APEX EC-7 || Official Wheel of SCCA Nationals Spec Mustang (SMG)

It’s official! The APEX 18x10” ET43 EC-7 Mustang Wheel is now the official wheel of the SCCA Nationals Spec Mustang (SMG) series. Spec Mustang is a growing road racing class in the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) that utilizes the 2005-2009 S197 Ford Mustang GT. Drivers are attracted to this exhilarating series due to its ability to deliver a competitive racing environment where driver skill is paramount, and initial build and running maintenance costs are controlled by strict specifications.

Our Flow Formed EC-7 Mustang wheel is a perfect fit for the series due to its durability, superior brake clearance, and weight optimization. This wheel also carries an affordable price tag, synonymous with the Spec Mustang mantra. The APEX team is proud to be on board, and we look forward to sharing more of this exciting road racing series throughout the year within this thread.

Click here for more information on the Spec Mustang series.

2018 Road Racing Schedule


*MRLS = Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

For a 2016 GT Premium(no Brembos), how wide of a wheel/tire combo can I have in the front and back.
Specially the front?
With and without a spacer(I would like to avoid a spacer)?

Thanks!

lucasmelobr said:

For a 2016 GT Premium(no Brembos), how wide of a wheel/tire combo can I have in the front and back.
Specially the front?
With and without a spacer(I would like to avoid a spacer)?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

In order to give your the best fitment recommendation, I would need to know how you plan to use the car. There are a few ways you can go with this, but not all enthusiasts needs/priorities are the same.

How will you use the car? Cruising around town, drag racing, street and occasional track days, track use only etc.

Do you have stock suspension? If so, are you willing / interested in installing adjustable camber plates to accommodate more wheel and tire under the front fenders?

Do you have a preference of 18" vs. 19" diameter? Our 18" wheels can easily clear the PP Brembo brakes and most other aftermarket BBK's should you decide to upgrade your brakes in the future.

- Ryan

ApexRaceParts said:

In order to give your the best fitment recommendation, I would need to know how you plan to use the car. There are a few ways you can go with this, but not all enthusiasts needs/priorities are the same.

How will you use the car? Cruising around town, drag racing, street and occasional track days, track use only etc.

Do you have stock suspension? If so, are you willing / interested in installing adjustable camber plates to accommodate more wheel and tire under the front fenders?

Do you have a preference of 18" vs. 19" diameter? Our 18" wheels can easily clear the PP Brembo brakes and most other aftermarket BBK's should you decide to upgrade your brakes in the future.

- Ryan

Click to expand...

Ryan - The car is a daily driver but I have a wheels/tires for that.

-The new wheels/tires will be used for around 10 HPDE track days(nothing too crazy).
-The only suspension mod is a "Ford Performance Track Handling Pack" P/N M-FR3A-M8 (1" drop).
-I don't have camber plates today but I'm looking for one now. I will still need to run with settings that are "ok" for street use too.
-I'm leaning towards 19 inch but open to 18 inch wheels also.

My main objective is to add wider tires in front, I was curious as to how your wheels can facilitate that(from an offset perspective).
If it matters, I'm currently looking at Toyo R888Rs or Nitto NT01s

Thanks again.

lucasmelobr said:

For a 2016 GT Premium(no Brembos), how wide of a wheel/tire combo can I have in the front and back.
Specially the front?
With and without a spacer(I would like to avoid a spacer)?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Sorry for jumping in but my answer should be relevant to your needs.

For track wheels I would recommend running an 18" x 10" ET43 in the EC7 wheel. You have many more options for tires if you run the 18" wheels. You also have a little more sidewall and will protect the wheels a little better if you like to use the curbs at the track.

I would also recommend running a 305/35/18 square in the NT01, you will need a spacer and longer wheel studs for the front but they are so easy to change out it is really a non issue. The square setup allows for another option to rotate the tires front to rear and extends the life of the tire a great deal. You will easily get 2 maybe 3 additional track events out of the tires if properly rotated. That is a huge savings in overall tire costs. I have run the 305 square NT01s for 2 seasons and I do about 16-20 track days a year on them. You can easily get 40 heat cycles out of a set and if your alignment is really dialed in and you manage the tires with proper rotation you can get to 50-55 heat cycles. This means less aggressive drivers will likely be able to run a full season on a single set of tires. The NT01 is a great track tire, but not the fastest tire out there. Overall they are a great value and a very good performer. PS - they like it rough, you have to drive aggressive with the NT01 to get the most out of them. Start pressures are 24-25psi and a hot target of 34-35psi, run them much higher and they will get greasy at the end of your sessions.

If you feel the need for more than a 305 in the front you can do it but it is much more complicated and will require some minor suspension mods to the front end for them to fit. You will also need to go to a 10.5" or 11" wide wheel for them to work.

If you run a staggered setup like a 275 front and 305 rear you cannot rotate front to rear and the fronts will be run off in about 30 sessions or maybe even sooner if your alignment is not dialed in. This will put you in a weird situation with tire wear as the fronts need to be replaced before the rears so you will really never have a matched set of tires except for the first time you use the new full set. Also the car really wakes up with a square setup, the front end needs as much help as you can give it for turn in and the wider tires helps a bunch.

