LTZ Impala, W-Rated Tires, Governed?

[Neanderthal]

Does anyone know for a fact if the Impala LTZ--specifically the 2012-13 but general information would be interesting--is governed to 110~ as the LS and LT are?

I searched You Tube but did not find any video of someone taking their 3.6 Impala to the top. How odd.

BUT, given that the cop cars and the LTZ both have W-rated tires (168 MPH) and similar suspensions, and the LS and LT have T-rated tires, I'm wondering if the Chibby boys snuck a surprise in there. Or not.

Just curious, no plans to go to the 148 the cop cars will achieve with the same powertrain and gearing. Oh wait! I don't have an LTZ or LT yet!

Happy New Year!

[BlackGTP]

I don't know the answer, but do you really want to go over 100 mph in a fwd W body? I know GM has come a long way in making fwd perform better, but my 1994 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP was absolutely scary over 100, especially if you touched the brakes. My '02 Grand Prix GTP was much more stable at higher speeds, but still not great. Haven't tried my epsilon based '08 Malibu LTZ V6 (I'm getting older and more conservative).

[kevinahcc20]

GM routinely limits vehicle top speed to not exceed the rated speed capability of the OEM installed tires.

[All Star]

GM routinely limits vehicle top speed to not exceed the rated speed capability of the OEM installed tires.

This....add the RS package to an 1LT Camaro, and all of a sudden you are not limited to 118 anymore...but to 146. That said, does it really matter?

[bowtie8_3]

I don't know the answer, but do you really want to go over 100 mph in a fwd W body?

my 98 Lumina LTZ spent plenty of time above 100mph beating 5.0 fox body mustangs

my Z34 sees over 100 a few times a year, but im easier on it than i was the LTZ.

Pretty sure both of my cars are limited to 115mph. The Lumina had factory Goodyear RSA tires and im running Goodyear GTs on the Monte.

[01sunfire01]

I did 130mph in my G5 with the 2.4L motor. Smooth and when it came to stopping the brakes worked great and stopped it in a straight line. That was on a race track btw and I had a helmet on. I no the J-body cars govern at 108 and the blazer S10 twins are 96.

[Smaart Aas Saabr]

This....add the RS package to an 1LT Camaro, and all of a sudden you are not limited to 118 anymore...but to 146. That said, does it really matter?

Oh yes... 118 mph is really slow, you would be hitting limiter every time you go to work... 146 mph is not so bad, but it is annoying to have a car limiting you instead of your foot!

[Hitman1970]

I think my W-body LaCrosse was limited at 112. Got there once. Would not recommend it. It handled fine but the absolute moron light was lit with full intensity in my mental HUD.

[MrCritical]

Usually, 'Car and Driver' or 'Motor Trend' tell you the top speed of their test vehicles. Perhaps they tested one of these?

[Neanderthal]

I don't know the answer, but do you really want to go over 100 mph in a fwd W body? I know GM has come a long way in making fwd perform better, but my 1994 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP was absolutely scary over 100, especially if you touched the brakes. My '02 Grand Prix GTP was much more stable at higher speeds, but still not great. Haven't tried my epsilon based '08 Malibu LTZ V6 (I'm getting older and more conservative).

I don't know where you got the notion that FWD is somehow unstable at speed. And perhaps your 1994 GP needed some suspension and brake work? New Tires perhaps?
The only cars I've owned that felt shakey at speed were clunkers.

GM routinely limits vehicle top speed to not exceed the rated speed capability of the OEM installed tires.

Yes, but if you'll note the original question is why is the LTZ equipped with 168-MPH-rated (W) tires if it's governed at 108 or so?
I'd guess perhaps five percent of owners or drivers note the speed rating of their tires. Or even know what all those little numbers on the sidewall mean.

This....add the RS package to an 1LT Camaro, and all of a sudden you are not limited to 118 anymore...but to 146. That said, does it really matter?

Does what matter?

my 98 Lumina LTZ spent plenty of time above 100mph beating 5.0 fox body mustangs

my Z34 sees over 100 a few times a year, but im easier on it than i was the LTZ.

Pretty sure both of my cars are limited to 115mph. The Lumina had factory Goodyear RSA tires and im running Goodyear GTs on the Monte.

Talking tire speed rating, not brand and type.

I did 130mph in my G5 with the 2.4L motor. Smooth and when it came to stopping the brakes worked great and stopped it in a straight line. That was on a race track btw and I had a helmet on. I no the J-body cars govern at 108 and the blazer S10 twins are 96.

Did you post that on You Tube?

Oh yes... 118 mph is really slow, you would be hitting limiter every time you go to work... 146 mph is not so bad, but it is annoying to have a car limiting you instead of your foot!

You're right. Slow is slow.

OTOH, I'm sure some Toyota and Lexus owners wished that their cars were governed to 55!

I think my W-body LaCrosse was limited at 112. Got there once. Would not recommend it. It handled fine but the absolute moron light was lit with full intensity in my mental HUD.

I'd guess all the Big Brother lights fired off and the OnStar op probably called to see if the car had been hijacked and was in a police chase that would eventually end up on World's Dumbest. OMG. LOL. BFF.

Usually, 'Car and Driver' or 'Motor Trend' tell you the top speed of their test vehicles. Perhaps they tested one of these?

No one tested the 2012 Impala except CR, I discovered after extensive searches. The Smart Guys' contempt for the Impala has been pretty blatant for years now.

[Tomko]

Jack Baruth tested a 2012. While the review he wrote doesn't specifically mention top speed I suspect he would know from first hand experience. Maybe you can drop him a quick e-mail to ask.

[bowtie8_3]

well the factory RSAs and the GTs are both V rated 149mph

[Neanderthal]

^^ I cruised some of his comments. Looks like he had the standard Smart Guy Impala attitude. And I'm talking LTZ, not all 2012s. The question is why equip a car with W-rated tires if it's got an S- or T-rated governor?

Most of these guys drive the newer products, their interest in near-retirement lines is pretty limited.

[Tomko]

^^ I cruised some of his comments. Looks like he had the standard Smart Guy Impala attitude. And I'm talking LTZ, not all 2012s. The question is why equip a car with W-rated tires if it's got an S- or T-rated governor?

I disagree with you on Baruth's attitude on the 2012 Impala. In his review he compared its performance to a 5 series.

As for W rubber, maybe it was cheaper for GM to buy W rubber off the shelf in that size rather than commission an old ball 50 series tire with a lower speed rating.

[donmateo]

I have had my 03 Impala up at a hundred once or twice with no weird feelings, but the fact that I was on I94 doing 100 was different. These cars are perfectly capable of exceeding 100.