Wheel Directory: Apex Racing ARC-8 17x9 +42

[APEX Race Parts]

Originally Posted by timurrrr

Curious what are the other theoretical sizes you could do with this wheels design that fit BRZ with Performance Package brakes.

If you were to make these in say 17x9 +35, could you do 7–8mm concavity? I like the wheel overall, but in 9" the flat face is a deal breaker for me.
Could you make 17x8 +38ish?

I appreciate your interest. We are actually working on broadening our wheel line for the 86/BRZ as we speak. Currently testing 17x9.5" as well as a few 18" options which will incorporate concave face profiles.

Stay tuned!

[Goingnowherefast]

Originally Posted by APEX Race Parts

I appreciate your interest. We are actually working on broadening our wheel line for the 86/BRZ as we speak. Currently testing 17x9.5" as well as a few 18" options which will incorporate concave face profiles.

Stay tuned!

Would love to see how this works out. I always thought it was weird for such a big motorsports community to be maxing out at 9 inches.

[timurrrr]

Originally Posted by APEX Race Parts

I appreciate your interest. We are actually working on broadening our wheel line for the 86/BRZ as we speak. Currently testing 17x9.5" as well as a few 18" options which will incorporate concave face profiles.

Stay tuned!

Exciting news! Although I'm worried that anything bigger than 17x9 would be too heavy for NA power.

Any chance to see FL-5/SM-10 in 17x9? I love those designs.

[Goingnowherefast]

Originally Posted by timurrrr

Exciting news! Although I'm worried that anything bigger than 17x9 would be too heavy for NA power.

Just a small data point, but in the Miata world where 120 whp is a very common number, people are still faster on 15x10's than they are on 15x9's. I think the whole wheel weight thing is a bit overplayed compared to the other benefits of a wider wheel. GRM did a great article on this.

[timurrrr]

Originally Posted by Goingnowherefast

Just a small data point, but in the Miata world where 120 whp is a very common number, people are still faster on 15x10's than they are on 15x9's.

True, but on a BRZ/86, 9.5" doesn't actually let you put any wider tires? The geometry of the wheel arches and the suspension limit your choices wrt performance, not wheel width.
Having said that, 9.5" is probably going to mostly be just extra weight with no obvious performance benefit, and a bit too much stretch in case you decide to go back to 245/40R17.

[icybrzzz]

Originally Posted by timurrrr

True, but on a BRZ/86, 9.5" doesn't actually let you put any wider tires? The geometry of the wheel arches and the suspension limit your choices wrt performance, not wheel width.

I think having a wider wheel option even tho they only make 255s in 17" would still benefit us in the long run. Most 200TW tires run wider than your typical street tire.

I think having a 17x10 for example to fit the 255/40/17 would be more ideal then running the same tire on a 17x9. Slightly stretching the tire enhances steering feel imo.

This is why I would only run 245s on a 17x9 personally.

[Goingnowherefast]

Originally Posted by timurrrr

True, but on a BRZ/86, 9.5" doesn't actually let you put any wider tires? The geometry of the wheel arches and the suspension limit your choices wrt performance, not wheel width.
Having said that, 9.5" is probably going to mostly be just extra weight with no obvious performance benefit, and a bit too much stretch in case you decide to go back to 245/40R17.

Even then, moving to a wider wheel while keeping the same size tire will have benefits up to a point. For instance: a 225 tire will be faster on a 9 inch wheel than an 8 inch wheel. This is because a minor amount of stretch artificially stiffens the sidewall. This allows you to run lower pressures without encountering tire rollover.

Lower pressure = greater contact patch area

[Icecreamtruk]

17x9.5 or 17x10 flow formed wheel with a 30-40 offset and you have my money, like yesterday. 17x10 ideally, testing have shown that narrower tires produce better times on my 17x9, but they also last about 1 or 2 laps before overheating, being able to run a 245 or 255 with a similar stretch to a 225-235 on a 9" wheel would be the winner formula for NA power, im sure of it.

[mrcawley]

anyone have a picture of the anthracite wheels on a galaxy blue silica or ultramarine?

Also, looking at putting firehawk indy 500s on in 245/40/R17. Anyone tried this size on stock suspension? any rub issues?

[APEX Race Parts]

Originally Posted by timurrrr

Exciting news! Although I'm worried that anything bigger than 17x9 would be too heavy for NA power.

Any chance to see FL-5/SM-10 in 17x9? I love those designs.

I appreciate the support! Our current 17x9" wheels certainly appeal to a large audience, and we will continue to stock them in healthy quantities. They can be used with a wide array of tires, most often 245/40-17, and clear the performance package Brembos along with a host of aftermarket BBK's. They are a good bolt-on solution, which typically do not require any supporting modifications.

With that said, there are track enthusiasts and racers out there looking to maximize grip, and sidewall support is important. Not all compounds are created equal, and as others have mentioned below, 9.5" wheels will typically result in superior sidewall support, handling feedback and wear patterns. Track junkies and racers looking for 9.5" wheels will already have aftermarket suspension (which often provide more inner clearance) and negative camber dialed in, so those supporting modifications aren't really thought of as a barrier.

