► APEX | Introducing The All-New Forged EC-7R 5x100 86/BRZ Wheel Line

[APEX Race Parts]

Shoot Details
EC-7R 17x9.5" ET40 in Anthracite
255/40-17 Nitto NT01
MCS 2WNR coilovers
Camber -3.5º F. / -2.8º R.

[APEX Race Parts]

Our friend Clint stopped by to test drive our new EC-7R 17x9.5" ET40 Anthracite and 18x9.5" ET40 Satin Gold wheels on his well sorted 2014 WRX. Check out the photos and the killer behind the scenes video he put together.

Shoot Details
EC-7R 18x9.5" ET40 in Satin Gold
Red APEX center caps
265/35-18 Michelin PS4S
ISC Race Coilovers
Camber -3º F. / -2.8º R.

[APEX Race Parts]

WHY APEX FORGED WHEELS HAVE UNPAINTED KNURLED BEADS

Knurling on race wheels isn’t new, and it’s becoming a commonly sought-after feature. The problem with knurling is that it varies in design and effectiveness. Some manufacturers may add knurling to their wheels just to check that feature box so they can market it to customers, regardless of whether it accomplishes its intended purpose. Maintaining the effectiveness of our knurling was at the forefront of our minds when developing our new line of forged wheels.

During manufacturing, wheels often go through a grinding phase to remove burrs and other small imperfections in preparation for painting. If knurling is added before grinding, then it can lose its sharpness. The less sharp knurling is, the less it can grip a tire’s rubber bead. The depth, width, and pitch of the knurling pattern also has a big impact on how much “tooth” is available to bite into a tire’s bead. Often, the pattern is narrower and shallower than ideal.

Painted wheels typically have multiple layers of paint that can become really thick when combined. A gloss finish can have a base coat, color coat, and a clear coat. Spraying those three layers over knurling can fill in the grooves and round the edges off. The combination of these production compromises can reduce the effectiveness of knurling and cause more tire slippage.

Below is a comparison of the unpainted knurled bead on our forged wheels (left) vs. the knurled bead of a competitors forged wheel (right).

The first thing you’ll notice about our wheel is that there’s no paint covering our bead. The bead area on our forged wheels is protected from paint to keep the unground teeth sharp. Over time, this surface will oxidize and create a hard, protective layer that’s less slippery than paint. The differences in width, depth, and sharpness are clearly visible and easily felt.

Are you getting what you’re paying for? Not all knurling is equal, so be sure to inspect this feature closely when shopping for wheels

- Ryan

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by APEX Race Parts

EC-7R 17x9.5" ET40 in Brushed Clear

That is BRIGHT...I like it.

- Andrew

[APEX Race Parts]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

That is BRIGHT...I like it.

- Andrew

Thanks Andrew. Brushed clear is truly an epic finish in person, and it is not as "blingy" as one might think (that's what polished is for ). I wish more people could get their hands on them to experience it.

We'll have to do a detailed video with a set soon, but for now, here are some mounted to a couple M3 chasis just for fun.

- Ryan

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by APEX Race Parts

Thanks Andrew. Brushed clear is truly an epic finish in person, and it is not as "blingy" as one might think (that's what polished is for ). I wish more people could get their hands on them to experience it.

I would have if you offered it in 17x9!

[Chris_]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

I would have if you offered it in 17x9!

They do though? 17x9" +35 or +42

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Chris_

They do though? 17x9" +35 or +42

Not in brushed clear which is the part i was replying to.

[Chris_]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

Not in brushed clear which is the part i was replying to.

Ahhh now I see the option disappears when you select 17x9. Sorry!

[APEX Race Parts]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

I would have if you offered it in 17x9!

I hear ya! We did our absolute best to offer a wide variety of finish options in the first release, but unfortunately we couldn't bring everything through the pipeline at once. Many wheel manufactures stick two two wheel finishes for an initial release, but we like to invest a bit more and give enthusiasts some choices. We'll certainly follow up with 17x9" & 18x9" wheels in Brushed clear, but it will be a bit of time before we can accomplish that.


- Ryan

[Gungnir]

Psyched to get in. I'm running the SCE SS1s and grabbed wheels/tires. Use is daily and regular autocross, should I stick with the +35 or swap to +42?

[APEX Race Parts]

Originally Posted by Gungnir

Psyched to get in. I'm running the SCE SS1s and grabbed wheels/tires. Use is daily and regular autocross, should I stick with the +35 or swap to +42?

A similar question was asked in our commercial Group Buy thread. See below and let me know if I can provide more info/clarity.

Originally Posted by Plumbus

Hey Ryan, I wanna ask the same question. My 17 brz has PP sachs and brembos. only interested in 17".

Thanks for your interest. We have two 17" fitment options that will work with the stock PP Sachs suspension; 17x9" ET42 & 17x9" ET35. Keep in mind the Sachs struts have a slightly larger silhouette in comparison to the non-Sachs struts, therefore there is slightly less inner clearance for wide front wheel and tire configurations.

Choosing between the two 17x9" fitments we offer all comes down to what tire size and model you plan to run, whether or not you plan to dial in any camber at the knuckle using camber bolts (this further diminishes clearance between the strut and the wheel/tire), and how flush you want your wheels to sit in relation to the fenders. We offer two 17x9" wheels with different offsets so that enthusiasts do not have to make any compromises.

* The following notes apply to enthusiasts with PP Sachs suspension *

The 17x9" ET42 sits 7mm closer to the suspension, which keeps the wheels nicely tucked under the front and rear fenders so that no negative camber or fender modifications are required with 245/40-17 tires (or 235/40-17). Most street oriented tires will fit including the popular Michelin PS4S, however, some compounds that run wide will get very close, or make contact with the front struts. If your plan is to run a track oriented compound that is known to run wider than your average street tire, it is better to go with the ET35 option for extra inner clearance.

The 17x9" ET35 sits 7mm closer to the fenders, which results in a very flush fitment and a lot of extra room on the inside towards the suspension. For enthusiasts planning to run 245/40-17 track oriented compounds, or any type of 255/40-17 tire, this is the better wheel to go with. The extra inner clearance is also advantageous for those that want to dial in camber at the knuckle using camber bolts.

You can also review our in-depth 86/BRZ wheel and tire fitment guide for more information: LINK

Let me know if you guys have any further questions!

- Ryan

[jflogerzi]

I know what are next set of wheels after I get aftermarket suspension

Sent from my GM1915 using Tapatalk

[Varelco]

Originally Posted by APEX Race Parts

We'll certainly follow up with 17x9" & 18x9" wheels in Brushed clear, but it will be a bit of time before we can accomplish that.


- Ryan

Looking forward to it, stunning wheels, would like to get a set over here in the UK.