a long trip across Europe and Africa. By the end, he and his traveling…
Most breastfed newborns will eat every 2 to 4 hours, on average, and some will want to nurse as often as every 1 to 3 hours in those first few days. That doesn’t mean that more is always better when it comes to pumping. Maya Bunik, American Academy of Pediatrics breastfeeding section chair and professor…
Electronic Arts and BioWare will sunset their online multiplayer game Anthem on January 12, effectively making it obsolete. “Anthem was designed to be an online-only title so once the servers go offline, the game will no longer be playable,” BioWare wrote in the announcement. On August 15, the game will disappear from EA Play’s playlist….
It’s getting cold outside, and it’s even worse for a person who’s always cold. The first crisp morning of the season sends your poor, perpetually cold loved one diving under the bedsheets, digging for the fuzzy socks, or fiddling with the thermostat when your back is turned. (Don’t look—they’re probably doing it right now.) This…
Compatibility can include the option to stack a pair of machines using a special hardware kit. It could also mean machines sync up with each other to optimize performance. “Pairs come in a variety of styles,” says Allie Chilicki, a CR market analyst. “Most pairs have similar cycles, so if the washer has a casual…