Apex Arc 8 Decisions and Fitment

[Newjack]

Hey everyone,

It's time for me to ditch the Style 135's and get some new rims and tires. The 135's that came with my car were beat up heavily from the previous owner, and one of them is bent from me hitting a pothole shortly after a big snow storm a year ago. I'm also running Michelin Pilot Sport AS3's and I'm honestly sick and tired of losing traction so easily. All seasons are great for a daily but now that I have the money to get a dedicated set of summer and winter tires, I'm really looking forward to the increased performance with Michelin Pilot Super Sports. (I've never owned summer tires)

I've decided to go with Apex arc 8's as I have seen everyone else on here with those wheels and I really love how light they are and how great they look.

I'm looking to go with a square setup so that I can rotate tires, but I want to make sure that whatever I get, I will be able to fit without crazy adjustments. I think right now I'm running -1.2 or -1.1 camber up front and -1.5 or -2.0 in the rear. I'd like to keep the stock camber settings. (Some threads I've seen on e46f have guys running -4 or -5 degrees camber for fitment and thats really extreme for me)

I currently have an H&R Touring Cup Kit, so the car is lowered a bit, but it is not slammed. I have also never rolled my fenders and have never had any rubbing with stock wheels and tires.

So here's the part that I'm torn on and really need help with,

I'd like to run 18x8.5 with the widest tire I can, will I be able to fit 255's in the front and rear without issues? A common thing I see with the square 18x8.5 setup is running 235's in the front and rear for fitment. I feel like 235's would be too narrow and I would miss out on performance.

If I decide to go with 17x8.5 all around (Derbo if your reading this I love your setup and what you have done with your car) is it even worth going deep concave? ET20 seems like its going to be hard to fit right without doing some more work. Fitting 255's on a 17x8.5 setup seems like it doesn't need much adjusting and I know the tires are cheaper along with rims.

Bottom line is I want as much performance out of the car as I can get while still being practical. I don't track the car, and have been doing a lot of city driving. I do like to drive it hard when I can and don't really care about how harsh the ride is. I'm still young.

Thanks for reading,

[ZHPizza]

There's a lotttt of open ended questions here. Offsets will determine how wide you can go. Some go as far as 9.5 et35 square with 235 tires, while others play it cool with 8.5 et42 with 255 tires. Really depends on what you're looking for.

Anyway, here's a used set of 17x8.5 et42's that you can probably get for a great price since the clear coat is peeling:
https://www.panjo.com/buy/fs-apex-arc-8-set-17x9-et42-348286

[BMWCurves]

I don't think Apex made any 17x8.5" in a ET42 fitment, only ET40. They make a 17x9" ET42 though.

I went with a square 17x8.5" ET40 w/ a 245/40R17 tire and quite enjoy the setup. I'm no expert on wheel/tire fitments, but I think you could sneak a 255 on there without much issue. I don't know that you really need the 255 section width though. I really get on it and barely break the rear end loose. The car becomes quite neutral with a square 245 setup. But that's just my experience, others might say otherwise.

EDIT: In terms of looks, 17s look small in pictures but for some reason look bigger/correct in person.

[Newjack]

Sorry that my questions have been all over the place. I knew I wanted Apex Arc 8's but besides that I've been back and forth on a lot of ideas for fitment. I realize now that getting concave is not going to happen without stretching tires or doing some weird stuff that I don't want to deal with. Running ET20 is not happening.

So that leaves me down to either square 17x8.5 255's ET40 or square 18x8.5 255's (Apex makes two different offset 18x8.5's - They make an ET38 and an ET45 - Does anyone know if there is any difference between the two besides the offset? Is one more concave than the other?)

Am I being dumb trying to fit 255's all around instead of 245's? It's only 10mm but I still like the look of wider tires.

Leaning towards 17's for cost, performance and longevity (We have some big potholes in DC) - but I sure like the look of 18's...

[Reasoned1]

Totally agree... I have a square set-up of 17x8.5 ET40 Arc-8's with 245/40 PSS's on a 2005 330xi (sport) and a square set-up of 18x8.5 ET38 Arc-8's with 245/40 PSS's on a 2004 ZHP (wanted to go a tad bigger for multiple reasons). I love 'em both. The ZHP has stock suspension, and there's plenty of room all around. I wanted to ensure fit by sticking with 8.5's, and 245's are ideal for 8.5's. The fit is pretty perfect--I'm not sure I'd go any wider, although I'd say there's plenty of room. I don't understand it, but tramlining is significantly less than with the stock ZHP wheels/tires.

