Form over Function

[Eric]

Alright, so yesterday I made a quick drive up north for a bit of wheel measuring.


DSC_3520 by ericandshovin, on Flickr

We test fit two wheels:
-Black 17.8lbs 17x9 et42 (flat) with puffy BFG R1's 255/40/17
-silver 16.9lbs 17x9.5 et35 (concave) with Dunlop ZII's 255/40/17.
Various spacers were used to line everything up.

I would absolutely love to run Apex's concave 17x9 et30 wheel, but I'll probably run into clearance problems with the willwood calipers.:big cry:

As I guessed, the calipers caused a bit of trouble. On the concave wheel, I had to run 25mm of spacer to clear the caliper.

DSC_3535 by ericandshovin, on Flickr

The caliper clearance interference can be solved in a few ways:
1. run the non concave wheels
2. steal the larger brake kit off my 325 track car. This will move the caliper outboard 10-13mm and give the spokes more space to move away from the caliper. Check out the profile differences Rallye vs. Race
3. Ditch the E30 M3 suspension in favor of E36 M3 suspension. With the deeper mounting depth of the caliper, I will have more room between the spokes and the caliper. E30 M3 vs. E36 M3
4. replace the SL6R with the thinner SL6R14. This caliper is no longer being made by wilwood, so it would require finding it NOS from a vender or used on the internet.






So, overall how did they fit? Surprisingly pretty good!

DSC_3533 by ericandshovin, on Flickr

&


DSC_3542 by ericandshovin, on Flickr



DSC_3531 by ericandshovin, on Flickr

&


DSC_3536 by ericandshovin, on Flickr







Pro's & Cons:


17x9.5 et35 concave wheel:

DSC_3526 by ericandshovin, on Flickr

+ Fit with a 25mm spacer to clear the wilwoods on the front side and less than a pinky finger width between the strut and the wheel. A phone call into apex revealed that the 1/2" difference between two concave wheels is all on the back, so I could possibly run 20mm spacer to sink the wheel in a little bit, but this would require a change in brake kits (I have them already, no cost change)
+ Prefer the look. Really really really prefer the look!
+ the concave 17x9 wheel weigh's 1.3lbs less per corner than the flat faced wheel. Maximum weight loss is not my end goal, but every little bit helps.
- These will stick out 13mm more than the proven setup Hyboost is running. I don't want to pay for respraying the fenders after a bad bump!
- Apex only has the anthracite version in stock. I think it will look good against the orange, but it would look better in silver, like the ones test fit on the car
- With the wheel sticking out 10+mm further, I might be limited to only a 245/40/17 square tire instead of a 255/40/17.
- Didn't actually fit the 17x9 et30 wheel, so I have to take what I learned from the 17x9.5 et35 wheel and make a good educated guess. :ohsnap:





17x9 et42 flat wheel

DSC_3528 by ericandshovin, on Flickr

+ Proven to work, both with Hyboost's information on S14.net and with yesterday's test fit.
+ less spacer needed to make the wheel fit
+ No brake caliper clearance problems
+ No need to change brake kits, suspension setups or even spacers... just bolt on and go!
+ I can run 255/40/17's no problem.
- I've alway thought the flat face ones were boring. This is a decade of disliking the look of this wheel (BBS RC then Apex). Might seam stupid, but this is a big big deal to me! On the other hand the black wheel with the huge tire did look pretty good and I think it might grow on me.
- Not concave






With either wheel setup, these steps will be performed to maximize potential & minimize risk...
- Roll all fenders flat
- Increase camber in the front as much as possible, up to -3.5deg
- Increase rear camber by TA adjustments, and lower ride height
- Lower front ride height to sink wheel into wheel well
- remove fender liners
- Turner motorsports steering stops


As always, your opinions are greatly appreciated! What do you think I should do???
DSC_3524 by ericandshovin, on Flickr


TLDR: go with concave that might fit and look better, or flat that will fit.

[ELVA164]

I mean, I can't really comment on the camber settings and stuff because I have a feeling looks are a part of it and that's your business, but I strongly prefer the flat wheels. I mean, I've never liked concave-style wheels in general (preferring a flat wheel with a thick step in the lip if I need negative offset). I think the flat face looks more correct for the car, as well. I feel like a curved, dished wheel belongs more on a curvy car. I would say the flat wheels would probably look better in a brighter color than black; you could also try a black center with a polished lip, that works on some of our race cars pretty well.

Aesthetics aside it sounds like it would take some pretty serious work to make the wheels fit easily and comfortably, and that doesn't sit right with me if it were my car.

[ak-]

Do what makes you happy inside, and once that decision frustrates you in the future, just go back to the more functional setup - which will evidently make you happy.

Or buy evo fenders hah.

I like the look of the silver wheels most and would most likely to through the trouble of making them work.

[markseven]

Go with the flat rims, no fuss, and IMO they look great.

[robgoesvroom]

GO CONCAVE so you don't have regrets later!

Makes me wanna go 5 lug just to fit those 17x9.5s

[Massimo]

I say Concave.

1. They look better
2. They are lighter
3. The extra width with the flat face is negligible less weight will play more of a part then an extra 10mm of tire especially if you end up going with something like AST with the old e30

[DER E30]

Arc-8! (the concave silver)
If you like the look better do it!! THe tires look better to me also with that extra half inch of wheel!

[jalopi]

I say concave, but that's only because that silver looks dope as hell on your car. The flat face versions would probably look just as sweet if they were the same color as those concave joints.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

concave imo

[Eric]

Right now this is what apex has in stock

17x9 et30 (concave) in anthracite

17x9 et42 (flat) in hyper silver or hyper black or anthracite


So to be clear, the exact wheels pictured are not what I was asking about, just the shape of the wheel.


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[matthugie]

My question would be what are you using the car for? If it's mostly for show then concave looks better, but if it's straight track then I'd go flat for ease of use and more direct fitment.

[vitiokas95]

Man your M3 looks mean with these wheels.

[M-technik-3]

Anyway you can choose both? Since it appears the white car will not be surviving the winter.

[Eric]

My question would be what are you using the car for? If it's mostly for show then concave looks better, but if it's straight track then I'd go flat for ease of use and more direct fitment.

This is for Autocross. Currently I have 16x7.5 225/45/16 dunlop zII's and I'm looking to run more tire next season.


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[matthugie]

Now the question is what tires are you running? Are you sticking with a street tire or going to R comps?