Good luck in your decision but you really can not go wrong with the 18" x 10" square setup wearing 305 NT01s.

Dave

lucasmelobr said:

Ryan - The car is a daily driver but I have a wheels/tires for that.

-The new wheels/tires will be used for around 10 HPDE track days(nothing too crazy).
-The only suspension mod is a "Ford Performance Track Handling Pack" P/N M-FR3A-M8 (1" drop).
-I don't have camber plates today but I'm looking for one now. I will still need to run with settings that are "ok" for street use too.
-I'm leaning towards 19 inch but open to 18 inch wheels also.

My main objective is to add wider tires in front, I was curious as to how your wheels can facilitate that(from an offset perspective).
If it matters, I'm currently looking at Toyo R888Rs or Nitto NT01s

Thanks again.

Click to expand...

Great stuff, thank you for the background info. Since you will be using them for track use, I would highly recommend running a true rotatable square fitment. Not only will you get more life out of your tires as Dave explained above, you will achieve a more balanced / neutral handling experience. The S550 really comes to life with a lightweight square setup in combination with the right alignment settings (specifically negative camber).

To top things off, many track enthusiasts choose to purchase 5 wheels in total. Having a spare on you is invaluable, and should you compromise a wheel and/or tire on track (it happens often), you've got a fresh unit ready to install on any corner of the car. You've invested quite a bit of time and money prepping for a track weekend, and the last thing you want to do is pack your bags early.

In terms of tires, I agree with Daves assessment on the NT01s. I run them on my personal track car, and although there are faster tires out there for those wanting to be a hero out there, they provide a great blend of grip vs longevity and remain quite predictable. NT01's are notorious for turning their fastest lap times right before they cord - they typically do not heat cycle out. They are the clear winner in comparison to the R888. Look out for the promotions Discount Tire runs on ebay every so often, you can get a few hundred dollars off each set

Now that we have narrowed down the tire of choice, here are my fitment recommendations depending on how much tire you are looking to run.

Option 1
F&R: EC-7 18x10" ET43 - 275/40-18 NT01
* Typically a direct fit

Option 2
F&R: EC-7 18x11" ET43 - 305/35-18 NT01
*Requires 25mm spacers and extended studs up front to clear struts (slimmer spacers if you have coilovers with offset struts)
*Requires negative camber to clear fenders

Option 3
F&R: EC-7 19x10" ET40 - 285/35-19 NT01
* Typically a direct fit, however in some instances 5mm spacers may be needed for more strut clearance (depends on suspension etc.)

Option 4
F&R: EC-7 19x11" ET52 - 305/30-19 NT01
*Requires 25mm spacers and extended studs up front to clear struts (slimmer spacers if you have coilovers with offset struts)
*Requires negative camber to clear fenders

Although you can technically mount 305 tires on a 10" wheel, it really is not in your best interest. Tires need proper sidewall support to perform to their potential, and stiffer sidewalls will supply the driver with more feedback mid-corner. Overly wide tires, regardless of their sidewall construction, on a narrow wheel will result in too much sidewall flex. The end result is a mushy feeling behind the wheel. Keep in mind, sectional tire width is influenced by the wheel width itself.


- Ryan

Ryan and ddozier thank you very much, lots of good info.

ddozier - What size of front spacers and camber are you running with the 18" x 10" ET43 EC7 on 305s NT01s?

Given that this is a daily driver, I need to worry about camber/clearance.
I REALLY want to invest on the 305s/Wheels but I might need to settle on option 3.

Option 3
F&R: EC-7 19x10" ET40 - 285/35-19 NT01
* Typically a direct fit, however in some instances 5mm spacers may be needed for more strut clearance (depends on suspension etc.)

lucasmelobr said:

Ryan and ddozier thank you very much, lots of good info.

ddozier - What size of front spacers and camber are you running with the 18" x 10" ET43 EC7 on 305s NT01s?

Given that this is a daily driver, I need to worry about camber/clearance.
I REALLY want to invest on the 305s/Wheels but I might need to settle on option 3.

Option 3
F&R: EC-7 19x10" ET40 - 285/35-19 NT01
* Typically a direct fit, however in some instances 5mm spacers may be needed for more strut clearance (depends on suspension etc.)

Click to expand...

I run the H&R 15mm or 17mm wheel spacer since the spacers come as a kit with the longer wheel studs included, but Apex has some nice spacers if you have a source for the longer wheel studs. You may need a slightly different spacer as I also have coil over suspension and sometimes that can make the spacer size a little bit narrower than one needed for a stock suspension. Also Camber adjusting bolts and Camber Plates effect the size of the spacer because they change how the camber is applied to the strut.

Camber with the NT-01 is very similar to what a more aggressive track tire like a Hoosier R7 would want, it does depend on how aggressive you drive as to the total amount of camber you will need.