330xi with 17 x 8.5...
30228

ZHP with 18 x 8.5...
30227

[downshift]

Call APEX, they will tell you whatever you need to know. Matt will likely pick up the phone.

As for the tire width and missing out on performance, you won't notice a difference between 235 and 245, I promise. If you want grip, get a sticky tire, so no Pilot Super Sport.

Josh

[az3579]

PSS tires are a great in-between, but their price makes them less practical, though this totally depends on your driving style and how much you drive. With your alignment settings, you shouldn't have a problem getting at least 15-20k out of a set. My 255/35-18 PSS tires on my BBS wheels are at 15k with somewhat regular rotation (try to do every oil change, 7.5k) and they still have plenty of life left. I reckon I'll get 25k out of this set.

I also have Apex ARC-8's in 17x8.5 et40 with 245/40 Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R's (track set). The wheels fit fine, but I wish they were 18's as they look so much better in 18" fitment IMO. 17's do look fine though; I'm just really picky. :)

Here's a couple of pics for reference. This is on PSS10's with the ride height adjusted more up, and can tell you that fitment is not a concern. I could probably slap 255's on these and still not have any issues with rubbing, though my fenders are rolled.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7630/27254823573_522137f651_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Hwq6vg)0623161953 (https://flic.kr/p/Hwq6vg) by botond.pal (https://www.flickr.com/photos/65070296@N06/), on Flickr

From some angles, the 17's look just as big as the 18's, like this pic:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/515/31515934325_da221acde5_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Q1Xph2)0522161913 (https://flic.kr/p/Q1Xph2) by botond.pal (https://www.flickr.com/photos/65070296@N06/), on Flickr



Ultimately, if you're okay with 17's, then I think you'll be very happy with your purchase. Even 18's aren't that much more and don't weigh much more, so you have options.

BTW, deep concave wheels will be out of the question since you don't want to do modifications. The offsets are far too aggressive for a non-M E46 without making modifications.

[slater]

So that leaves me down to either square 17x8.5 255's ET40 or square 18x8.5 255's (Apex makes two different offset 18x8.5's - They make an ET38 and an ET45 - Does anyone know if there is any difference between the two besides the offset? Is one more concave than the other?)

both 18x8.5" ET38 and ET45 have the same face profile. apex told me they recommend the ET38 for the front of the E46 chassis, but i can't see a problem with running the ET45 ones as lots of people run 18x8.5" ET50 135M rear wheels on the front without issue.

for me, the ET38 is a pretty aggressive fitment up front on the E46 non-M, and you must run at least -1.5* negative camber with a 245 or 255 tire, otherwise it's going to stick out past the top of the fender, which in my opinion looks a bit off.

i've got 18x8.5" ET38 square with 245/35/18 PSS, and i'm thinking of going to the 18x8.5" ET45 and 18x9.5" ET58 (with 5mm spacer) setup with 235/40/18 and 265/35/18 PSS.

i've run staggered and square, and ultimately i prefer staggered for it's overall feel on the road - narrower tires up front definitely help with steering feel.

[Newjack]

Thanks for the input everyone, very helpful. I'm not tearing my hair out between 17's or 18's. Gonna sit down and price out the cost of both and see if the price difference will sway my opinion a little bit.

I really like the 18's and that's what I'm leaning towards right now. The ET45 makes me feel like I would have a much easier time running 255's up front with these wheels.

The 17's are practical, and can probably sustain a bigger pothole without damaging the rim than the 18's can, but I can't decide if I like the look or not. Some pictures look amazing and others make me crave the larger rim. Fitting 255's on ET40 might be a bit of a challenge as well.


Are Pilot Super Sports not the go to tire anymore? Everyone has been raving about them for years now and they are rated really high on tire rack and everywhere else I've seen them. Should I be going with a different tire? (I daily drive my zhp and put maybe 15k miles per year on it)

[slater]

i love PSS. they are the best balance of wet + dry grip, low weight, long life, steering feel, and quiet ride, that i have tried. that said, the new PS4S is out, albeit in limited sizes, and that is supposed to be even better than the PSS, of course.

i've been fortunate to try all sorts of different tires, and only run michelins now on both E46s for both summer and winter use - PSS for summer on the red Touring, PS A/S 3 on the black Touring, and X-Ice3 for winter on both. everything else has been 'compromised' in some way or another... i just feel most confident and secure on the tires i'm running.

