APEX ARC-8 new size: 18x10.5" et27 wheels in the works

[Eddy@ApexRaceParts]

Just an update for everyone. We're working on a hand full of new sizes and fitments, but one of the first significant sizes to be arriving later this year is an 18x10.5" et27 version of our flow-formed ARC-8 wheel.

It has the same concave face as our current 18x10" wheels, except a modified offset and barrel width. It requires a costly rear mold change so it will take a few months before that is complete and testing is redone. But these will be here without a minimum group buy requirement for production.

I know the Raven Performance Team would have preferred to be running square sets of these wheels instead of 18x10's, but we couldn't squeeze this size into our production earlier this year.

[B]UPDATE: February 7th 2011

18x10.5" wheels are now available:

http://www.apexraceparts.com/ARC-8-1...set_p_111.html

[PCarroll]

I must say we are totally happy with our Arc-8s. Given the spacers we are running, an 8x11 would fit very nicely and work even better. What are the commitment requirements?

[jrotax101]

You mentioned a handful of new sizes. What would the others be? 17x9.5 or x10 would be popular for street guys i'm sure. Some concave 17x9.5's would look KILLER on e36's

[xvxax]

There aren't any tires that fit an e36 that you need a 17x9.5 or 10 for. Maybe the new 265/40 Star Specs but man that is a super limited market.

[jrotax101]

255 will fit well on a 9.5. the current 17x9 lack any real concavity which the 18x9.5 has, but 18s look too big on the e36.

[PCarroll]

Yes but there are lots of options for the E46. 18x9.5, 10, 10.5 are all E46 M3 fitments.

18x9 was about the most I could fit on my E36. I ran a 245 Pirelli slick with great success.

Now our cars are all E36 wide body. So the wider the rim the better. A narrow tire on a wider rim will perform much better than a wide tire on a narrow rim. Especially when it comes to slicks. The 270mm slick I am running now calls for an 11in wheel. I'm using it on a 10in but 11 would be much better.

Stretching the tire means you can run with less camber which means better braking and better power application.

If you are buying wheels, there are a lot more tire choices for 18s than 17s now. Especially if you want to run slicks. Looking 5 years out, 17s will become more scarce.

Another lesson I have learned over the years is to always buy a rim that fits a standard Porsche size tire. There are so many Porsches on the track that those sizes will be most likely to have R-Compound tires available in the distant future.

[Murph]

I vote for 17x9.5's!

[TedRules]

Possible for E39 fitment to be made?

[nondescript]

There aren't any tires that fit an e36 that you need a 17x9.5 or 10 for. Maybe the new 265/40 Star Specs but man that is a super limited market.

295/35r17's

And it's a Porsche size.

[Eddy@ApexRaceParts]

We've considered 17x9.5's. The issue is concavity. If people want the wider wheel to be concave (for aesthetics) then the offset has to be low, and that in turn does not fit well onto the rear of the E36. A 9.5" wheel would have to have a high offset, which would result in a relatively flat face like our current 17x9's.

We're exploring new designs for 17" wheels, and those may be more feasible for that size.

The other sizes we're working on is a low offset 18x9.5" wheel, around et22 for use on the front of the E92 M3, or the rear of E46 M3's and Z3/Z4 m.

We're also working on a high offset 18x10" using our concave face, for use on E36, non-m e46, non-m E90/92. That should produce a very light weight 18x10 that is at the true JWL load rating and VIA tested in Japan.

Peter, it may be possible to work out a custom but it would have to be in combination with another team or two to meet the minimums. We could do an 18x11. There would have to be some organizing to make it happen, but it could be done. You'd have to sell all your current wheels though...

[jrotax101]

17x9.5 +35 would fit fine on an e36 front and rear. Only a small roll needed in the back. If people are buying 9.5 wheels then they probably know that there is some fender work involved..

