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As you might have seen in our recent survey thread, APEX is working with the Porsche community in an effort to produce track wheels that offer unprecedented value. We have received 800+ survey responses from fellow community members offering feedback and fitment requests. The 996 chassis represented approximately 23% of the surveys submitted, so we’d love to hear more from this community. If you haven’t chimed in yet, you can still provide valuable feedback by taking our Porsche wheel survey here.
Before we can move forward, we need to fine tune certain fitment specifications for the 996 chassis. So, we’re seeking your expertise and need detailed feedback on the specs we believe should be produced.
Below is a list of all widths and offsets we’re looking to create for a variety of Porsche chassis in the first round of production. Fitments specific to the 996 chassis can be seen listed below. In accordance with the survey results, these will be produced in 18” sizes first and 19” thereafter. Survey data and community feedback will directly determine what will be produced, and when. Please note that both the SM-10 and EC-7 designs are being reviewed for feasibility. In your comment, please include tire sizes, tire model, and alignment settings if you have a change request so we can track developing trends.
Fronts:
F: 18x8.5” ET50 with 225/40-18, 235/40-18, or 245/40-18
F: 18x8.5” ET42 with 225/40-18, 235/40-18, or 245/40-18
F: 18x9” ET48 with 235/40-18, 245/40-18, 255/35-18
F: 18x9.5” ET42 with 245/40-18, 255/35-18, 265/35-18
Narrow body rear:
R: 18x11” ET62 with 285/35-18 or 295/30-18
R: 18x11.5” ET63 with 295/30-18, 305/30-18, 315/30-18
R: 18x12” ET65 with 305/30-18 or 315/30-18
Wide body rear:
R: 18x11” ET38 with 295/30-18, 305/30-18 or 315/30-18
R: 11.5” ET42 with 295/30-18, 305/30-18, 315/30-18
R: 18x12” ET45 with 305/30-18 or 315/30-18
R: 18x12.5” ET46 with 315/30-18 or 335/30-18
On-Car Image Gallery
I’d like to invite you to view new on-car imagery which help depict concavity profiles, finishes, and designs. The first round of images shown are the SM-10 design, however, the EC-7 design will follow.
If you would like to view all of our high-res versions, please view our Flickr album.
Here we have a rendering showing the 18" SM-10 in our three finishes against a Racing Yellow Cayman GTS. The front wheels are profile 1 concavity - the least amount of concave. The rear wheels are profile 2 concavity - medium amount of concave.
I just bought some Mk2 996 GT3 wheels because they have been my favorite wheels... Had I seen this I would have opted for these....really like the look. One thing that would be helpful is for each of the pics, list the size and offsets of the wheels and the tire sizes. Then I can give feedback. I may still consider these for my 997 as well. What will be the pricing?
I just bought some Mk2 996 GT3 wheels because they have been my favorite wheels... Had I seen this I would have opted for these....really like the look. One thing that would be helpful is for each of the pics, list the size and offsets of the wheels and the tire sizes. Then I can give feedback. I may still consider these for my 997 as well. What will be the pricing?
Thank you for the kind words and for your inquiry!
Surprisingly, the above imagery are all renderings, and therefore, do not have solidified widths or offsets; they only depict our concavity profiles and diameters. Our concavity profiles vary from profile 1 through 3. Profile 1 bring the least concave with profile 3 being the most concave. The level of concavity is dependent on the width and offset of the wheel - typically the wider the wheel and lower the offset, the more concave.
Finalized pricing is to be determined by a few engineering facets - namely a knurled bead (which is another method of bead locking), etc. You can expect sets to be in the range of $1,400 - $1,900 pending design, diameter, width, and offset. As we finalize a few design quirks and engineering hurdles, we'll come forth with finalized pricing for both the SM-10 and EC-7 wheels.
The wheel specifications that we're seeking fitment feedback on are listed in our original post above the on-car imagery. If you have a moment, please shed some light on what exact specifications would best suit your needs for your 996 and 997!
Given where your at, i realize exact date is not possible -- but when would you estimate these hit the market?