[NoVAphotog]

I had the square set of 17's. Very practical choice. Light, rotateable, don't have to modify vehicle, etc. Sold them to San. If I could do it again I'd go with the 17x9 concave and roll the fenders. Gotta go concave. Concave 17's make the choice easier vs. 18's. 18's of other wheel types look better. As for price, you've waited this long...wait for the group buy.

[az3579]

I had the square set of 17's. Very practical choice. Light, rotateable, don't have to modify vehicle, etc. Sold them to San. If I could do it again I'd go with the 17x9 concave and roll the fenders. Gotta go concave. Concave 17's make the choice easier vs. 18's. 18's of other wheel types look better. As for price, you've waited this long...wait for the group buy.
A roll wouldn't cut it with the concave 17's... It's still a very aggressive fitment.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[danewilson77]

i love PSS. they are the best balance of wet + dry grip, low weight, long life, steering feel, and quiet ride, that i have tried. that said, the new PS4S is out, albeit in limited sizes, and that is supposed to be even better than the PSS, of course.

i've been fortunate to try all sorts of different tires, and only run michelins now on both E46s for both summer and winter use - PSS for summer on the red Touring, PS A/S 3 on the black Touring, and X-Ice3 for winter on both. everything else has been 'compromised' in some way or another... i just feel most confident and secure on the tires i'm running.
Long life?

Sent from my S8+

[Reasoned1]

I went with 18's on my ZHP because they look better and were on sale ($200 off the set as part of a recent group buy--putting them at about $900 with free shipping). I wanted a square set-up and didn't quite dare to go with 255's in the front, and I'm glad I didn't because, with ET38, the 245's are perfectly flush with the fender--ET45 would definitely be better on the outside with 255's (rears would probably be fine, but then you'd be somewhat staggered again), but I can't speak to the clearance on the inside. I wasn't terribly excited about the performance trade-off of going slightly larger on tire OD, but I wanted to fill the wheel well a bit more, and I have no plans to lower the suspension (although I still could). I also wanted to offset the error in my speedo, which it does (spot on according to Smokey's speed signs). Finally, I'm not a racer, and I live in Vermont, so having a little more tire wall with lightweight wheels seemed prudent to me. All in all, for my situation, I couldn't be happier. By the way, the reduction in unsprung weight of more than 40 pounds, compared to the 135's, has more than made up for the slight increase in diameter--she's definitely quicker than she was.

[slater]

Long life?

Sent from my S8+

25K miles should be easily achievable... unless you're trevor and hang the tail end out heading into the office parking lot every day... ;)

[BMWCurves]

25K miles should be easily achievable... unless you're trevor and hang the tail end out heading into the office parking lot every day... ;)

CCTV footage of Trevor coming into work:

http://i.imgur.com/MoX9fTp.gif

[slater]

CCTV footage of Trevor coming into work:

http://i.imgur.com/MoX9fTp.gif

LOL!!! classic!

[derbo]

Hi! :)

17x8.5 +40 here with 245/40/17 PSS.

PSS is a great tire. I miss the level of grip from my Star Specs but due my car returning to daily duties for a few months, it made sense to buy PSS instead of extreme track tires.

Few things I want to note:
Clearance on the shock spring perch is something to be concerned about with 17x9. Since I'm on coilovers, the spring perch is significantly smaller than the stock one so I never was worried about it with my 17x8.5 rims.
Full lock to lock may rub on the sway bar. It rubs on my 30mm Front Sway Bar with the 17x8.5 so YMMV!


17s tire are significantly cheaper, so if tires get replaced often, this will pay for itself in a few years.


Pic for attention.


http://i.imgur.com/XYGfsmw.jpg

[Newjack]

Alright I just did some math to figure out the cost difference between 18's and 17's. It's roughly $340 cheaper to go with the 17's 245's than it is to go with 18's 255's. I can get tires for a bit cheaper than tire rack by using my costco membership.

Should I wait for a group buy? I want to, but its not very smart. I need new tires on the front badly. Fronts have been on the car for over 4 years now and the tread is getting thin. Not to mention one of the front rims is bent and causing vibrations at highway speeds. To top it off one of the front tires is either really unbalanced, or has a permanent flat spot - Very loud "wub wub wub" noises at all speeds.

