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      05-17-2016, 03:47 PM   #1
mtbnole
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Best wheel options for track use

I'm thinking about a second wheels and tires forr track use. Where's a good place to look for a lightweight set of stock size 18 inch wheels? Also, would a square setup be a good ides for track use?
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      05-17-2016, 10:05 PM   #2
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Apex

18x8.5 ET38 Arc8's or 18 x 8.5 ET 35 EC-7s and yes run square. 255/40/18 or 245/40/18
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      05-18-2016, 02:02 AM   #3
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I went 18x8.5 square for my track setup on my f30.
Guys at apex recommend 235/40/18 as the ideal tire size, with 245/40/18 also a viable option. I chose to go with re-71r as my tire choice.

I hoped to get 245 wide but they were sold out across the country so I settled for 235.

You absolutely can not go wrong with apex wheels. Absolute best bang for the buck. Super light 18" wheels, awesome price point when you get in on their group buy, and a great company with great customer service.

Can you tell I'm a happy customer? Lol
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      05-18-2016, 05:46 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MickAv8r View Post
Apex

18x8.5 ET38 Arc8's or 18 x 8.5 ET 35 EC-7s and yes run square. 255/40/18 or 245/40/18
Quote:
Originally Posted by E30toF30 View Post
I went 18x8.5 square for my track setup on my f30.
Guys at apex recommend 235/40/18 as the ideal tire size, with 245/40/18 also a viable option. I chose to go with re-71r as my tire choice.

I hoped to get 245 wide but they were sold out across the country so I settled for 235.

You absolutely can not go wrong with apex wheels. Absolute best bang for the buck. Super light 18" wheels, awesome price point when you get in on their group buy, and a great company with great customer service.

Can you tell I'm a happy customer? Lol
2014 335i M Sport RWD with M Sport Brake Option

Square setup:
APEX ARC-8 18x8.5 ET38
Michelin Pilot Super Sport 255/40/18

No rubbing.
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      06-04-2016, 04:05 PM   #5
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+1 for Apex setup

18x8.5 et35 EC-7 with 245/40 square FTW
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      06-05-2016, 08:42 AM   #6
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In for pics also, I'm looking to go with this exact set up down the road and am yet to find a beefy looking F30. Thanks!
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      06-08-2016, 02:26 PM   #7
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I run APEX ARC-8 18x9 ET41 with Dunlop ZII 255x35x18. 5mm spacer up front. I have no rubbing.







I'm in my second season on the ZII and will be needing a new set of tires for next year. I'm not real happy that the Star Spec are more than twice what I paid for the ZII. I can't see that there will be that big of an improvement. I’ve run them at COTA also.



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Last edited by Burnt C6; 06-08-2016 at 02:33 PM..
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      06-14-2016, 06:47 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Burnt C6 View Post
I run APEX ARC-8 18x9 ET41 with Dunlop ZII 255x35x18. 5mm spacer up front. I have no rubbing.
Your car looks amazing!

Quote:
Originally Posted by mtbnole View Post
I'm thinking about a second wheels and tires forr track use. Where's a good place to look for a lightweight set of stock size 18 inch wheels? Also, would a square setup be a good ides for track use?
Our recommended square fitment the F30 is:

F&R: 18x8.5 et35/et38 - 235/40/18
F&R: 18x9 et42 - 245/40/18

This will typically be a direct fit and not require modification to your suspension/fenders (depending on ride height, and tire brand/compound). Feel free to give us a call with any questions you may have regarding track fitment for you F30. I'd be more than happy to assist

-Matt
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      06-30-2016, 01:02 PM   #9
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Wow, lots of 18x8.5" square setups... I went with 18x9", and there's still some extra room in there (I was even running a 10mm spacer up front at one point, with no rubbing or clearance issues.) While I think 9" is the widest square setup that can be comfortably run on an F30, I am actually planning to get a set of 9.5" wheels, and squeezing them in.
If anyone in the Northern NJ area is interested in a set of 4 like-new black 18x9" Apex ARC-8 wheels, shoot me a PM : )
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      07-01-2016, 08:58 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Burnt C6 View Post
I run APEX ARC-8 18x9 ET41 with Dunlop ZII 255x35x18. 5mm spacer up front. I have no rubbing.







I'm in my second season on the ZII and will be needing a new set of tires for next year. I'm not real happy that the Star Spec are more than twice what I paid for the ZII. I can't see that there will be that big of an improvement. I’ve run them at COTA also.




how do you like the dinan suspension?
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      07-05-2016, 06:46 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Burnt C6 View Post
I run APEX ARC-8 18x9 ET41 with Dunlop ZII 255x35x18. 5mm spacer up front. I have no rubbing...
Looks great! And I'm jealous of you guys who live near COTA, too!

Question on the spacers in the front... Was this for tire clearance, caliper clearance, or just for the hell of it?

Based on my rough measurements in the garage I can't clear the strut (this is on an adaptive suspension car so might be slightly different damper body) with an 18x9 et41 and would require something in the et30-35 range to push things outside a bit more.

Thx,
J
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      07-06-2016, 11:04 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jww///95 View Post
Looks great! And I'm jealous of you guys who live near COTA, too!

Question on the spacers in the front... Was this for tire clearance, caliper clearance, or just for the hell of it?

