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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 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.
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.
+1
And if the .2Rs is grey with red accents even better m
Thanks for chiming in, gents. I unfortunately don't have any photos of them on a .2 RS at the moment, but will try my best to provide that visual. I have a few cars in the immediate imagery queue, so stay tuned!
If you have any fitment feedback and/or approval, please let me know!
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 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).
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.
The 18x9 ET48 fronts have been mounted on a 997.2 GT3 and cleared the steel brake red calipers? I have a 5-lug conversion to use your wheels and the 997.2 calipers are big.
Anyway to get an 18x10 ET38 or so front wide body fitment?
While we’re producing the 18x10” ET36 specifically for a rear 981/987 application, these can absolutely be run in the front if you’re confident that you have the supporting modifications necessary to accommodate this width and offset. Similarly to BMW fitments, many see where other chassis optimized sizes may work for their needs and make the plunge to run a seldom seen aggressive setup.
For example, the 18x10” ET25 was initially produced to be a plug n’ play squared setup for the E9X M3 or for the rear of an E46M/E86M/E82M/etc. As the E46M crowd grew familiar with go-to APEX wheel setups, they began pushing the boundaries of what was possible with corresponding suspension modifications and a properly sized/compound tire. We now have a tried, trued, and tested recipe for those who seek to run 18x10” ET25 squared on the E46M chassis and can steer enthusiasts in the direction to run said specifications.
Originally Posted by surlynkid
The 18x9 ET48 fronts have been mounted on a 997.2 GT3 and cleared the steel brake red calipers? I have a 5-lug conversion to use your wheels and the 997.2 calipers are big.
While we have not test fit that exact wheel specification against a 997.2 GT3, we have test fit the 18x8.5” ET50 and ET42, 9” ET50, and 9.5” ET42 against an OEM PCCB equipped (380mm rotors, 6-piston calipers) 997.1 GT3RS. I have the understanding that these chassis share the same brake profile, but OEM brake templates are nearly impossible to source. The ~2mm difference in offset (9” ET48 to the tested ET50) will not sacrifice brake clearance as there is ample room spoke to caliper. The majority of 18” wheels do not clear 380mm rotor 6-piston brake kits due to caliper to barrel contact. We were able to manipulate our barrel design to accommodate these brake kits with all of our proposed front fitments.
Originally Posted by ngng
i think norcal crew should make a trip to the apex shop!
Late 2017, we relocated our HQ from Livermore to Pleasanton. While the Livermore location had a lift, access to a plethora wheels for test fitments, a professional photo studio, and a handful of racecars on site at any given time, our new location in Pleasanton unfortunately cannot accommodate that. With that said, you’re welcome to swing by and say hello!
12-06-2017, 11:46 PM
APEX | Porsche Track Wheel Development
