Is PTM Wet a more conservative setting than PTM off (assuming Z mode or Track mode)?

 

PTM WET: electronic stability control is on and engine power is reduced.
PTM DRY: ESC is on, engine power is slightly reduced.
PTM SPORT 1: ESC is on, and additional power is available.
PTM SPORT 2: ESC is off, same engine power as PTM SPORT 1
PTM RACE: ESC is off and additional power is available for maximum cornering speed.

PTM is not on when you simply choose Track or Z modes. You would need to then activate PTM by pressing the traction control button twice. In theory, if you were going for your very best lap times on a track, choosing the appropriate PTM mode for the conditions and driver skill will yield a faster lap time than not using PTM. This is heavily dependent on driver skill.

 

Ok
So what setting is the car in when it is in sport or tour mode? Is the ESC on and is the PTC off?
Or asked differently, How does Sport mode compare to Z mode with similar setting and PTC set to Wet! As you can see, I need a little help here understanding how all of this works.

 

I edited my reply. PTM is not active in track or Z modes unless you activate it by pressing the traction control button twice.

 

Read this on my phone and did not see your lower comments. Thanks for the info.

 

Also, each driver mode has its own electronic stability control and traction control settings. MyMode, Tour, Sport, and Z-Modes use "normal" TC/ESC settings. Weather uses "weather" and Track uses "Track" TC/ESC settings. So, think of PTM as an override to the default TC/ESC settings. PTM is only available in Track and Z-Mode (if powertrain setting is set to track). Sport mode has a competitive driving mode available (instead of PTM).

 

I'm confused and read the manual over and over on this subject. Can anyone confirm, if TC/ESC is 'on' when driver mode 'Track' (non PTM) is selected? I know it's off in PTM track.

 

Well said
So how does the standard Track TC/ESC compare to Track PTM Wet?
Does anyone know which is more conservative?

 

Comprehending PTM and its interface controls is like trying to unravel an enigma, wrapped in a furtive puzzle. Far too complicated for many (me) to confidently understand.

 

Lol I’m right there with you. I am curious if the most conservative setting in the PTM mode is much different than the default mode. I am not a track guy but want to understand how the car works. I guess I will have to run it with the two options and see if there is a difference.

 

In track mode without PTM on, TC/ESC is on. It will be a little less aggressive intervening than other modes, but is absolutely on unless you specifically shut it off with the button.

First off, standard TC is different than PTM (Below in a moment), so your question isn't quite apples to apples, but in general Wet is much more conservative than regular Track. Wet is going to limit power to keep you in a straight line as best as possible.

The difference between Traction Control (TC) and Performance Traction Management is primarily two things (this info mostly from an Ask Tadge you can find).

First, PTM assumes a track surface -- in other words, unless in wet mode, a dry, smooth, good traction surface. TC assumes it doesn't know what kind of surface you are on -- which plays into the biggest difference;

PTM is mostly predictive. It determines based on a bunch of information (steering angle, throttle position, yaw sensors, etc...) how much power to send to the wheels with the plan being it will send as much as it can without you losing traction -- this is where knowing what the surface is helps, because the assumptions work better.

Traction control is mostly reactive. It doesn't do anything until it senses wheel spin, and which point it dials back power (and even adds brake if need be) until it senses traction again. This is safest on the street where it might be wet, gravel, snow, who knows, but will slow a good driver down on the track.

Stability control is similar in PTM modes and non PTM modes, but has varying degrees of intervention depending upon the drive mode or PTM mode. ESC is off in the last two PTM modes (Sport 2 and Race or Race 1 and Race 2 depending upon year of car).

So, to the original question, PTM wet mode will be pretty aggresive at limiting power and more conservative ESC compared to Track non-PTM ESC's. However, in snow or something where it is hard to get traction in a straight line, standard non-PTM may help better because. Weather mode compared to Wet PTM is a different story....

 

I drive in 'PTM Sport' on dry roads and she will lose her *** on tight corners, to the point where you need to counter steer!

 

I have been a pretty conservative drive so far. I want to start having a little more fun. All the information provided will help me safely learn the car and allow the car to do all the work until I become a better and more confident driver.

 

I sure hope all of this is covered at the Ron Fellows Driving School.

 

I am not sure if this applies to the C8 Z06, but when I had my SS 1LE, the PTM modes also changed the behavior of the e-diff.

 

On my 2025 3LZ - PTM Sport in Z mode = ESC OFF

 

The ESC light illuminates when PTM is active. ESC is still on based on what PTM mode you have selected.

 

PTM modes adjust two main factors: traction control (wheel spin) and stability control (keep car pointed in direction of travel).

In any drive mode (weather, tour, sport, track) you have both traction control and stability control active. It’s more assertive on doing its job in weather than in track.

Once in Z mode or Track mode, you can enter PTM modes. Wet, Dry, and Sport all have both traction control and stability control active. It’s dialed back as you move to Sport. Race 1 and 2 have no stability control active. Slide the car and you better catch it. They just let you put power down (and more of it) without spinning the tires as readily as you would without any traction control. The Pro drivers are faster with it all turned off. You can turn it all off in any drive mode if you push and hold the TC button down for 5-10 seconds.

 

Just got back and they go over this in great detail!