[Kasteel]

Originally Posted by ApexRaceParts

This is correct.



The wheel and tire combo looks good, however negative camber will be needed to clear the front fenders as mentioned. If you are looking to run a 255 square fitment, I presume this car will see track time? If so, adjustable camber plates will be necessary/beneficial for multiple reasons, not just to gain front fender clearance for the aggressive wheel/tire setup.

The rear is also going to need some camber dialed in, and we recommend rolling the rear fenders a touch to be sure you are maximizing clearance under load in mid-corner etc.

- Ryan

If 8,5J ET38 255 wont hit the strutt, a 8J ET45 245 would also fit I guess?

[mibikin]

Originally Posted by ApexRaceParts

Best to understand your goals for the car first. Will this be a 100% street car, or will it see any track time?

- Ryan

For now it's gonna be purely a street car. Eventually it'll see the track but that might not be for a while.

[ApexWheels]

Originally Posted by Kasteel

If 8,5J ET38 255 wont hit the strutt, a 8J ET45 245 would also fit I guess?

To be clear, do you mean the 8.5" ET45, or 8" ET45? I only ask because if you are referring our APEX wheels, it would be an 8.5" wheel.

Originally Posted by mibikin

For now it's gonna be purely a street car. Eventually it'll see the track but that might not be for a while.

Copy that. If you would like a staggered bolt-on fitment which requires no modifications to the car, I would run:

Front: 18x8.5" ET45 - 225/40-18
Rear: 18x9.5" ET58 - 255/35-18

- Ryan

[Kasteel]

Originally Posted by ApexRaceParts

To be clear, do you mean the 8.5" ET45, or 8" ET45? I only ask because if you are referring our APEX wheels, it would be an 8.5" wheel.

Sorry, I indeed break in into the Apex thread :$; I did mean 8J ET45

[mibikin]

Originally Posted by ApexRaceParts

To be clear, do you mean the 8.5" ET45, or 8" ET45? I only ask because if you are referring our APEX wheels, it would be an 8.5" wheel.



Copy that. If you would like a staggered bolt-on fitment which requires no modifications to the car, I would run:

Front: 18x8.5" ET45 - 225/40-18
Rear: 18x9.5" ET58 - 255/35-18

- Ryan

Are there options for more aggressive fitment or would I need to run spacers?

[ApexWheels]

Originally Posted by Kasteel

Sorry, I indeed break in into the Apex thread :$; I did mean 8J ET45

No problem, happy happy to answer your questions... just wanted to make sure we are on the same page.

An 18x8" ET45 will be a direct fit up front, however it will not be very flush to the fenders. I am assuming you are going to run a 225 or 235 tire, correct?

Originally Posted by mibikin

Are there options for more aggressive fitment or would I need to run spacers?

There are, however as you go more aggressive with the offset, the need for dialing in neg camber comes into play (to clear the front fenders). Give me a call when time permits and we can discuss your fitment in more detail. # is in the signature below

- Ryan

[Kasteel]

Originally Posted by ApexRaceParts

No problem, happy happy to answer your questions... just wanted to make sure we are on the same page.

An 18x8" ET45 will be a direct fit up front, however it will not be very flush to the fenders. I am assuming you are going to run a 225 or 235 tire, correct?

No, 245 (I hope); I tried et40 8j with 245, but due to M4 LCA and Eibach it did rub ; so I'm trying sollutions closer to the strutt .

[ApexWheels]

Originally Posted by Kasteel

No, 245 (I hope); I tried et40 8j with 245, but due to M4 LCA and Eibach it did rub ; so I'm trying sollutions closer to the strutt .

Interesting. You have more outer clearance with your 8" ET40 wheel in comparison to our customers running 8.5" wheels, therefore I would think the M LCA's would give you enough negative camber to clear. What brand of tire are you running?

The M LCA are great, however they we still recommend adjustable camber plates so that you have a broader adjustment range. The LCA's can only help so much.

Last, an 8.5" wheel would really be better suited for 245 tires if you desire decent sidewall support.

- Ryan

[rwalker]

Originally Posted by ApexRaceParts

Interesting. You have more outer clearance with your 8" ET40 wheel in comparison to our customers running 8.5" wheels, therefore I would think the M LCA's would give you enough negative camber to clear. What brand of tire are you running?

The M LCA are great, however they we still recommend adjustable camber plates so that you have a broader adjustment range. The LCA's can only help so much.

M LCAs decrease clearance, especially if you do LCAs without accompanying TSes...

[ApexWheels]

Originally Posted by rwalker

M LCAs decrease clearance, especially if you do LCAs without accompanying TSes...

Ah yes, track width changes by approx 10-12mm per side IIRC. We worked with GSR Technik on their 2 series WC build, so I should know better

With that said, for track enthusiasts on a mission to install 245 or 255 tires up front, we suggest adjustable camber plates for a broader range of camber adjustment. The extra degree of negative camber from the LCA does not quite cut it.

- Ryan

[Pnorth]

Hi Ryan,

Got the 19x8,5 Et35 and 19x9 Et38 ARC8's test fitted yesterday and even the 9 tested up front clears with a few mm left between rim and strut. With a spacer and the camber my coilovers with plates allows I think it could work fine as a square. However, I have decided to go with a 235&255 pilot 4s set up for the street with these wheels and ordered 4 9x18 ET 42 from your arc8 group buy yesterday to use as a square track set up - as you mention in your post below. (I know Anthony will be happy too now ;-) Haha!) Have you tested this IRL and if so which spacer did you go with? Any info about camber settings also - or anything else that could be of help?

