Lipo is the way,
also a lot less weight, so if you like you can add weight low down anywhere to balance the car.
No discharge or peak with lipo, slap on charge at '1C' - 5000amhr battery at 5Amps, 3000 at 3 etc, and run the car, top the battery up after, now and again a 'balance charge'.
Lipo's must be charged on a lipo charger, the profile is different, I have seen lipos charged on the wrong cycle and its to be avoided.