I've been looking at pictures of both 18's and 17's trying to figure out what I should go with. Derbo that last picture you posted sold me on the 17's. The price, the look, the comfort of hitting bumps and not crying myself to sleep - I dig it.



So my last questions are these,

Running 17x8.5 ET40 245/40/17 should fit my car just fine right? I am running an H&R Touring Cup Kit so my car is a little bit lower than stock.

Am I an idiot to try and run 255's on the 17's? Are the performance gains of 10mm on each tire negligible or is it just going to be too much of a headache to get the fitment right?

Is there a best place to buy the Apex rims from when not doing a group buy? Buying from Apex directly seems cheaper, but I don't think I've factored in shipping yet.


Thank you to everyone posting in this thread. I'm a lot older and make a lot more than I did when I bought the car 6 years ago, but spending 2 grand at one time is still a lot to think about. I tend to research stuff to death to make sure I make the right decision, and everyone's help here is greatly appreciated.

[BMWCurves]

I will say that the 17s don't look as small in person compared to photos. I'm not sure why that is, but whenever I take a picture of my car I think "man the wheels look small" but then I look at them in person and they look great, IMO. Derbo is who convinced me to go for the 17s when I saw his car and he helped me out in my wheel fitment thread from a while ago, which you might want to read through if you haven't already (Link (http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?16922-Apex-ARC8-17-quot-vs-18-quot-Offset-and-Tire-Size-Questions))

Waiting is a tough decision. When I purchased my APEX ARC8 17x8.5" ET40 set through the group buy, it saved me $150 and shipping was free. I had waited a few months for it to pop up (group buy was in February), but then it seemed they had a group buy every 2-3 months after that. You could contact Apex and see if they know when the next group buy might be.

As for tire sizing, I can't speak from experience but I recall Derek (Derbo) saying he was planning to go up to 255s all around a year or two ago. You will most likely lose out on some steering communication and possibly cause some tramlining from such a wide tire up front, but you should have more grip. That said, I have 245s all around and have zero interest in bumping that up to 255s. 245s have made the car more neutral, the car still has tons of grip, and the steering feel is great. I didn't have to do any sort of adjustment to my fenders or adjust camber for them to fit either, just bolted them on.

EDIT: Here's a larger version of my signature pic with said 17x8.5" ET40 in Hyper Black on factory springs i.e. stock ride height

http://i.imgur.com/9axQ8kB.jpg

[derbo]

Alright I just did some math to figure out the cost difference between 18's and 17's. It's roughly $340 cheaper to go with the 17's 245's than it is to go with 18's 255's. I can get tires for a bit cheaper than tire rack by using my costco membership.

Should I wait for a group buy? I want to, but its not very smart. I need new tires on the front badly. Fronts have been on the car for over 4 years now and the tread is getting thin. Not to mention one of the front rims is bent and causing vibrations at highway speeds. To top it off one of the front tires is either really unbalanced, or has a permanent flat spot - Very loud "wub wub wub" noises at all speeds.

I've been looking at pictures of both 18's and 17's trying to figure out what I should go with. Derbo that last picture you posted sold me on the 17's. The price, the look, the comfort of hitting bumps and not crying myself to sleep - I dig it.



So my last questions are these,

Running 17x8.5 ET40 245/40/17 should fit my car just fine right? I am running an H&R Touring Cup Kit so my car is a little bit lower than stock.

Am I an idiot to try and run 255's on the 17's? Are the performance gains of 10mm on each tire negligible or is it just going to be too much of a headache to get the fitment right?

Is there a best place to buy the Apex rims from when not doing a group buy? Buying from Apex directly seems cheaper, but I don't think I've factored in shipping yet.


Thank you to everyone posting in this thread. I'm a lot older and make a lot more than I did when I bought the car 6 years ago, but spending 2 grand at one time is still a lot to think about. I tend to research stuff to death to make sure I make the right decision, and everyone's help here is greatly appreciated.

You already noted a large amount of problems that would be solved by replacing your rims. I say just do it! I bought them directly from Apex myself since they are about 1.5hrs away from me.


As your question, yes. It fits fine. No issues on my end. Like BMWCurves mention, they do look smaller in size in person. I personally got them for cheaper tires while not sacrificing too much. I used to go through tires every 6 months so the 17s" made sense to me.

255/40/17 is actually the proper tire size to match the stock ZHP tire diameter. I opt for 245/40/17 for rubbing issues. I was planning to go back to 255/40/17 but I needed tires for daily duty and PSS didn't make a 255/40/17. Next time around, I'll switch to 255/40/17.

