Reggie Enchilada
Autocross Newbie
- Location
- nowhere
- Car(s)
- yes
What's the load index of the tires that you are switching to? Once you know that, you can start to figure out the cold inflation pressure.
7
► Official APEX VW SM-10 Flow Formed Wheel Thread
- Thread starter APEXWheels
- Start date
tarheelbob
Ready to race!
- Location
- Asheville, NC
- Car(s)
- 2021 VW GTI S
Some quick and dirty parking lot pics when picking it up from the installation. 2021 GTI Dark Iron Blue with 17x8.5 wheels and sticky Continental Extreme Contact Sport 235/45 R17.
theDoktor
Go Kart Champion
- Location
- Buffalo, NY area
- Car(s)
- 2017 GTI Sport
Looks like my order is (was) being held because of unavailability/backorder of the same color (anthracite) valve stems. After a couple of emails with Apex, we agreed that a substitution of silver metal valve stems was acceptable. I'm anticipating a shipping confirmation email at any time now.
An interesting discussion came up in our email conversation; Apex apparently thought my 2017 GTI Sport used wheel-mounted TPMS sensors. My wheels clearly do not have any TPMS wheel sensors (I'm on my second set of tires & had the valve stems replaced with the newest set) and my understanding is that the ABS system provides that function. When did VW go to the ABS system providing the TPMS function?
An interesting discussion came up in our email conversation; Apex apparently thought my 2017 GTI Sport used wheel-mounted TPMS sensors. My wheels clearly do not have any TPMS wheel sensors (I'm on my second set of tires & had the valve stems replaced with the newest set) and my understanding is that the ABS system provides that function. When did VW go to the ABS system providing the TPMS function?
virpacalis
Go Kart Newbie
- Location
- near Philly
- Car(s)
- '17 R DSG
Tire Rack lists its max. load at 1,609 (XL).
TheProfessional
Go Kart Newbie
- Location
- Texas
MK6
bentin
Autocross Champion
- Location
- Austin, TX
- Car(s)
- 23 Golf R - 3 Pedals
Does any current VAG product use physical TPMS sensors? My 17 and 18 GTI's haven't and neither does our 18 Q5.
TheProfessional
Go Kart Newbie
- Location
- Texas
None that I am aware of.
Drincc
Go Kart Newbie
- Location
- Vancouver, Canada
- Car(s)
- 2019 GTI
Seeing all these 17's with meat is making me consider selling my VWRs for a set.
jimlloyd40
Autocross Champion
- Location
- Phoenix
- Car(s)
- 2018 SE DSG
Mine does but of course it's aftermarket.
I've tried to explain wheel deflection to people previously in the light wheel thread and people acted like I was crazy. Deflection has serious performance and durability implications.
theDoktor
Go Kart Champion
- Location
- Buffalo, NY area
- Car(s)
- 2017 GTI Sport
I haven't been following the light wheel thread for a while & would like to get educated on the subject of wheel deflection. If you don't mind, might you be able to provide me an appropriate link on the subject?
Much appreciated!
You won't find much on the internet. Everyone wants super light wheels. Reduced deflection doesn't sound as sexy, but it isn't rocket science. The more deflection, the more clearance you need for your brakes, the more variation there is in your dynamic alignment settings, and the more deflection there is, the faster a wheel will reach point of failure under track conditions. Wheels are a consumable on a tracked or raced car.
Last edited:
TheProfessional
Go Kart Newbie
- Location
- Texas
Exactly this. Cyclic fatigue on aluminum wheels is a thing that most people don't understand. Aluminum WILL fail eventually due to cyclic fatigue. How soon depends on the stress in the material which with more deflection, is higher.
It's easy for people to understand that bending a paper clip back and forth will cause it to break, but can't see the same principle applies to track wheels.
bentin
Autocross Champion
- Location
- Austin, TX
- Car(s)
- 23 Golf R - 3 Pedals
Except paper clips are steel, which does not suffer from cyclic fatigue like aluminum, but does fail when pushed past it's limits, like bending it 180 degrees multiple times. There's a reason I replace my aluminum seatposts and handlebars on my bikes fairly frequently but don't worry about the titanium seatpost nearly as much. Nothing worse than a snapped seatpost saying hello to your posterior.