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[The Dowager Countess]

We've been over this a bunch and everything sounds fairly inconclusive- but spring is here and I need to get my wheels and tires sorted. I refuse to roll my fenders- I don't want anything to rub- I want to reduce under steer and unsprung/rotational weight....

What is a light wheel that'll work? I'm running Koni yellows and swift springs on a 128i.

The guys at Apex say their 17" wheels won't work- I'm scared of custom forgestars- I don't have camber plates yet- Ive searched up and down these forums and I'm still at a loss.....

I'd like to run a track tire I can safely drive daily in dry weather. I've always liked falken azenis rt-615s but know stuff has changed.

Help! The LSD and suspension fixes has made this car so good I can't continue driving it with these stupid run flats and heavy wheels!

[Ginger_Extract]

What is your alignment looking like? What suspension mods do you have. For most of us, it's 17x8.5 ET40, with different tire widths depending on setup.

[Dafttt]

Lightness isn't up for discussion. You need to first worry about fitment.

Roll your fenders in the rear and install M3 control arms up front. Or pay big bucks for custom offsets.

Just the way it is, as they're usually sized around 17x8 et40. If not, 18's come in higher offsets.

[PrematureApex]

Apex 17s work absolutely fine, it's just a matter of what tire size you wish to run.

Again, there is nothing better or worse about the fitment of APEX wheels, vs. any other wheel of the same size and offset.

A 17x8 or 8.5 with a 40mm offset will work with an average-sized 235 all around with no modifications. A 245 may require some rear fender rolling and/or front camber depending on the width of the individual tire (not all 245s are actually 245) and your ride height/spring rates.

[Dafttt]

For some reason I thought OP implied a 245 square setup. Was browsing a few posts last night and running a couple questions through my head, my mistake. But even so, if you want a tire with a wide track, my initial response stands.

Here's bimmerbob's 128i on 17" Apex Arc8's. Tires are Dunlop ZII's in 245/40/17, with M3 control arms and fenders rolled in the rear. I don't know why Apex continues to push people away from this fitment. It only takes a little bit of extra work.

[PrematureApex]

Originally Posted by Daft Auto

For some reason I thought OP implied a 245 square setup. Was browsing a few posts last night and running a couple questions through my head, my mistake. But even so, if you want a tire with a wide track, my initial response stands.

Here's bimmerbob's 128i on 17" Apex Arc8's. Tires are Dunlop ZII's in 245/40/17, with M3 control arms and fenders rolled in the rear. I don't know why Apex continues to push people away from this fitment. It only takes a little bit of extra work.

That looks great.

Me neither, a 17x8 or 8.5 with 235 or 245 is a really, really good setup for our cars. Street or track.

Surprised it's not more popular. I'm currently on M68s (4 rears all around). Best more ever off of the 18s. But I'm in the minority with that.

[The Dowager Countess]

thanks guys- again i do not want to roll my fenders.
235s are fine. heck- 225s with the right tire is probably enough for a 128i's power.

[PrematureApex]

Originally Posted by The Dowager Countess

thanks guys- again i do not want to roll my fenders.
235s are fine. heck- 225s with the right tire is probably enough for a 128i's power.

So than ARC-8s, or any other 17x8 or 8.5", ET40 wheel, are fine.

[Dafttt]

+1 to Arc 8's!

But to answer OP's initial question, I think the definitive lightweight setup would be D-Force LTW5s- weighing 16lbs each. If you daily your car, I wouldn't sacrifice too much lightness for strength. 17 inch Arc 8's are barely over 17lbs, and I'm sure even Niki Lauda wouldn't be able to tell the different between an extra pound on each corner.

[PrematureApex]

Always thought some of the OZs looked nice on a 1er.

[TheSt|G]

APEX does not offer a 17x8 ET40, just to be clear on that.

For zero rolling street use with and without modified suspension(had it stock and with the TCKs), my 17x8 E40 RGRs with 235 square PSS have been a pretty ideal light/strong setup.

My problem with APEX sizing is that as soon as you want to run a wider tire for something like track use, they fall on their face as the offset is so off, which they rountinely tell me.

[PrematureApex]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

APEX does not offer a 17x8 ET40, just to be clear on that.

We're clear on that, but it doesn't matter for the tire sizes he's talking about (235s or 225s). It actually doesn't much matter for 245s either. Larger 245s will rub, smaller ones might not, depending on your ride height.

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

My problem with APEX sizing is that as soon as you want to run a wider tire for something like track use, they fall on their face as the offset is so off, which they rountinely tell me.

Like any business, there is no market for 1 Series.

Most people are content with running staggered, so that is all they offer. Until people, not just 2 or 3, request different set-ups for APEX...they aren't going to invest.


With that out in the open, I currently have 245/40 Dunlop ZIIs with APEX 17x8.5 sitting in my garage. They will be mounted and ran within 2 weeks, and rears will be rolled (even if they do fit w/out roll...I'm going to roll them probably regardless to accommodate 255s)


APEX makes it pretty clear, you can run their wheels IF you meet the criteria. They don't sugar coat it, they don't stretch the truth.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

APEX makes it pretty clear, you can run their wheels IF you meet the criteria. They don't sugar coat it, they don't stretch the truth.

Exactly, which is why I don't understand why there is so much confusion about this topic.

This is also why I push APEX so frequently, honesty is a rare trait in the aftermarket world that should be heavily rewarded.