The Hottest Restaurants in Miami Right Now

1 Ariete

Ariete has delivered Coconut Grove the neighborhood restaurant it so desperately needed. With the kitchen helmed by former Cypress Room sous chef Michael Beltran, it serves up elevated American cuisine — think grilled oysters topped with bone marrow butter and short rib — in a laid back, friendly environment that makes you want to sit down and stay awhile.

2 Beaker & Gray

This bar slash eatery features a "globally-inspired menu" by chef Brian Nasajon with dishes like shrimp and chorizo churros, grilled oxtail and risotto and an impressive beverage program spearheaded by Broken Shaker and Blackbird Ordinary alum, Ben Potts, served up at the 13-person marble bar complete with iPhone charging stations.

3 Cypress Tavern

The restaurant formerly known as Cypress Tavern, has reincarnated itself as Cypress Tavern. Significantly more laid back than its predecessor, its features "classic brasserie fare" like steak tartare, whole grilled fish and pork schnitzel, with the signature Michael Schwartz twist.

4 DIRT

Don't let the restaurant's peculiar name deter you. This health-driven, fast-casual eatery caters to whatever diet you may have whether it's vegan or paleo and everything in between with plenty of fresh juices, bowls, salads and even a steak and cheese wrap that will be sure to appease the meat lover in your life.

5 GK bistronomie

We know, we know, a Peruvian restaurant isn’t exactly a groundbreaking concept in Miami. But GK Bistronomie has managed to set itself apart from the pack offering unique twists on ceviche and tiraditos — one is even made with Parmesan – along with plenty of creative cocktails to wash them down with.

Tires for Your Daily Driver

Sometimes all we need is basic transportation - a way to get to work and then back home again. When it comes to simple driving, it is easy to forgo some features in exchange for reliability. One feature that should not be forgotten is tires. 

This is not to say that you need to break the bank, but arguably the most important safety feature on your vehicle is your set of tires. Often one the lowest cost options in a given size, the Fuzion Touring, made by parent company Bridgestone, has proven a popular and capable budget oriented tire. 

Combining a quiet and comfortable ride with a five-year, 55,000-mile warranty (T-rated only) and five-year, 40,000-mile warranty (V- and H-rated), the Fuzion is worth a look. In a similar vein to the Fuzion, the Sumitomo Touring LS T is a top-budget performer, but with a longer lifespan with its six-year, 65,000-mile warranty for T-rated tires and a six-year, 55,000-mile warranty for the H- and V-rated options. If your driving style tends to be towards the more aggressive side but with the need for all-season traction, check out one of the best all-season performance values in the Kumho Ecsta 4X II. The 4X II has become a customer favorite with excellent dry/wet grip and sharp steering response. 

Tire Repair: Tire Patch vs. Plug

Wether a tire patch or a plug is the way to go, a lot of drivers who have had tire problems on the road might be interested in the best way to fix a flat. Needless to say, local shops disagree on this all the time. The availability of options leads to some debate over what's the "best" way to fix a tire. Is it the patch or the plug? Here are some considerations for learning which you would rely on in a flat tire emergency.

The Case for Plugs

Some shops may recommend a plug in a tire because it is the cheapest and the quickest option. When someone has broken down on the highway and needs to get somewhere, they can enjoy the convenience of the quick plug (which often costs less than $10 and can be done in just a few minutes). Also, the technology for plugs has improved over time. In the old days, plugs were simply inserted into the tire, and that was that. Newer plugs "vulcanize" to the tire for improved stability on the road. As a result, a driver can get a quick tire plug and drive another 20k miles on the tire with no problems.

Limitations to Tire Plug Methods

Even though a tire plug by itself might be enough, national road safety agencies caution against a simple plug. Here are some of the situations where relying on a plug might be less effective:

• When the hole is near the sidewall - many experts recommend a patch for when a tire puncture is near the sidewall, as the plug may not be able to completely seal the damage.
• When the puncture is not straight - a diagonal puncture is more likely to need a patch solution.

Other Concerns About Plugs

Lots of experts also caution that a plug should not be applied without a patch unless a shop takes off the wheel for a visual inspection. Thorough inspection of the punctured tire helps catch additional damage that may go unnoticed when the tech is simply inserting a plug from the outside of the tire. The best and most effective solution, according to safety experts, is to combine a plug with a patch, to make sure the fix will stabilize the puncture.

Larger Tire Punctures

Some classes of tire puncture are not generally repair-worthy, according to those who understand tire safety. A puncture of greater than 1/4" in diameter will require a more complicated solution than a plug and patch. Some drivers deal with this by using a full-sized spare as a replacement and buying one additional tire.

The above will help drivers understand what they can do about the next flat that finds them on the road. Ask your mechanic about what specific methods they routinely use to repair a tire, and don't be afraid to ask for the option that you feel is the safest and the best.

2016 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Recalled To Correct Tire Information Label

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 325 2016 Volkswagen Beetle Convertibles to correct the tire information label, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall affects certain Beetle Convertibles with factory-installed 18-inch wheels.

