Casual Driving the Demon & Super Stock question:

[Rollieman]

Have serious considerations for one of these awesome machines; but have a question for current owners:

How are you guys dealing with the soft drag radials in the fronts in terms of them sandblasting the entire lower section of the paint? As I'm sure you know these tires pick up EVERY pebble !

. Here are some ideas:

1. Add rock guards.
2. Apply protective film on the forward side of the rear flairs.
3. Apply protective film about 12" up from the rocker molding for the entire length of the car.
4. Do both rock guards and film.
5. Swap out the fronts with Nitto NT555-G2's with a UTQG of 320.
6. Do nothing and live with it.

I would appreciate your thoughts on how you handled it.

Thank you !

 

[Temporarily Insane]

Can`t speak from 100% personal knowledge but my brother owned a 1320 and of course that came with the drag radials front and back.
He drove them until they wore out/became too noisy and then replaced with standard street tires at about 8,000 miles. No significant pebble chipping - but like yourself I would personally install some rock guards and maybe a little protective film as well.

 

[Rollieman]

Can`t speak from 100% personal knowledge but my brother owned a 1320 and of course that came with the drag radials front and back.
He drove them until they wore out/became too noisy and then replaced with standard street tires at about 8,000 miles. No significant pebble chipping - but like yourself I would personally install some rock guards and maybe a little protective film as well.

Thank youTemporarily Insane, I suppose there's some logic to immediately swapping out the fronts as soon as you get the car with a set of 295/40/18 or 295/45/18 Nitto NT555-G2's whereas the sidewalls look practically identical to the factory NT05R tires and this gives you a spare set on hand to replace the rears when they get worn which won't take long ! The factory Nitto's have a UTQG of "0" and the NT55-G2's have a rating of 320, so they would pick up a lot less pebbles.

 

[The Englishman]

I just did the rock guards which have done their job admirably,I do now ,however,have a set of road wheels shod with radials.

 

[Illegal_Demon]

Have serious considerations for one of these awesome machines; but have a question for current owners:

How are you guys dealing with the soft drag radials in the fronts in terms of them sandblasting the entire lower section of the paint? As I'm sure you know these tires pick up EVERY pebble !

. Here are some ideas:

1. Add rock guards.
2. Apply protective film on the forward side of the rear flairs.
3. Apply protective film about 12" up from the rocker molding for the entire length of the car.
4. Do both rock guards and film.
5. Swap out the fronts with Nitto NT555-G2's with a UTQG of 320.
6. Do nothing and live with it.

I would appreciate your thoughts on how you handled it.

Thank you !

I have had my Demon since new and I did "2" and "3" and have had 0.0 bad things happen. You will have drill to get the rock guards in place and I couldn't get myself to do it. Plus...FUGLY (imo). BTW since you mentioned film, I also added PPF on the entire hood, front fenders, side view mirrors, and grill, nothing on the roof, decklid, or rear-facing panel. Three years into ownership I wouldn't change a thing.

 

[GOMER]

Took the drag radials off the fronts at 93 miles and replaced with Nitto 05 295/45/18 summer tires. Front facia, flares and between the flares up 8" and behind the rear flares above the rear side marker light .PPF. The rest of the vehicle was Ceramic Coated. Put the Swain rock guards on but got tired of the look and went with ZL1 guards. No issues yet.

 

[Bowtie Guy]

Have serious considerations for one of these awesome machines; but have a question for current owners:

How are you guys dealing with the soft drag radials in the fronts in terms of them sandblasting the entire lower section of the paint? As I'm sure you know these tires pick up EVERY pebble !

. Here are some ideas:

1. Add rock guards.
2. Apply protective film on the forward side of the rear flairs.
3. Apply protective film about 12" up from the rocker molding for the entire length of the car.
4. Do both rock guards and film.
5. Swap out the fronts with Nitto NT555-G2's with a UTQG of 320.
6. Do nothing and live with it.

I would appreciate your thoughts on how you handled it.

Thank you !

My car never left the garage with the wide tires
I put the crate skinnies on day 1
Then drove it to get 3M on the flares rockers & front fascia

Definitely no splash guards for me

 

[Marc0779]

Have serious considerations for one of these awesome machines; but have a question for current owners:

How are you guys dealing with the soft drag radials in the fronts in terms of them sandblasting the entire lower section of the paint? As I'm sure you know these tires pick up EVERY pebble !

. Here are some ideas:

1. Add rock guards.
2. Apply protective film on the forward side of the rear flairs.
3. Apply protective film about 12" up from the rocker molding for the entire length of the car.
4. Do both rock guards and film.
5. Swap out the fronts with Nitto NT555-G2's with a UTQG of 320.
6. Do nothing and live with it.

I would appreciate your thoughts on how you handled it.

Thank you !

Film on front bumper area rock guards from timbo front and back drive car and dont worry

 

[why2kmax]

You dont leave the DR on the front. Buy 2 summer street tires in OEM size for the front. Why waste a set of DR on the front of the car? OR if you are mostly going to race it, skinnies up front. Def PPF the front of the flares.

 

[1971demon]

Have serious considerations for one of these awesome machines; but have a question for current owners:

How are you guys dealing with the soft drag radials in the fronts in terms of them sandblasting the entire lower section of the paint? As I'm sure you know these tires pick up EVERY pebble !

. Here are some ideas:

1. Add rock guards.
2. Apply protective film on the forward side of the rear flairs.
3. Apply protective film about 12" up from the rocker molding for the entire length of the car.
4. Do both rock guards and film.
5. Swap out the fronts with Nitto NT555-G2's with a UTQG of 320.
6. Do nothing and live with it.

I would appreciate your thoughts on how you handled it.

Thank you !

Swapped out the fronts the first wk. I owned it..modified ZL1 splash guards...2 years now with zero issues..

 

[HELLB3NT]

Swapped out the fronts the first wk. I owned it..modified ZL1 splash guards...2 years now with zero issues..

Modded how... I'm curious...