In your situation, either tire size is fine. You will hear a little more road noise with a larger contact patch, tramline, minor extra weight, for the extra grip. IMO, 245/40/17 is still a great tire size (stock rear non-ZHP 330i.)


Another pic for attention. :)
http://i.imgur.com/OTWXcMQ.jpg

[johnrando]

I run 18 x 8.5 245/35 square, PSS, on H&R Touring Cup Kit on 135s with no problem. I think the 255s worked too IIRC.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[Bimmernate]

Thought i'd chime in. I'd go for 17s. I'm running 17x9 ET42 w/ 245/40/17s michelin PSS, eibach pro kit w/ koni yellows. Absolutely love the setup and have no fender modifications or rubbing issues . I do sorta wish I went with the 17x9 ET30 (for the concave look since it seems like some people are making them fit with no rubbing?). But either way, I highly recommend. The amount you save on the 17s vs 18s is significant. But to be honest, the single best thing about 17s instead of 18s is the ride comfort... The 17s look really good in person and most people think they are 18s. IMO, the key to make them look bigger is to get one of the darker colors (hyperblack or anthracite) instead of the hypersilver. The brighter the color, the more the rim/tire junction is evident and thus the smaller size being evident. Also, don't put a 45 aspect ratio tire on, it makes the tire walls too fat and makes the wheel look tiny. I've seen a few people run 245/45/17 and it looks terrible imo....

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e152/Di_Nate/Car%20Pictures/Eibach%20pro%20kitkonis_zpsubhyczvg.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Di_Nate/media/Car%20Pictures/Eibach%20pro%20kitkonis_zpsubhyczvg.jpg.html)

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e152/Di_Nate/ae9db368-3ef6-4919-a038-ca742dc6dd90_zpsvcbd322m.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Di_Nate/media/ae9db368-3ef6-4919-a038-ca742dc6dd90_zpsvcbd322m.jpg.html)

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e152/Di_Nate/IMG_0396_zpsxfpmu5lk.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Di_Nate/media/IMG_0396_zpsxfpmu5lk.jpg.html)

[derbo]

I test fitted 17x9 et 42 a long time ago.
http://i.imgur.com/qZVD5C5.jpg

17x8.5 +40, front has a 3mm spacer for clearance with the StopTech Caliper so it would be more sunken in.
http://i.imgur.com/8ZoSJsm.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/mJeQRrC.jpg

18x8.5 +40 255/35/18 RE11s on my RPF1
http://i.imgur.com/1I3Lvok.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/CxDF8ri.jpg



Can't go wrong with either size! I personally think the 18s look great for a daily. HPDE, I would go with 17 all day.

[Vas]

Watch this vid for some good info

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPyg3ilw3KU

Article for more knowledge

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/The-differences-between-17-18-and-19-inch-tyres.htm

[sillieidiot]

Didn't really read the thread. But I know what you don't want lol 18 x 9.5" ET35 Also, it's pretty weird to see all the apex with flat faces. I guess it looks ok on sedans. I like the concave look more though.

[ZHPizza]

Didn't really read the thread. But I know what you don't want lol 18 x 9.5" ET35 Also, it's pretty weird to see all the apex with flat faces. I guess it looks ok on sedans. I like the concave look more though.
¿porque no 18x9.5?

[derbo]

Didn't really read the thread. But I know what you don't want lol 18 x 9.5" ET35 Also, it's pretty weird to see all the apex with flat faces. I guess it looks ok on sedans. I like the concave look more though.

If I could get a non-flat face and clear my fenders, I would have that.. :(

[704sw]

If I could get a non-flat face and clear my fenders, I would have that.. :(

This alone is the reason I went with a different wheel. I love them, but not the profile 1.

[derbo]

This alone is the reason I went with a different wheel. I love them, but not the profile 1.


I'm too cheap. :) I wanted clearance with BBK :)

[sillieidiot]

¿porque no 18x9.5?

Because OP listed he didn't want to do crazy adjustments lol I mean you can make them fit. I did it for both the sedan/coupe. To me it was easier on the sedan (Brian N.'s car) because he didn't go as low as I was for my coupe.


If I could get a non-flat face and clear my fenders, I would have that.. :(

I think they do make a wheel like that now. I remember someone telling me that and I was like, well too damn late.

