► Official APEX VW SM-10 Flow Formed Wheel Thread

[APEXWheels]

18x9.5. holy cow.!!

The MK8 R really impressed us when we tested that fitment. The 18x9.5" ET41 spec was originally made to cater towards the RS3/TTRS but after playing around with that setup on the MK8 R, we learned it is feasible to get it to fit with 265/35-18 tires at all four corners. However, I will note, that setup is SUPER aggressive and I would only recommend it for a dedicated track application, as -3.0 to -3.5 degrees of front camber and -2.2 to -2.5 degrees of rear camber will be required to clear the fenders and avoid any rubbing.

All things considered, the 18x9" ET42 is still the superior option for the vast majority of MK8 R owners, but for the folks crazy enough to run it, the 18x9.5" ET41 can technically work with the right supporting mods.

-Geirsen

 

[bentin]

Yeah, at stock height and alignment, the 17x9 work great. I could see getting another half inch in there with no issues.

 

[APEXWheels]

Yeah, at stock height and alignment, the 17x9 work great. I could see getting another half inch in there with no issues.

The trickiest part, especially on the MK7 R, (and MK8 R but it isn't as bad as the MK7) is the rear/inner clearance. When using the 18x9.5" ET41 with 265/35-18 tires, the rear subframe/fuel filler is incredibly tight with the inner shoulder/sidewall of the tire. Considering it is also super tight on the fender side, you REALLY have to play a balancing game with your alignment settings out back to ensure enough clearance on both sides. You definitely need to dial-in more camber in the rear to clear the outer fender but too much negative camber can bring the top/inner shoulder of the tire to the point of contacting the subframe/fuel filler. Due to this, I could only foresee that setup working on a MK7 R with a very particular tire/suspension/alignment combo. Which at the end of the day, is a lot of work just to gain another 10mm of contact patch compared to the 17/18x9" ET42 with 255's.

-Geirsen

 

[Lord_Flexington]

18x9.5. holy cow.!!

I cannot wait to see what a 18x9 setup looks like square. gonna be so much meat <3

 

[GTIfan99]

The trickiest part, especially on the MK7 R, (and MK8 R but it isn't as bad as the MK7) is the rear/inner clearance. When using the 18x9.5" ET41 with 265/35-18 tires, the rear subframe/fuel filler is incredibly tight with the inner shoulder/sidewall of the tire. Considering it is also super tight on the fender side, you REALLY have to play a balancing game with your alignment settings out back to ensure enough clearance on both sides. You definitely need to dial-in more camber in the rear to clear the outer fender but too much negative camber can bring the top/inner shoulder of the tire to the point of contacting the subframe/fuel filler. Due to this, I could only foresee that setup working on a MK7 R with a very particular tire/suspension/alignment combo. Which at the end of the day, is a lot of work just to gain another 10mm of contact patch compared to the 17/18x9" ET42 with 255's.

-Geirsen

Which has more brake clearance, SM10 or VS-5 in 18 x 9?

 

[APEXWheels]

Which has more brake clearance, SM10 or VS-5 in 18 x 9?

The SM-10 and VS-5 have roughly the same amount of brake clearance in all 17" and 18" sizes. In some cases, depending on the brake kit in question, the VS-5 might have a 1-2mm advantage in clearance around the drop well.

-Geirsen

 

[GTIfan99]

The SM-10 and VS-5 have roughly the same amount of brake clearance in all 17" and 18" sizes. In some cases, depending on the brake kit in question, the VS-5 might have a 1-2mm advantage in clearance around the drop well.

-Geirsen

Awesome, because I really wanted the VS-5.

 

[APEXWheels]

Awesome, because I really wanted the VS-5.

The VS-5, much like the SM-10, offers a ton of value for these cars considering the weight/strength/price point. The only "down side" to the VS-5 is the centercap hole size. While the VW/Audi SM-10, ML-10RT, VS-5RS, and TC-10RT all accept the OEM VW centercaps, the VS-5 is the one exception as the centercap hole is a bit smaller (to cater to all of the other markets/vehicles this design serves).

-Geirsen