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Kickin' Tyres

Kickin' Tyres

By: Adam Gray & Tim Barnes-Clay
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About this listen

Welcome to Kickin’ Tyres — the fortnightly motoring podcast that blends expert insight with proper, down-to-earth car chat.

Hosted by motoring journalists Adam Gray and Tim Barnes-Clay, this is what happens when two mates who just happen to work in the same world — albeit in slightly different ways — get together to talk cars and have a laugh.

Between us, we’ve spent years attending launches and road-testing the latest models. Tim brings decades of experience as a motoring journalist, while Adam combines journalism with hands-on car-buying coaching — offering a practical, consumer-first perspective shaped by real-world experience. Together, we cut through the marketing noise to focus on what actually matters.

Each episode is a relaxed, conversational deep-dive into the world of four wheels. Recorded remotely and intentionally informal, we cover the launches we’ve just returned from, the cars we’ve been driving, the standout stories shaping the industry, and interviews with independent experts.

There’s a strong consumer focus, but Kickin’ Tyres isn’t just about what car to buy. It’s about the reality of modern motoring — from industry trends to everyday ownership — with a broader lens and a bit more personality.

Built on the same consumer-first DNA as The Car Buying Coach UK, the show operates with zero brand bias and no dealer affiliations — just honest, informed opinions for people who are car-hunting, car-curious, or simply enjoy a good bit of motoring chat.

Listen in, and find out more at www.kickintyrespod.co.uk

2026 Adam Gray & Tim Barnes-Clay
Episodes
  • MG’s Solid State Battery & The Changan Deepal S05: The Truth About Chinese EVs

    MG’s Solid State Battery & The Changan Deepal S05: The Truth About Chinese EVs
    Apr 6 2026

    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 to any brands or dealerships, so everything we discuss is straight from the horse's mouth with zero brand bias.

    In this episode, we cover:

    • MG’s Solid State Breakthrough: Is the 95% solid-state battery a game-changer for range anxiety or just clever PR?
    • The 100-Year Hybrid: Why experts believe hybrids—especially plug-ins—will be around for a century to come.
    • Changan Deepal S05 Review: How a brand established in 1862 is using a Birmingham R&D team to tailor Chinese SUVs for pothole-ridden UK roads.
    • The "Excuse Bin": Who won (and who failed) the high-stakes emergency braking challenge at the Changan launch?
    • Exclusive Interview: Featuring clips from MG’s Global Design Chief, Jozef Kaban, on the future of automotive design.

    Timestamps:

    (00:00) Welcome to Kickin' Tyres
    (05:20) MG’s Solid State Battery Tech
    (15:45) Interview: MG Design Chief Jozef Kaban
    (28:10) Driving the Changan Deepal S05
    (35:30) Why Hybrids aren't dying
    (48:15) The Emergency Braking Challenge
    (55:00) Coming up: Bentley Bentayga & Ranger MSRT

    Follow us for no-nonsense motoring updates every fortnight:

    • Instagram: @kickintyrespod
    • TikTok: @kickintyrespod
    • YouTube: @kickintyrespod
    • Facebook: @kickintyrespod
    • X: @kickintyrespod
    • LinkedIn: @kickintyrespod
    • Website: kickintyrespod.co.uk
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    1 hr
  • Kickin’ Tyres Teaser: Potholes, Diesel Spills, and Why We Love Cars

    Kickin’ Tyres Teaser: Potholes, Diesel Spills, and Why We Love Cars
    Mar 29 2026

    "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 discuss why the sun-drenched roads of the Algarve are surprisingly similar to the pothole-ridden lanes of Britain, and why, despite the bent alloys, we wouldn’t change this job for the world.

    WHAT’S IN THIS TEASER:
    • The Algarve vs. The UK: Comparing road quality (and the lack thereof).
    • The Irony of "Kickin' Tyres": Adam’s recent battle with a "trench-sized" pothole.
    • A Close Call: Tim shares a frightening experience on a roundabout.
    • The Hosts: Meet the duo bringing decades of automotive journalism to your ears.
    WHERE TO FIND US:

    The full podcast launches in the next couple of weeks! Make sure to subscribe and follow us so you don't miss the first official episode. We’ll be available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

    JOIN THE SHOW: Have a motoring story that beats ours? Or want to join us as a guest? Drop us an email—we’d love to have you on!

    #KickinTyres #MotoringPodcast #CarJournalism #RoadStories #NewPodcast #TimBarnesClay #AdamGray #PotholeBritain
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    2 mins
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