[tfunk88]

Just an update for everyone. We're working on a hand full of new sizes and fitments, but one of the first significant sizes to be arriving later this year is an 18x10.5" et27 version of our flow-formed ARC-8 wheel.

It will have the same concave face as our current 18x10" wheels, except a modified offset and barrel width. It requires a costly rear mold change so it will take a few months before that is complete and testing is redone. But these will be here without a minimum group buy requirement for production.

I know the Raven Performance Team would have like to be rocking square sets of these wheels instead of 18x10's, but we couldn't squeeze this size into our production earlier this year.

Price hasn't been set yet, but it will be only slightly more then the 10's.

Hmm...I may be interested...I already have a few 18x10.5et25 wheels...will check fitment on front and see what I find

[Sebaflex]

17x9.5 +35 would fit fine on an e36 front and rear. Only a small roll needed in the back. If people are buying 9.5 wheels then they probably know that there is some fender work involved..

This.

[xsport652]

We're also working on a high offset 18x10" using our concave face, for use on E36, non-m e46, non-m E90/92. That should produce a very light weight 18x10 that is at the true JWL load rating and VIA tested in Japan.

High offset 18x10 please!

[Mad Dog 20/20]

We're also working on a high offset 18x10" using our concave face, for use on E36, non-m e46, non-m E90/92. That should produce a very light weight 18x10 that is at the true JWL load rating and VIA tested in Japan.

Does more concavity add strength to the wheel?

[Eddy@ApexRaceParts]

Does more concavity add strength to the wheel?

It does, while significantly reducing weight. If we used the flatter face, then the wheel would have a very thick/deep center pad to reach a 40-45mm offset in a 10" width. That puts a lot more bending leverage onto the flat face. With the concave spokes, you bring the spokes back to where the mounting pad would be. The wheel would probably be just under or over 19lbs. I spec'ed it out a year ago but never actually produced it. Since a spacer is needed up front for strut tube clearance anyway, caliper clearance becomes a total non issue.

[TedRules]

Possible for E39 fitment to be made?

...

[Eddy@ApexRaceParts]

...

It can easily be done. It's just a center bore change, and in some cases an offset change. The question is whether that is done in volume at the factory or if the customer has it done individually. We can't do one off sets at the same price since there are minimums that need to be meet for the production of any minor variable change.

But, the center bore can be changed by a machine shop with ease for about $20~ a wheel. I know of an E39 customer running the 18x10's square on their M5 for track days, and they just sent the wheels out to be modified by a local shop. I've done the same thing with spacers, to adapt the 17x9's for an E39 M5.

If there's enough E39 interest, then a batch of wheels could be made in the correct offset, that would be a direct fitment. So the question would be: do E39 owners want track oriented fitments to fit big rubber, or do they want staggered street fitments?

[fsmtnbiker]

Can you drill them in 5x114.3? That would be a great Evo X fitment.

[sc tr0jan m3]

18x9.5 that will fit a bbk!!!

[Eddy@ApexRaceParts]

18x9.5 that will fit a bbk!!!

it's a 1-3mm clearance issue right now. It was a trade off to allow for wider wheels without adding too much metal.

We're working on a different light weight design with BBK clearance

[//MFrog]

What do you estimate would be the weight increase of the 18x10.5 over the 18x10?

[336motorsports]

I pm'ed you about a set of 18x9.5 et35's.

Is this the best method for reaching you, or should I send you an email? Def very interested in picking up a set. Thank you very much.

[nondescript]

This is like a seizure captured on film. Make it stop, make the pain stop.

So what I got from it is: two generations with varying degrees of bling that are white and handicapped in some type of institution. Is that the message you are going for?

[336motorsports]

This is like a seizure captured on film. Make it stop, make the pain stop.

So what I got from it is: two generations with varying degrees of bling that are white and handicapped in some type of institution. Is that the message you are going for?

really bro?

I take it your joking by your smilies? If you dont like my style, cool, but I tend to get a lot of compliments on both cars.

Do I need to make my street driven cars more track ratty for you?