As an aside, for my C4s (wide body), I'd be interested in the following depending on pricing/weight per wheel:
19 X 8.5 (42mm)
19 X 11 (38mm)
(possibly 18's in a similar configuration)
As a long time BMW guy, i know you guys well and look forward to your participation in the p-car world.
The problem is until I see it on cars similar to mine I don't know what would meet my needs. For my 996 I am set because of the three sets of wheels I know have but I will comment on my current 997 set up in the 997 forum.
Given where your at, i realize exact date is not possible -- but when would you estimate these hit the market?
As an aside, for my C4s (wide body), I'd be interested in the following depending on pricing/weight per wheel:
19 X 8.5 (42mm)
19 X 11 (38mm)
(possibly 18's in a similar configuration)
As a long time BMW guy, i know you guys well and look forward to your participation in the p-car world.
Our initial production run this coming spring will consist of only 18" diameters, with 19" applications following thereafter. Our pre-orders/group buy will commence in February with 18" wheels in enthusiast's hands by April/early May 2018; ideally before the track season is in full swing. We're hoping to have 19" wheels ready by Q3 (mid-late summer) 2018.
You can certainly look forward to unprecedented value and quality in our Porsche wheels that you're familiar with throughout the BMW motorsports realm. Thank you for the continued vote of confidence! As development progresses, I'll share solidified pre-order/group buy dates.
Cheers!
Originally Posted by lowpue
The problem is until I see it on cars similar to mine I don't know what would meet my needs. For my 996 I am set because of the three sets of wheels I know have but I will comment on my current 997 set up in the 997 forum.
When time comes, I'm happy to offer fitment advice tailored to your specific use/desire.
I'll look forward to you sharing your comments in the 997 subsection - thank you!
I hope 2018 brings you health, happiness, prosperity... and APEX wheels this spring!
Here we have a beautiful basalt black 996 GT3 on 18" SM-10 in our three finishes. Similarly to the rest, these front wheels are concavity profile 1 (least concave). The rear wheels are concavity profile 2 (medium concave).
Thank you, sir! Finalized pricing is to be determined by a few remaining engineering facets - namely a knurled bead (which is another method of bead locking). You can expect sets to be in the range of $1,400 - $1,900 pending design, diameter, width, and offset. As we manipulate a few design quirks and engineering hurdles, we'll come forth with pricing for both the SM-10 and EC-7 wheels.
With our pre-order group buy right around the corner, we are making final advancements in the engineering and initial production stages. We will keep the community updated as different milestones are checked off the list and solidified dates are set in stone.
To answer the numerous people asking for concavity profile clarification, here’s a general overview of how they’re presented and produced for each specific application.
We offer our Porsche-specific APEX SM-10 and EC-7 in two or three different concavity profiles. Pending design and final engineering/strength optimization, the wheels will vary in concavity depth from profile one to three; one being the least concave, three being the most concave. Typically, the level of concavity is dependent on the width and offset of the wheel. The wider the wheel and lower the offset, the more concave. Whereas the skinnier the wheel and higher the offset, the less concave. While the amount of concavity may differ, some wide(r) and low(er) offset wheel specifications have a deeper “pocket” or center pad where the studs/lug nuts attach to the hub.
The varying concavity profiles in the SM-10 and EC-7 ensure that spoke curvature and brake clearance is never compromised due to width or offset changes in the wheel. The SM-10 and EC-7 are of the few 18" VIA/JWL certified wheels on the market that can clear both an aftermarket and OEM 380mm rotor 6-piston brake kit.
We are now making final tweaks in the engineering phase, prior to launching our initial pre-order/group buy next month. We’ll continue to update the community through the different phases of production, and will continue to release on-car photography to give enthusiasts a better idea of how some of these proposed wheel designs visually appear on specific chassis. Stay tuned for updates and solidified ETAs!
Please let me know if you have any further comments, questions, or fitment change requests.
12-06-2017, 09:25 PM
APEX | Porsche Track Wheel Development