17x9.5" wheels will work well for those looking to run 255/40-17 (and possibly even some 245/40-17's slicks that run real wide), and 18x9.5" wheels will work well with 255/35-18 and 265/35-18.

Aside from wider 17" wheel widths and introducing wheels in an 18" diameter, we are also working on adding a new wheel design to our 86/BRZ offering. Stay tuned and keep the feedback rolling in. We want to ensure we are bringing the community something of value.

Originally Posted by mrcawley

anyone have a picture of the anthracite wheels on a galaxy blue silica or ultramarine?

Also, looking at putting firehawk indy 500s on in 245/40/R17. Anyone tried this size on stock suspension? any rub issues?

Anthracite looks killer on blue cars. We may not have a ton of photos specifically of Anthracite ARC-8s on galaxy blue silica or ultramarine, but there are a ton of photos available in our APEX Flickr album featuring Anthracite wheels on blue cars. Hopefully, that helps with your decision making. I'm also a big fan of silver wheels on blue - very clean look with a good amount of contrast. Of course at the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preferences and your vision for the car.

Here is what I have on hand:








245/40-17 Firehwak Indy 500's will fit just fine on stock suspension.

- Ryan

[timurrrr]

Just saw an ad on Instagram about a group buy on ARC-8s for FT-86/BRZs.
Exciting!

https://www.gangup.com/apex/apex-17-...s-q3-2019.html

[APEX Race Parts]

Originally Posted by timurrrr

Just saw an ad on Instagram about a group buy on ARC-8s for FT-86/BRZs.
Exciting!

https://www.gangup.com/apex/apex-17-...s-q3-2019.html

Yes, we just kicked off another community Group Buy last week

For those in the market for a lightweight set of 17x9" wheels that clear the PP Brembo's, now is certainly the best time to grab a set at our deepest discount available all year.

- Ryan

[Horrid_Funk]

Just picked some up used and at -2 deg with camber bolts they won't even go on because they contact the spring perch. They came with 245/40 Forcuem Hena and my suspension is all stock BRZ Performance Package. The tires look like they're pretty wide on the wheel so maybe that's the issue. Previous owner said he had 3 mm of clearance with 0 camber: https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=135386

He got rid of them because he didn't want to run camber plates but wanted camber. I'm probably going to pull the bolts and go back to 0 camber until I get some coilovers, and get some use out of these all seasons in the meantime. I may try adding a spacer so that I can switch my stock wheels back on for track days and still have camber. I think that's just the price to pay for getting flush fitment with how wide these wheels are, and I'm fine with paying it as I'm eventually getting coilovers anyways.

Other than that though the wheels look great, I just wish I could get them on now!

[APEX Race Parts]

Originally Posted by Horrid_Funk

Just picked some up used and at -2 deg with camber bolts they won't even go on because they contact the spring perch. They came with 245/40 Forcuem Hena and my suspension is all stock BRZ Performance Package. The tires look like they're pretty wide on the wheel so maybe that's the issue. Previous owner said he had 3 mm of clearance with 0 camber: https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=135386

He got rid of them because he didn't want to run camber plates but wanted camber. I'm probably going to pull the bolts and go back to 0 camber until I get some coilovers, and get some use out of these all seasons in the meantime. I may try adding a spacer so that I can switch my stock wheels back on for track days and still have camber. I think that's just the price to pay for getting flush fitment with how wide these wheels are, and I'm fine with paying it as I'm eventually getting coilovers anyways.

Other than that though the wheels look great, I just wish I could get them on now!

This topic comes up often, and that is because there is very little room to work with under the stock fenders with stock suspension in place (especially with the TRD/PP Sachs struts). 9" wide wheels are the maximum wheel width we can stuff under the car with the stock suspension in place, and we believe the sweet spot for offset is ET40-42. If you run a 9" wheel with a lower offset, let's say ET35, they will poke a touch without negative camber and could possibly rub the fender arches under suspension compression (of course this ultimately depends on tire size and brand as not all are created equal). If you run a 9" wheel with a higher offset, let's say ET45, the wheel is dangerously close to the front struts and in many cases, the tires will make contact.

For performance driving enthusiasts looking to increase handling performance while gaining more outer fender clearance (in order to stuff wider compounds onto the wheel), adjustable camber plates are the real solution. Camber/crash bolts are a band-aid fix and can only net you so much camber. More importantly, they sacrifice inner clearance between the tire and the suspension where space is already very limited.

Adjustable camber plates will give you a broader range of adjustment (better handling and more consistent tire wear on track) AND will not sacrifice inner clearance since everything moves in harmony. It is important to note that camber plates pay for themselves very quickly in the form of tire longevity. They are one of the better, relatively inexpensive modifications you can do to the car.

- Ryan