P

Originally Posted by ApexRaceParts

You are correct, the black M235i was set-up by Brett Strom of Strom Motorsports. He choose the 18x9.5 ET35 front, and 18x9.5" ET58 rear layout for good reason. As many of you know, the 1 and 2 series chassis do not lend themselves to wide, track oriented square wheel & tire fitments. Proper inner strut and outer fender clearance with a 9.5" wide wheel is met only when axle specific offsets are used. To your point, in a perfect world enthusiasts would be able to run the same width and offsets from front to rear, allowing them to rotate effectively. If the 18x9.5" ET35 wheel was used in the rear, significant rear fender modifications/alterations would have been required. A simply fender roll and negative camber would not have sufficed.

Brett's goal for the car was likely to maximize front and rear end grip, while maintaining a balance that only a square fitment could provide. Brett has a solid resume when it comes to building and piloting race cars.

Technically the 18x9.5" ET58 wheel could have been used up front, however the car would have needed tremendously thick spacers to gain enough inner clearance to the strut (something like 30-35mm), and that was clearly not a viable option.

Keep in mind the 9.5" wheel width is really only warranted if a track warrior is set on running wide 265 tires. A majority of enthusiasts would be okay with running 255/35-18 tires, and in that case we would suggest the 18x9" ET42 wheel, as this can be ran as a true, rotatable square fitment with small spacers up front to clear your struts. In addition, the wheel face profile would match cohesively from front to rear unlike the fitment mentioned above. If the goal is to run 245's, the 18x8.5" ET35/38 wheels can be used in a true, rotatable square format as well.

If anyone has any fitment questions, please feel free to let us know.

-Ryan

[ApexWheels]

Originally Posted by Pnorth

Hi Ryan,

Got the 19x8,5 Et35 and 19x9 Et38 ARC8's test fitted yesterday and even the 9 tested up front clears with a few mm left between rim and strut. With a spacer and the camber my coilovers with plates allows I think it could work fine as a square. However, I have decided to go with a 235&255 pilot 4s set up for the street with these wheels and ordered 4 9x18 ET 42 from your arc8 group buy yesterday to use as a square track set up - as you mention in your post below. (I know Anthony will be happy too now ;-) Haha!) Have you tested this IRL and if so which spacer did you go with? Any info about camber settings also - or anything else that could be of help?

P

Thanks so much for the support! I would love to see some images of the 19's once installed

In regards to your track fitment (ARC-8 18x9" ET42), what coilovers are you running, and what brand/model & size tire are you going to go with?

- Ryan

[Liquidpaper]

I know this thread has not been updated in a while, but someone was asking about 18x8.5 ARC-8 ET 38 with 255/35 tires.

I've been running this setup for a few years. If you dial in some camber (with camber plates), it's fine - doesn't rub at stock ride height. There is a little poke in the rear even with camber dialed in (about -2.25), but when the suspension compresses the camber increases and you clear the fender.

In hindsight, I'd just have gotten the 18x8.5 ET 45 and used spacers up front, but I had this crazy idea of a no-spacer square fitment. This does work though -- so that is an option if anyone is interested.

[Liquidpaper]

Originally Posted by Liquidpaper

I know this thread has not been updated in a while, but someone was asking about 18x8.5 ARC-8 ET 38 with 255/35 tires.

I've been running this setup for a few years. If you dial in some camber (with camber plates), it's fine - doesn't rub at stock ride height. There is a little poke in the rear even with camber dialed in (about -2.25), but when the suspension compresses the camber increases and you clear the fender.

In hindsight, I'd just have gotten the 18x8.5 ET 45 and used spacers up front, but I had this crazy idea of a no-spacer square fitment. This does work though -- so that is an option if anyone is interested.

Update:

I am buying two ARC-8's with 18x8.5 ET 45 for the rear of my car. Under full (and I really mean like bottoming out on a dip in the road going 30 mph +) the rear rubs just a little bit. Otherwise, no rub. For me, it's more of a aesthetics thing and that the ET 38 in the rear only really works at stock ride height. If you ever want to lower the car, you need more offset, like OP.

Thankfully APEX wheels are not too expensive.

[adema24]

Originally Posted by Liquidpaper

Update:

I am buying two ARC-8's with 18x8.5 ET 45 for the rear of my car. Under full (and I really mean like bottoming out on a dip in the road going 30 mph +) the rear rubs just a little bit. Otherwise, no rub. For me, it's more of a aesthetics thing and that the ET 38 in the rear only really works at stock ride height. If you ever want to lower the car, you need more offset, like OP.

Thankfully APEX wheels are not too expensive.

So I bought the arc-8 in 18x8.5 et38 with the plan of running 245/35 all around with everything stock. I realize there will be some poke in the rear, but this should fit right?

[Liquidpaper]

Originally Posted by adema24

So I bought the arc-8 in 18x8.5 et38 with the plan of running 245/35 all around with everything stock. I realize there will be some poke in the rear, but this should fit right?

You should be okay with sufficient camber -- the ET 38's barely rubbed with 255 tires. With some stretch from the 245s, you should be okay.

[sebaflex]

Looks great OP!
Just to chime in on the square setup talk... I noticed the new Civic Type R runs 5x120 wheels and width/offset/fitment is very similar to these cars. Opens up to a whole lot of new options for wheels.

[Shadowfax028]

To chime in, I have read this whole post lots of information.
But Please help. I would like to run 18 x 9 squared with a 245 series tire.

What offsets do I need. Et 42 f et 45 r? I Will be upgrading the LCA's & TS. Camber plates If necessary.

[BEM-S4]

OP - thanks for posting pics! A month or two ago I got ARC-8 for dad's E46 ZHP convertible, and I was having a hard time deciding that or EC-7 for my car. You got me over the hump, EC-7 ordered 5 minutes ago. Think it's more era appropriate for my car, almost like a modern update of the ARC-8 which is such a classic look.