[johnrando]

Thx for sharing video.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[Newjack]

I've checked prices and it seems the cheapest place to order from is Bimmerworld. Gonna be ordering 17x8.5's tonight!

[Newjack]

So Bimmerworld doesn't have the 17x8.5 in stock in anthracite, and they have no idea how long it will take to get them in stock. Apex only has one 17x8.5 rim....

Bimmerworld does have 17x9 which they said will fit, but the clearance already seems tight with the 8.5 and it will be more of a tire stretch.

:dunno

EDIT: Turner is out of anthracite too

Double EDIT: 30416

[danewilson77]

Ugh

Sent from my S8+

[bosszhp]

I know I'm a little late to the party and this was probably already discussed, but in the rear of my old ZHP I had M3 spec ARC8s in 18x9.5 ET35 with stock tire sizes in MPSS (255). It rubbed on big bumps (no fender modifications) but you could go down a tire size and probably alleviate that as it wasn't rubbing terribly and the 255 tire wasn't even a big stretch. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170702/83e5abd65b3e65de4e2a347b9d111be6.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170702/6eabfadf198bbf77f890b8c04b4cb54d.jpg

Pics for attention :)

[sillieidiot]

^ he has a sedan, so there's even less clearance than coupes

[Newjack]

Just ordered 4 anthracite 17x8.5 wheels from Apex. They only have 3 in stock right now, but I gave them a call and talked to one of their reps. Rep was very helpful and said that they should be getting more in by the end of July. As an apology for not having them in stock they are waiving my shipping fee of $87 which is pretty sweet.

I just need my current setup to last me a little longer. :fingerscrossed


Thank you to everyone helping me with this decision. I can't wait to have the car driving smooth again!

[bosszhp]

^ he has a sedan, so there's even less clearance than coupes

You're right. Completely glossed over that!

[Johnmadd]

Were the gloss black ones available anywhere?

[Newjack]

Were the gloss black ones available anywhere?

Yeah gloss black were available everywhere I think. The only ones sold out completely were the 17x8.5 anthracite.

[derbo]

Yeah gloss black were available everywhere I think. The only ones sold out completely were the 17x8.5 anthracite.

mmm Anthracite. :)

http://i.imgur.com/ZhfVaGg.jpg

Hyperblack next to Anthracite. :)

http://i.imgur.com/KDnkP3w.jpg

[Rookiez]

Anthracite is the one for me!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Reasoned1]

My anthracites look amazing--subdued contrast.. perfect for a black sedan.

[Newjack]

mmm Anthracite. :)

http://i.imgur.com/ZhfVaGg.jpg

Hyperblack next to Anthracite. :)

http://i.imgur.com/KDnkP3w.jpg



I can't wait to get mine man. End of July and they should be here! :fingerscrossed

[san]

I got my apex wheels (17x8.5 et 40) from Daniel and I like them a lot! I do like anthracite more than the silver hat I have now but the OEM brake pads are slowly converting them [emoji51]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Newjack]

Goodbye Style 135's, I won't miss you.


30838

30839

Wub wub noise is completely gone. Car is completely smooth at all speeds with the only vibration coming from the motor mounts.

The neutral stance is extremely fun. The car wants to turn very easily and the grip on these Michelin Pilot Super Sports is insane. (I've never owned summer tires before)

Both tie rod assembly's were replaced as well. They were original and had been torched the last few alignments because they were frozen. It was time to swap them out.

So far no rubbing that I can tell. I haven't turned the wheel to full lock yet so it might rub a bit there, we shall see.

17's look amazing. Ride comfort is much better driving through the city's bumpy roads and I couldn't be happier with this decision.

Big thanks to everyone for contributing. Now look for my winter wheel thread in a month LOL

[ZHPizza]

Very nice. It's amazing how much more fun these cars are when you go to a square setup -- they actually want to turn instead of plow straight through a corner!

What tire size did you go with?

[Newjack]

Very nice. It's amazing how much more fun these cars are when you go to a square setup -- they actually want to turn instead of plow straight through a corner!

What tire size did you go with?

Apex Arc 8's 17x8.5 ET40

Michelin Pilot Super Sports 245/40/17

[san]

Apex Arc 8's 17x8.5 ET40

Michelin Pilot Super Sports 245/40/17

They look really good. Exactly the same specs as mine including PSSs.

Mine are hyper silver though.


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[BMWCurves]

Those look great, welcome aboard the APEX ARC8 17" train!

