APEX | Porsche Track Wheel Development
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APEX | Porsche Track Wheel Development
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 997 chassis represented approximately 28% 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 997 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 997 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.
Proposed Wheel Specifications
Front:
18x8.5” ET50
18x8.5” ET42
18x9” ET48
18x9.5” ET42
Rear:
18x10” ET60
18x10” ET36
18x10.5” ET40
18x11” ET62
18x11” ET38
18x11.5” ET63
18x11.5” ET42
18x12” ET65
18x12” ET45
18x12.5” ET46
Proposed Fitments for 997
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 285/30-18 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 click the embedded images.
997 GT3RS - 19" SM-10 wheels
Front: Profile 1 (least concave)
Rear: Profile 3 rear (most concave)
Race silver -
Anthracite -
Satin black -
BRRacing’s 997.2 GT3 - 18" SM-10 wheels
Front: Profile 1 (least concave)
Rear: Profile 3 rear (most concave)
Race Silver -
Anthracite -
Satin black -
997 GT3 - 19" SM-10
Front: Profile 1 (least concave)
Rear: Profile 3 (most concave)
Race silver -
Anthracite -
Satin black -
996 GT2 - 18" SM-10 wheels
Front: Profile 1 (least concave)
Rear: Profile 3 (most concave)
Race silver -
Anthracite -
Satin black -
996 GT3 - 18" SM-10 wheels
Front: Profile 1 (least concave)
Rear: Profile 2 (medium concave)
Race silver -
Anthracite -
Satin black -
996 GT3 - 18" SM-10 wheels
Front: Profile 1 (least concave)
Rear: Profile 2 (medium concave)
Race silver -
Anthracite -
Satin black -
981 Cayman GTS - 18" SM-10
Front: Profile 1 (least concave)
Rear: Profile 2 (medium concave)
Race silver -
Anthracite -
Satin black -
987 Cayman R - 18" SM-10 wheel
Front: Profile 1 (least concave)
Rear: Profile 2 (most concave)
Race silver -
Anthracite -
Satin black -
987 IMSA ST Boxster - 18" SM-10
Front: Profile 1 (least concave)
Rear: Profile 2 (medium concave)
Race Silver -
Anthracite -
Satin Black -
Over the course of the next few months, I’ll be posting pre-order details, availability updates, brake diagrams, more visuals, etc.
Please revisit this thread frequently and feel free to reach out with any questions!
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APEX Wheels - expert@apexwheels.com
Website - Blog - Instagram - Porsche Fitment Guides
APEX Wheels - expert@apexwheels.com
Website - Blog - Instagram - Porsche Fitment Guides
Last edited by Apex Wheels; 02-06-2018 at 07:54 PM.
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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.
Satin black -
Anthracite -
Race Silver -
Please reach out with any questions!
Satin black -
Anthracite -
Race Silver -
Please reach out with any questions!
#4
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I hope you all had a joyous holiday season with friends and family.
As we inch closer to production, please continue to share your thoughts here and view our new imagery below!
Thanks to RL'er r6elmo, here we have a 997 GT3 equipped with APEX SM-10 in our three finishes. The front concavity is profile 1 and rear is profile 3.
Race silver -
Anthracite -
Satin black -
As we inch closer to production, please continue to share your thoughts here and view our new imagery below!
Thanks to RL'er r6elmo, here we have a 997 GT3 equipped with APEX SM-10 in our three finishes. The front concavity is profile 1 and rear is profile 3.
Race silver -
Anthracite -
Satin black -
#5
When you have the 19s, I would consider race silver for my meteor gray 2009 C4S. What are the offsets and sizes for the GT3RS in OP
My current set up for my 997 is:
Front: 19x8.5 ET57 with 5mm spacer
Rear: 19x11 ET51 with 15mm spacer.
I would likely do 8.5's in the front and 12's in the back with after market wheels
My current set up for my 997 is:
Front: 19x8.5 ET57 with 5mm spacer
Rear: 19x11 ET51 with 15mm spacer.
I would likely do 8.5's in the front and 12's in the back with after market wheels
Last edited by lowpue; 12-27-2017 at 08:15 PM.
