Radiator guards
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 14,736
Likes: 5,604
From: AZ
I ordered the Scrape Armor guards yesterday, but I’ve been second‑guessing whether the front set is really necessary. My other car is a 2023 Acura TLX Advance, and it has a pretty large opening beneath the grille where the radiator and fins are fully exposed. I don’t run grille guards on the TLX, and you can clearly see the marks from impacts (bugs, debris, etc.), which made me wonder why the grille guards are considered so important on the Z06.
I’m not trying to start a debate - I’m just trying to understand whether the guards are truly essential or more of a preventative accessory.
I’m not trying to start a debate - I’m just trying to understand whether the guards are truly essential or more of a preventative accessory.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 32
Likes: 15
From: ATL <-> LA
I ordered the Scrape Armor guards yesterday, but I’ve been second‑guessing whether the front set is really necessary. My other car is a 2023 Acura TLX Advance, and it has a pretty large opening beneath the grille where the radiator and fins are fully exposed. I don’t run grille guards on the TLX, and you can clearly see the marks from impacts (bugs, debris, etc.), which made me wonder why the grille guards are considered so important on the Z06.
I’m not trying to start a debate - I’m just trying to understand whether the guards are truly essential or more of a preventative accessory.
I’m not trying to start a debate - I’m just trying to understand whether the guards are truly essential or more of a preventative accessory.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,715
Likes: 1,830
From: Myrtle Beach SC/Charlotte NC
Ok, I caved in and bought and installed the radiator grill store version.
I went with the aluminum option based on feedback from the RGS. The installation was a breeze, once I had my Z06 up on the quickjacks it took about 20 to 30 min to get the panels off and the inner panels moved out of the way. Installing the screens was also very easy, it just took a bit of manipulating to get them up in there but there is tons of room to work with. The passenger side needed a little trimming to fit better around the sensor but that was also very easy to do. Putting it all back together was also easy, RGS provided new panel plugs which made the remove and re-installation easy…
I used the word “easy” a lot because it was very easy to install these. The hardest part was feeding the zip-ties through the grills but if you have a helper it is also…wait for it…..easy…
Including the time to lift and drop your car you can easily get it done in under 3 hours, I think I could do it in 2 hours now that I have done it once before.
At $349.00 shipped I think it is a great deal. I am not a fan of removing body panels and I am certainly not a fan of some chevy tech removing them and putting them back on….and I am even a lesser fan of paying over $800.00 for some honey comb or ABS plastic grate…..
If you are on the fence about the RGS grill guards….I say pull the trigger….super easy to install and you don't have to take painted body panel off your new car.
I went with the aluminum option based on feedback from the RGS. The installation was a breeze, once I had my Z06 up on the quickjacks it took about 20 to 30 min to get the panels off and the inner panels moved out of the way. Installing the screens was also very easy, it just took a bit of manipulating to get them up in there but there is tons of room to work with. The passenger side needed a little trimming to fit better around the sensor but that was also very easy to do. Putting it all back together was also easy, RGS provided new panel plugs which made the remove and re-installation easy…
I used the word “easy” a lot because it was very easy to install these. The hardest part was feeding the zip-ties through the grills but if you have a helper it is also…wait for it…..easy…
Including the time to lift and drop your car you can easily get it done in under 3 hours, I think I could do it in 2 hours now that I have done it once before.
At $349.00 shipped I think it is a great deal. I am not a fan of removing body panels and I am certainly not a fan of some chevy tech removing them and putting them back on….and I am even a lesser fan of paying over $800.00 for some honey comb or ABS plastic grate…..
If you are on the fence about the RGS grill guards….I say pull the trigger….super easy to install and you don't have to take painted body panel off your new car.
Last edited by ahalachis; Jun 1, 2026 at 06:19 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 542
From: Sarasota FL
St. Jude Donor '25-'26
The real protection of these grill guards has been discussed in other threads.
The efficiency of rocks hitting the radiators is poor when you consider the size of the small pebbles that can damage the radiator vs the grill guards opening size in square inches.
What the grills do is provide a more blacked out look to the front radiators and the side radiators.
Specifically, the ABS plastic grill provide a more blacked out look vs the sheet metal guards because the difference of the material thickness at larger viewing angles.
The efficiency of rocks hitting the radiators is poor when you consider the size of the small pebbles that can damage the radiator vs the grill guards opening size in square inches.
What the grills do is provide a more blacked out look to the front radiators and the side radiators.
Specifically, the ABS plastic grill provide a more blacked out look vs the sheet metal guards because the difference of the material thickness at larger viewing angles.
Last edited by Keppler; Yesterday at 09:53 PM.
CF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 608
From: NorCal San Jose
The real protection of these grill guards has been discussed in other threads.
The efficiency of rocks hitting the radiators is poor when you consider the size of the small pebbles that can damage the radiator vs the grill guards opening size in square inches.
What the grills do is provide a more blacked out look to the front radiators and the side radiators.
Specifically, the ABS plastic grill provide a more blacked out look vs the sheet metal guards because the difference of the material thickness at larger viewing angles.
The efficiency of rocks hitting the radiators is poor when you consider the size of the small pebbles that can damage the radiator vs the grill guards opening size in square inches.
What the grills do is provide a more blacked out look to the front radiators and the side radiators.
Specifically, the ABS plastic grill provide a more blacked out look vs the sheet metal guards because the difference of the material thickness at larger viewing angles.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,715
Likes: 1,830
From: Myrtle Beach SC/Charlotte NC
I just turned 1000 miles and already have one strike in the upper left corner of the passenger side from a huge bug that slightly bent the fins, it is very difficult to see but was enough to make me install the guards.