I agree on all points. They look great, ride is improved, square setup makes the car more neutral and willing to rotate in the corners, and the reduced unsprung weight makes the car feel more planted.

:cheers

[slater]

Goodbye Style 135's, I won't miss you.


30838

wait, so you bought derek's car?


LOL. twinses.





The neutral stance is extremely fun. The car wants to turn very easily and the grip on these Michelin Pilot Super Sports is insane. (I've never owned summer tires before)

wait, what? never owner summer tires before? and now PSS? you are 1000% mental.

good choice on the PSS. welcome to the party. what the heck took so long? ;)

and yes... the square setup is much better for turning. not so much for on-center steering feel with 245+ widths... that bugs me. and if i go to a 235/40/18, i won't have enough grip out back...

anyway. yer car dun looks good.

[Newjack]

Those look great, welcome aboard the APEX ARC8 17" train!

I agree on all points. They look great, ride is improved, square setup makes the car more neutral and willing to rotate in the corners, and the reduced unsprung weight makes the car feel more planted.

:cheers

I can't really tell, but when I get on it I feel like the car reacts to the power better with the lighter wheels. Almost more eager to get going. Very happy




wait, so you bought derek's car?


LOL. twinses.






wait, what? never owner summer tires before? and now PSS? you are 1000% mental.

good choice on the PSS. welcome to the party. what the heck took so long? ;)

and yes... the square setup is much better for turning. not so much for on-center steering feel with 245+ widths... that bugs me. and if i go to a 235/40/18, i won't have enough grip out back...

anyway. yer car dun looks good.

Haha Derek's car has been inspiration since I joined the forums. Sad to see him sell the ZHP but I know he's enjoyed it and will move onto something much nicer for tracking.

I'm trying not to push the PSS too hard since they are brand new. Gonna get them broken in a bit first. I can definitely understand why BMW went with a staggered setup and wide tires in the rear, its seems a lot easier to yank the wheel at high speeds and lose control if you have all seasons and no idea how to drive.

I'm just sitting at work waiting for the drive home....

[slater]

I can't really tell, but when I get on it I feel like the car reacts to the power better with the lighter wheels. Almost more eager to get going. Very happy

no kidding. you dropped about 16-17lbs of unsprung weight PER corner... you're gonna feel that everywhere - acceleration, braking, turning, absorbing bumps, changing direction. and possibly even fuel economy, although who cares at that point? :)




I'm just sitting at work waiting for the drive home....

you're sick. go home early. :)

[BMWCurves]

I can't really tell, but when I get on it I feel like the car reacts to the power better with the lighter wheels. Almost more eager to get going. Very happy

Here you go, there's some science behind it:

http://i.imgur.com/n4yXxdt.jpg


no kidding. you dropped about 16-17lbs of unsprung weight PER corner... you're gonna feel that everywhere - acceleration, braking, turning, absorbing bumps, changing direction. and possibly even fuel economy, although who cares at that point? :)

Precisely.


you're sick. go home early. :)

"I've got a fever and the only prescription is more driving!"

[downshift]

I'm selling the 18x8.5 ET35 FL-5 with Falken 615K on them and going to a 17x9.5 square setup. Probably ARC-8

Here's the car currently.

31080

[Newjack]

Alright I've got one follow up question about these wheels. What tire pressure are you guys running? I think mine were mounted by Costco at 34lbs rear and 32lbs front. They are also nitrogen filled.

Since I can't exactly look at the door anymore what should I be running?

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[danewilson77]

Alright I've got one follow up question about these wheels. What tire pressure are you guys running? I think mine were mounted by Costco at 34lbs rear and 32lbs front. They are also nitrogen filled.

Since I can't exactly look at the door anymore what should I be running?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using TapatalkI go 35 front/40 rear on 245/40/18

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[Newjack]

I go 35 front/40 rear on 245/40/18

Sent from my S8+You running nitrogen in those bad boys?

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[san]

Alright I've got one follow up question about these wheels. What tire pressure are you guys running? I think mine were mounted by Costco at 34lbs rear and 32lbs front. They are also nitrogen filled.

Since I can't exactly look at the door anymore what should I be running?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

I started off with 37 all round and found it to be too stiff for the PSS. I lowered them to 34 and I really like it. If I was on continental tires then I would probably be somewhere around 37-38.


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[danewilson77]

You running nitrogen in those bad boys?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using TapatalkNo sir

Sent from my S8+