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When you have the 19s, I would consider race silver for my meteor gray 2009 C4S. What are the offsets and sizes for the GT3RS in OP
My current set up for my 997 is:
Front: 19x8.5 ET57 with 5mm spacer
Rear: 19x11 ET51 with 15mm spacer.
I would likely do 8.5's in the front and 12's in the back with after market wheels
My current set up for my 997 is:
Front: 19x8.5 ET57 with 5mm spacer
Rear: 19x11 ET51 with 15mm spacer.
I would likely do 8.5's in the front and 12's in the back with after market wheels
#7
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Happy new year to you all!
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).
Race silver -
Anthracite -
Satin black -
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).
Race silver -
Anthracite -
Satin black -
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We're exploring the feasibility of center-lock wheels in fitments appropriate for Porsches equipped with center-locking hubs. We have more pressing hurdles to tackle before that development, but we will look into its possibility after our 5-lug 19" wheels are prominent throughout the marketplace. What model do you want center-lock APEX wheels for and what wheel specifications?
#11
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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.
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
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As we progress into the final stages of engineering and initial stages of production, please feel free to reach out with any questions or comments.
Our pre-order group buy is set to go live in approximately one month. I will update with a solidified date and further details shortly.
Thanks, all!
Our pre-order group buy is set to go live in approximately one month. I will update with a solidified date and further details shortly.
Thanks, all!
#13
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Thanks to the community, we’ve nearly finalized our proposed 18” wheel specifications. As you may very well know, seemingly minute millimeter differences in wheel offset can result in large differences in overall wheel fitment. It directly determines how the wheel fits, performs, and is often times the deciding factor between it working, working well, or ultimately not working. With this said, we need your assistance in deciding between a handful of offsets for our 9” front option.
18x9” ET48: least inner (suspension) clearance, more outer (fender) clearance
18x9” ET47: 1mm more inner clearance, 1mm more aggressive towards the fender
18x9” ET46: 2mm more inner clearance, 2mm more aggressive towards the fender
18x9" ET45 or below -
For example, the +48 offset has approximately ~2mm of inner clearance (wheel to bottom spring perch) with linear spring equipped Ohlins coilovers. We’re unsure if this is the case across the board with all linear spring coilovers as it’s dependent on the use of a helper spring, spring length, inner diameter, etc, etc, so we’d like to hear your thoughts. Since it will not require a change in negative camber settings from the original +48, our suspicion is that the +46 is the best option to compensate for any tire deflection under severe load while on track. We typically like to see ~3mm of clearance to ensure ample clearance under any load, condition, or to account for tire deflection.
18x9” ET48: least inner (suspension) clearance, more outer (fender) clearance
18x9” ET47: 1mm more inner clearance, 1mm more aggressive towards the fender
18x9” ET46: 2mm more inner clearance, 2mm more aggressive towards the fender
18x9" ET45 or below -
For example, the +48 offset has approximately ~2mm of inner clearance (wheel to bottom spring perch) with linear spring equipped Ohlins coilovers. We’re unsure if this is the case across the board with all linear spring coilovers as it’s dependent on the use of a helper spring, spring length, inner diameter, etc, etc, so we’d like to hear your thoughts. Since it will not require a change in negative camber settings from the original +48, our suspicion is that the +46 is the best option to compensate for any tire deflection under severe load while on track. We typically like to see ~3mm of clearance to ensure ample clearance under any load, condition, or to account for tire deflection.
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While a 997 GT3 equipped with cup flares can accommodate our profile 2 concavity wheel specifications in the front, we opted to show what front (profile 1) & rear (profile 3) wheels would typically be seen. Here is some on-car imagery of 18" APEX SM-10 on our longtime friend & partner, BRRacing's, 997.2 GT3.
Race Silver -
Anthracite -
Satin black -
Race Silver -
Anthracite -
Satin black -
#15
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We are making final advancements in the engineering and initial production stages prior to our initial pre-order/group buy. Please take this opportunity to share your fitment thoughts as enthusiast feedback is integral to product development.