"The affected vehicles may have incorrect sidewall height ratio information on the tire placard," NHTSA said in its recall summary. "If the tires are replaced using a smaller diameter tire, it can cause incorrect readings of the speedometer. Inaccurate speedometer readings may increase the risk of a crash."

There are no injuries, accidents or fatalities linked to the recall, said VW spokesman Mark Gillies.

"Affected vehicles can continue to be driven as usual, but until this recall has been performed, if you plan to replace the factory-installed tires on your vehicle, do not rely on the information printed on your vehicle's tire information label," Volkswagen said in its recall filing with NHTSA.

The affected Beetle Convertibles were built from June 18, 2015 to November 9, 2015.

The problem was discovered during a routine production review, Volkswagen told federal safety regulators.

Volkswagen dealers will install a corrected tire information label. The recall is expected to begin by the end of February. Owners can contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

New summer tyre for small and medium-sized cars. Nokian iLine summer tyre – More comfort and economy with excellent driving feel

he new Nokian iLine for small and medium-sized cars rolls pleasantly and safely in any summer weather. This summer tyre from Nokian Tyres offers first-class fuel efficiency, which amounts to greener driving. The top-notch driving feel remains stable and reliable even under extreme conditions. The unique Venturi Grooves effectively prevent aquaplaning and the pine oil added to the rubber compound maximises tyre durability.

The new summer tyre from the world’s northernmost tyre manufacturer supplements the selection of Nokian Tyres premium summer tyres for the increasingly varied Central European summer weather. The wide size selection (13–16 inches) is excellently suited for drivers who want to stay safe on rain-soaked asphalt and sun-scorched gravel roads alike. The most common speed ratings are T (190 km/h) and H (210 km/h). The entire size selection will be made available to drivers during the spring of 2016.

Better mileage, lower noise

The new Nokian iLine has low rolling resistance and good wear resistance thanks to several technological innovations. The hemispherical, golf ball-like indentations on the walls of the longitudinal ribs cool the tyre down. This new Silent Groove Design reduces air resistance and increases the range of the vehicle through lower fuel consumption.

The design of the sides of the longitudinal ribs also controls the interior and exterior rolling noise of the vehicle. The indentations guide the airflow, removing the noise waves caused by the edges of the transversal grooves and thereby preventing that unpleasant, howling sound.

The new Nokian iLine Silica tread compound is a skilful combination of safety and eco-friendliness. Pine oil has been added to the full silica compound that guarantees commendable wet grip under all conditions. Pine oil effectively reduces the temperature of the rubber compound by reducing the friction caused by inter-molecular movement. The Nokian iLine lasts longer and rolls lightly, consumes less fuel and minimises harmful emissions.

Detroit auto show opens to the public

The doors at Cobo Center opened to the public for the first time at this year’s North American International Auto Show Saturday.

The 2016 Detroit Auto Show is now well and truly over, at least for the media, so here’s a look at some of the highlights. 

2017 Lincoln Continental, 2016 Detroit Auto Show

2018 Lexus LC 500, 2016 Detroit Auto Show

2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class - 2016 Detroit Auto Show live photos

2017 Ford F-150 Raptor SuperCrew, 2016 Detroit Auto Show

Goodyear Eagle Tires Chosen Exclusively for All-New 2016 Chevrolet Camaro

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ: GT) has announced that Chevrolet's full line of 2016 Camaro models will roll exclusively on Goodyear Eagle performance tires.

According to Chevrolet, the sixth generation Camaro has been redesigned from the ground up to offer the exceptional driving dynamics and refinement of a world-class performance car.

 As the vehicle's only point of contact with the road, tire development was an important component of the overall performance equation. Goodyear engineers worked closely with the Camaro development team to design and engineer tires to deliver superior performance. The project, which included more than 13,000 hours of tire development and testing, resulted in three unique tire fitments engineered to complement the performance and character of the new Camaro.

Also available are optional 20-inch wheels, wrapped with Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric All-Season RunOnFlat^® tires in size 245/40R20. The Eagle F1 Asymmetric All-Season is Goodyear's premium ultra-high performance all-season tire. It features a dual-zone asymmetric tread pattern, which includes a Dry Handling Zone on the outside shoulder for enhanced handling and grip and an All-Season Zone on the inside shoulder to help shed water and slush for enhanced wet traction.

The Camaro SS features 20-inch aluminum wheels equipped with Goodyear's next-generation ultra-high performance summer tire—the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 RunOnFlat^®—in size 245/40ZR20 (front) and 275/35ZR20 (rear). The Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 is Goodyear's premium offering for responsive handling and control in both dry and wet conditions, and will debut on the Camaro SS before its full release in 2016. The tire was extensively tested on the 2016 Camaro SS at a number of world-renowned race tracks, including Virginia International Raceway, Road Atlanta and Germany's Nurburgring Nordschleife.

Both the Eagle F1 Asymmetric All-Season and the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 feature Goodyear's RunOnFlat^® technology, which allows consumers to drive up to 50 miles on a deflating or deflated tire at a top speed of 50 mph.