Based on my rough measurements in the garage I can't clear the strut (this is on an adaptive suspension car so might be slightly different damper body) with an 18x9 et41 and would require something in the et30-35 range to push things outside a bit more.

Thx,
J
18x9 needs a mininum et36 to clear the strut
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      07-07-2016, 09:02 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mtbnole View Post
how do you like the dinan suspension?
I love the way they ride and handle

Quote:
Originally Posted by jww///95 View Post
Looks great! And I'm jealous of you guys who live near COTA, too!

Question on the spacers in the front... Was this for tire clearance, caliper clearance, or just for the hell of it?

Based on my rough measurements in the garage I can't clear the strut (this is on an adaptive suspension car so might be slightly different damper body) with an 18x9 et41 and would require something in the et30-35 range to push things outside a bit more.

Thx,
J


Quote:
Originally Posted by rwalker View Post
18x9 needs a mininum et36 to clear the strut
correct the 5 MM spacer is to clear the Struts. the 18x9 ET 31 PS-7 I run on the Street with 245/40/18's clear no issue.
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      07-08-2016, 09:44 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jww///95 View Post
Looks great! And I'm jealous of you guys who live near COTA, too!

Question on the spacers in the front... Was this for tire clearance, caliper clearance, or just for the hell of it?

Based on my rough measurements in the garage I can't clear the strut (this is on an adaptive suspension car so might be slightly different damper body) with an 18x9 et41 and would require something in the et30-35 range to push things outside a bit more.

Thx,
J
Quote:
Originally Posted by rwalker View Post
18x9 needs a mininum et36 to clear the strut
Just catching up on this thread...
The Apex ARC-8s in 18x9 are actually ET42 <link>, and with 245/40-18 tires they cleared my OEM adaptive struts up front without any issue (not surprising, as they are one of Apex's recommended fitments). I eventually swapped out my OE wheel carriers for the -0.5deg version, which significantly reduce the clearance between the wheel/tire and strut, and even with those hubs, I ran just a 3mm spacer with no clearance issues.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Burnt C6 View Post
... the 18x9 ET 31 PS-7 I run on the Street with 245/40/18's clear no issue.
You must be at the outer limit of fender clearance... I ran a 10mm spacer with my ET42 ARC-8s for a while, and had no rubbing issues, but it was soooo close to the fender.
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      07-08-2016, 01:41 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DVC View Post
Just catching up on this thread...
The Apex ARC-8s in 18x9 are actually ET42 <link>, and with 245/40-18 tires they cleared my OEM adaptive struts up front without any issue (not surprising, as they are one of Apex's recommended fitments). I eventually swapped out my OE wheel carriers for the -0.5deg version, which significantly reduce the clearance between the wheel/tire and strut, and even with those hubs, I ran just a 3mm spacer with no clearance issues.
Good intel!

I also went back and rechecked my notes... I was fitment testing with a fairly chunky 255/40 tire which drove my concern for strut clearance.
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      07-08-2016, 01:43 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Burnt C6 View Post
Icorrect the 5 MM spacer is to clear the Struts. the 18x9 ET 31 PS-7 I run on the Street with 245/40/18's clear no issue.
Thx!

And just to confirm, no issues with either barrel or spoke clearance with the m performance brakes?
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      07-08-2016, 04:13 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jww///95 View Post
Thx!

And just to confirm, no issues with either barrel or spoke clearance with the m performance brakes?
Correct - I have the M Sport brakes (same as M Perf, minus the dimples in the calipers) and no clearance issues.
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      07-14-2016, 12:54 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Burnt C6 View Post
I run APEX ARC-8 18x9 ET41 with Dunlop ZII 255x35x18. 5mm spacer up front. I have no rubbing.







I'm in my second season on the ZII and will be needing a new set of tires for next year. I'm not real happy that the Star Spec are more than twice what I paid for the ZII. I can't see that there will be that big of an improvement. I’ve run them at COTA also.



+1
Also running 18x9" ET42 APEX ARC-8 Wheel square on Dunlop ZII 245/40R/18 with Burger Tuning 10mm spacers front and 15mm spacers rear.
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      07-21-2016, 06:40 PM   #19
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Like everyone else said Apex is tried and true. Can't go wrong.
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      09-12-2016, 06:56 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Burnt C6 View Post
correct the 5 MM spacer is to clear the Struts. the 18x9 ET 31 PS-7 I run on the Street with 245/40/18's clear no issue.
I've been wanting to do this 18x9 ET31 square setup and finally found someone who confirms it fits. Any pics of this setup? Thank you!

EDIT: Just saw your photo shoot pics. So my only question is did you look into a 255 front or it won't work?

Last edited by SLOWER; 09-12-2016 at 07:04 PM..
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      09-13-2016, 10:55 PM   #21
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Should have no issues with a 255, its just that the track tire choices in 255/40/18 are very limited - basically the PSS or the RE71 most of the other options are suboptimal and the PSS gets pretty greasy once hot.

Drop down to 245/40/18 and you get Rival S, RE11, RE71, Direzzas, RS3v2s etc

Im running 255 square PSS on the street and change over to 245 square RS3s at the track.
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      09-14-2016, 04:43 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rwalker View Post
18x9 needs a mininum et36 to clear the strut
I have 19x9 ET29 on my fronts right now and there are no issues with internal clearance.

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