Speed Phenom’s Z06 Latest Video

[John]

Sub-titled that it has a “secret cheat code.” What does that mean?

[John]

2.6 vs 2.7 0-to-60 MPH: Speed Phenom is reporting that as on the placards, the Z07 does it in 2.6 seconds and that the engineers have told him it is 2.7 seconds for the standard Z06 — the difference being the stickiness of the Cup2 R’s.

[BangBang]

Is a tenth of a second worth the price of Cup2 R’s? This dang things wear out fast.

[11ZSenator]

Sub-titled that it has a “secret cheat code.” What does that mean?

Yeah, I watched it twice to see if I'd missed the "cheat code" reference but nothing? The actual full video title is "THE 2023 C8 CORVETTE Z06 IS HIDING A SECRET CHEAT CODE... IT TOPS THE BUGATTI CHIRON!".....so something similar to what Bugatti do with their "additional speed key"?
Either Austin is getting nice and cryptic or he forgot to add the "cheat code" content. I'm sure it wasn't clickbait - he doesn't need it 😀

[John]

Sub-titled that it has a “secret cheat code.” What does that mean?

I rarely re-quote myself but I think it useful in this case to explain fully what Speed Phenom meant in his video title using “Secret Cheat Code.”

First please look at these two tire pictures but before you do, note that they, while having massively different amounts of tread depth are both Cup2 R’s. Second, we know from GM Engineers, as restated by Speed Phenom on an earlier C8 Z06 video that the Cup2 R’s on the Z07 are bespoke tires (they even have the TPC code on their sidewall), meaning that GM worked intensively with Michelin to custom alter the Cup2 R’s that are on the Z07 to best maximum its performance.

Now to the two comparative pictures showing the massive tread depth and pattern difference — with further analysis in the next post.

[John]

Compared to the Bugatti, the Z07 Cup2 R approaches IMO being closer to a drag slick. Of course it still meets every DOT public road requirements, but visually it appears to have significant traction advantage due to more of its surface being flat (without grooves and sipes) than does the Bugatti.

On the the Bugatti tire picture above I cut off the visual that they are Cup2 R’s also; this shows that they are:

[Campi]

The Cup 2R's are definitely a hero lap tire, GM will be able to claim all sorts of production car records with them as they are a factory option. That being said for 99.9% of buyers even those of us who will track the car they will simply wear to fast to be enjoyable. The difference between the 4S and the Cup 2R to a amateur's lap times will be negligible.

[Dyno]

Is a tenth of a second worth the price of Cup2 R’s? This dang things wear out fast.

Great question! So, what's a tenth of a second worth? It's value is only relative to the application and what one is attempting to achieve. In terms of professional drag racing and what it represents, it's huge! In terms of distance and winning at 200+ MPH, it can be measured in yards..... In terms of monetary value, I've seen those willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars for that tenth of a second...

But to the rest of us? Yes, if lined up next to a Z06 running standard street tires, it can easily make the difference between winning and losing at your local drag strip for bragging rights or for a trophy. But then, that tenth of a second advantage can easily by lost with a lousy reaction time at the starting line...

Considering most of us are really not that serious and will primarily use our Z06's and Z07's for cruising and taking week-end trips out to the coast with other Corvette owner's. I wouldn't worry about it... It's all about the money. If a tenth of a second represents the difference between winning and losing or coming in second place when there's a substantial amount of money at stake, then yes, it's worth it. If not, then no.

[John]

If one could get the carbon fiber wheels with the standard version, that would have been the way I would have gone. Darn those beautiful visible carbon fiber wheels.

I think 99% of us if blindfolded and put randomly, repeatedly, and back-toback-to-back in two Z06s, one that did it in 2.6 seconds and the other in 2.7 seconds, 99% of us would not be able to tell the diff.

[Dmraco]

I would not want to dive those in the rain!

[MikeC8]

The 3 stage intake has a lot to do with low end torque it seems which in turn helps with the 1/4 mile times. The Shelby GT 350 FPC voodoo engine was a dog at low rpms. It’s the old style intake they used.

[Dyno]

If one could get the carbon fiber wheels with the standard version, that would have been the way I would have gone. Darn those beautiful visible carbon fiber wheels.

I think 99% of us if blindfolded and put randomly, repeatedly, and back-toback-to-back in two Z06s, one that did it in 2.6 seconds and the other in 2.7 seconds, 99% of us would not be able to tell the diff.

😂🤣😂 Exactly.....

[11ZSenator]

The 3 stage intake has a lot to do with low end torque it seems which in turn helps with the 1/4 mile times. The Shelby GT 350 FPC voodoo engine was a dog at low rpms. It’s the old style intake they used.

yep, with single throttle body unlike the Z06's twin