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Drag Radials for Impala/Monte Wheels

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Old Sep 9, 2017 | 10:46 AM
  #1  
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Default Drag Radials for Impala/Monte Wheels

I've got a GP GXP, but this question is actually for my 96 monte. I'm running the LS4 monte / impala SS 18"s and I need tires that will hook a lot better than the 235 street tires that are on there.

Curious what brand & size of racing compound tires you guys are using on these stock wheels? I understand I'd ideally go to a wider wheel, but I'm not wanting to do that right now. I just want to get some much stickier tires on the current wheels to get her back on the road.

I run NT05R on my vette and love them, but they don't make anything small enough for these wheels. Looks like Toyo has a lot of options for size in their r888r, but I havent seen anyone locally run them yet.

The main purpose of my monte is for straight line, I don't care how long the tires last (within reason, I'm not street driving slicks), and the car won't be driven in the rain.

I know there are some high power LS4s on here, I was curious what you are running for race tires on your stock wheels.

Last edited by bumpin96monte; Sep 9, 2017 at 05:28 PM.
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Old Sep 11, 2017 | 12:20 PM
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I let some air out... then just try and make it go straight.
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Old Sep 11, 2017 | 10:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Red_Zone
I let some air out... then just try and make it go straight.
Unfortunately I'm way beyond the point of being able to hook with just airing then down. I need something that's far more sticky than a typical street tire.
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Old Sep 11, 2017 | 11:11 PM
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FWD cars don't hook up. Manage the gas pedal man.

But without knowing anything about your mods(your post says and LS4 1996 Monte but your about me says you run an L67 so... ) and not sure if you are trying to improve track times or just street driving you didn't specify... try...

1) lowering springs in the front
2) 17" or even 16" rims in the front
3) 18's in the back with a higher profile tire
4) stock springs in the back I guess
5) poly mounts if possible
6) maybe try spring blocks in the rear
7) remove your back seats
8) run a nearly empty gas tank

that sort of thing.

I find good success myself hooking up when I floor the car already doing... mmmm... I dunno... about 140 km/h... I hook up good then I suppose.

Last edited by Red_Zone; Sep 11, 2017 at 11:16 PM.
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Old Sep 12, 2017 | 09:04 AM
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Originally Posted by Red_Zone
FWD cars don't hook up. Manage the gas pedal man.
lol, I wish it was as easy as just managing the gas pedal. The tires on there are ~5 year old 600 treadwear all seasons that came on the rims. No amount of mods to the car and suspension are going to make these hook unless I take off the blower belt, lol.

I know the tires must be replaced to have any chance of putting down power, so that's why I was hoping some of the higher power (maybe turbo) ls4 cars with these wheels could share what tire they're running.

But without knowing anything about your mods(your post says and LS4 1996 Monte but your about me says you run an L67 so... ) and not sure if you are trying to improve track times or just street driving you didn't specify... try...
Without going into great detail since this is an ls4 board, it is a heavily modded l67. It's a street car although I might do some 1/2 mile stuff with it too. I'm leaning towards a drag radial as I've had good success with them on my vette. I'm not particularly worried about cornering ability, mostly just interested in straight line.

1) lowering springs in the front. Already have coilovers all around.
2) 17" or even 16" rims in the front. I'm not changing wheels at this time. I intend to run these 18"s as my normal street setup in the short term.
3) 18's in the back with a higher profile tire. I'm not really planning to mess with the back tires yet. Once I get a tire to work well up front, then I'll worry about the back tires. I'm just concerned I may need to go to a wider wheel and don't want to waste money on 4 tires just to have to toss them.
4) stock springs in the back I guess. Not an option anymore as I've got coilovers all around. I've already cut off the spring perches.
5) poly mounts if possible. The uppers are all poly, the lowers are all solid rubber.
6) maybe try spring blocks in the rear. I haven't tried that yet, but I have considered swapping try a stiffer rear spring to reduce weight transfer. Once I get a reasonable tire up front, then I could try messing with it.
7) remove your back seats. I don't plan to gut it as its not a drag car.
8) run a nearly empty gas tank. Not much I can do for a street car, especially on e85, lol
See replies above. I'm really just looking for tire suggestions at this point. Thanks for trying to help though!

I find good success myself hooking up when I floor the car already doing... mmmm... I dunno... about 140 km/h... I hook up good then I suppose.
That's almost 90 mph, not really an option. I can't believe a sticky drag radial couldn't be made to hook at maybe half that. I get its not going to hook from a dig, but not hooking until 90 is almost completely useless.

Last edited by bumpin96monte; Sep 12, 2017 at 04:40 PM.
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Old Sep 12, 2017 | 11:00 AM
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Get the Toyo or do any Mickey et Street fit?
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Old Sep 12, 2017 | 12:50 PM
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Originally Posted by severancej
Get the Toyo or do any Mickey et Street fit?
I wish as the ET street seems to hook better than the NT05R I've got on the vette now. But it looks like they start at a 275 on a 18" rim.

It looks like itll have to be the r888r or the nt01 on these 18"s. I'll have to go down in profile from a 50 to a 40 series, but I'm not real worried about that.

How about width, anyone go with a 245 or 255 on that rim?

I think I'll give one of these two a try in the short term with the long term plan to get a wider wheel that can handle a 275 as that opens up the tire options conisderably.


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Old Sep 18, 2017 | 11:59 AM
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Also try shorter dogbone from ZZP, will help a bit
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Old Sep 18, 2017 | 03:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Jstill84
Also try shorter dogbone from ZZP, will help a bit
Just take the stock dogbone out and dremel the bolt hole out/back a bit... saves you paying ZZP and you can divert more money towards the necessary tires you need.
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Old Apr 4, 2020 | 02:10 PM
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Originally Posted by bumpin96monte
I've got a GP GXP, but this question is actually for my 96 monte. I'm running the LS4 monte / impala SS 18"s and I need tires that will hook a lot better than the 235 street tires that are on there.

Curious what brand & size of racing compound tires you guys are using on these stock wheels? I understand I'd ideally go to a wider wheel, but I'm not wanting to do that right now. I just want to get some much stickier tires on the current wheels to get her back on the road.

I run NT05R on my vette and love them, but they don't make anything small enough for these wheels. Looks like Toyo has a lot of options for size in their r888r, but I havent seen anyone locally run them yet.

The main purpose of my monte is for straight line, I don't care how long the tires last (within reason, I'm not street driving slicks), and the car won't be driven in the rain.

I know there are some high power LS4s on here, I was curious what you are running for race tires on your stock wheels.
I ran the Toyo R888 R in a 295/30R20 on my '16 hellcat and they made a huge difference. Don't last very long but that's not what you get them for anyway. I'll be putting them back on this summer.
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