The best method to determine camber is to measure tire temps across the tire in 3 steps, inside, middle and outside. Use this info to add camber until the tire reads fairly even across the tire with the inside being warmer than the middle and the middle being warmer than the outside. You are looking for a variance of about 10% across the tire. The tire temps are influenced by many things with air pressure being the largest influence then alignment. So take lots of notes and use the same hot tire pressure every time to get consistent measurements.

Having said that a NT-01 likes negative camber and a lot of it, but it will do quite well on slightly higher than street settings so it makes it a good compromise tire. Also Camber alone does not wear out a tire on the inside edges. Camber and toe settings will effect tire wear and toe is what is causing the inside edge of the tire to scrub when you are running higher negative camber numbers. The scrubbing will reduce tire life very fast. You can get away with higher negative camber if you can live with running less static toe or no toe in your alignment.

Everything is a compromise when you run a street car on the track. The cost of track consumables should be your first priority then worry about street consumables. Street tires are cheaper, harder, and last longer, track tires are softer, cost more, and are used more aggressively so they will wear out faster. Maximize track tire wear and you will save money over max street tire life.

If you do not track much consider getting the car aligned before and after each event to maximize both. Also if you have your alignment done at a performance shop that knows track cars you can ask them to mark the camber plates for street and track settings so you can switch between the two settings with basic hand tools and a floor jack.

Dave

SCCA Nationals Spec Mustang Series Update

Here are some updates from the SCCA Nationals Spec Mustang Series. We’d like to give a big congrats to Roger Eagleton Racing for his 1st Place finish in the Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour at Buttonwillow Raceway Park a few weekends ago. Roger ran a square setup of our APEX 18x10" ET43 EC-7 wheels.





REGIONAL 1 & 2 @ THUNDERHILL
MARCH 3-4, 2018



“Looks like it was another exciting weekend racing the Spec Mustang with Sports Car Club of America – San Francisco Region at Thunderhill Raceway! The group as a whole is getting faster, with AV8 Supercars drivers Clark Nunes, Ken Pederson and Don Van Nortwick locking out the top three spots in qualifying for the start of race # 1! Additionally, last years championship runner-up, Mike Lowe, posted his fastest time EVER around the track in his new Spec Mustang during race # 2!” ~Spec Mustang


REGIONAL 3 & 4 @ LAGUNA SECA
MARCH 16-18, 2018



“Spec Mustang family member Clark Nunes draws first blood at the National level with his win at Willow Springs International Raceway this past weekend for the SCCA Majors event!”~Spec Mustang


MAJOR @ THUNDERHILL
APRIL 7-8, 2018



“Man oh man, what a weekend of racing!! The Spec Mustang’s really put on a show this weekend running in the SCCA Majors presented by Casino Fandango, where they ran in their National “T2” Class trim which makes them eligible for the upcoming Sonoma SCCA Runoffs 2018. The group had some heavy hitters out with Addison Lee, Roger Eagleton, Beau Borders, David Ray, Clark Nunes, Ken Pederson & Russ Peterson all bringing their “A” game and putting on a great display of close racing that left the announcer and spectators breathless for a large part of the race! Beau Borders and Willow Springs race winner Clark Nunes stole the show with their 35 minutes of back and forth racing that was ultimately decided by a smart set up and pass on the last corner of the last lap with Beau Borders just edging out Clark for position. Upfront, Addison Lee and Roger Eagleton demonstrated to the crowd that you don’t need a tiny Miata to enjoy wheel to wheel, door to door, bumper to bumper, close and clean racing because you can find all that and more with these big, V8 powered Ford Spec Mustangs!” ~Spec Mustang


REGIONAL 5 & 6 @ THUNDERHILL
APRIL 21-22, 2018



“It was a busy but good weekend for Spec Mustang drivers at Races 5 & 6 – SCCA San Francisco Championship at Thunderhill Raceway! Relative newcomer to the series, Igor Gandzjuk, showed some true grit and determination late last year and early this year as he struggled with electrical gremlins that prevented him from showing his true speed out on the track. However, as his solid second place finish on Sunday has shown, those electrical gremlins are a thing of the past and he can now focus on racking up those podiums and trophies in his bad ass orange and black Spec Mustang!! Series veteran Clark Nunes also put on an impressive display by qualifying on pole for Sunday’s race and went on to lead every lap on the way to a well deserved victory!

The Spec Mustang’s will be back in action this coming weekend at the Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour event at Buttonwillow Raceway Park which is being hosted by the Southern California SCCA Chapter, better known as Cal Club! Spec Mustang drivers Addison Lee, David Ray, Russ Peterson, Don Van Nortwick, Beau Borders, Clark Nunes, Roger Eagleton and many others will be competing in the Touring 2 Class.

If the excitement of the Touring 2 Class race two weeks ago at Thunderhill Raceway was any indication of what’s to come, then you can be sure that there will be some close and great wheel to wheel, door to door action going on throughout the weekend!” ~Spec Mustang

Series details provided by Spec Mustang, follow their Facebook Page for more updates.

- Cory