M2 Competition: The Enthusiasts BMW
With modern BMWs growing ever larger, heavier and more complex with each successive generation, the F87 M2 and M2 Competiton have struck a balance between modern turbocharged power and the classic brand-defining compact packaging and balanced handling that defined their predecessors. This sweet spot has not gone unnoticed within the BMW enthusiast community with many owners falling in love with their M2. BMW also went beyond their past brake designs with the move to the Competition models by mounting huge brakes up front to handle the additional load of an S55 powered car hurtling into braking zones. With the 2NH steel brakes being standard in the US, 18” wheels were no longer an option. We knew 19s would be the way forward with the Competition cars and were excited to plan aggressive widths with offsets made specifically for this chassis. The EC-7s were born to clear massive brakes and their classic looks naturally lent themselves to the M2 chassis which made them the obvious choice for our M2 Competition wheels.
You asked, we listened! We're excited to announce that we've developed an M2C-specific track setup that clears the new 2NH 400mm front/380mm rear factory big brake setup. Since no 18" wheel can fit over this monstrous brake setup, 19" wheels are required. Through community feedback, we decided to produce these fitments in our popular EC-7 design in widths and offsets that were specifically designed with the goal of maximizing tire width under the fenders with little to no modifications.
We referenced our existing 18” wheel specifications created for the standard M2 (18x9.5” ET28 / 18x10.5” ET40), and after much discussion and research, have decided to make a small change to the rear wheel offset that you’ll appreciate. Many M2 enthusiasts expressed concern with rear fender clearance especially with tire models that run wide. Since our mission was to provide M2 Competition owners with 19” wheel solutions that properly accommodated popular track and race tire compounds, we decided to raise the rear offset from ET40 to ET45. This small but meaningful change in offset moved the rear wheels 5mm inboard where there is room to spare while maintaining a flush fitment in relation to the fenders. The result is wheel specifications tailored for 265/30-19 front and 295/30-19 rear tires. Other staggered tire combinations will work but many popular r-compounds like Toyo R888-R, Michelin Sport Cup2, and Pirelli Trofeo R are only available in this particular front and rear size combination.
M2 CS: CCB Clearances
The announcement of the M2CS was no surprise to BMW enthusiasts. A final high-performance model to round out the top of the M2 line seemed inevitable but was still a welcome addition. Beyond the power bump, the optional ceramic brakes caught our eye. As the first M2 to be equipped with MCCBs, we wanted to ensure our wheels cleared these brakes with ease to give M2 CS owners an aftermarket option beyond their factory 763M wheels. With templates built from in-house laser scans powered by Creaform, we were able to confirm that our EC-7s and new SM-10s cleared these optional carbon brakes giving CS owners an easy and affordable way to increase grip front and rear.
SM-10s and the M2: Flow Forming Evolved
The EC-7s in our M2 Competition specification proved to be even more popular than we initially anticipated. As more and more of our customers expressed their appreciation for a wider wheel fitment optimized for their M2, we knew the community would embrace an additional design option in these sizes. Our SM-10 from the Evolution Line was the natural choice as it mirrored the EC-7’s excellent spoke-side brake clearance while bringing features normally reserved for forged wheels down to a flow-formed price point. Knurled bead seats keep tires from slipping on the wheels during hard braking and acceleration helping to keep wheelsets balanced and smooth both on track and on the drive home. Side spoke milling helps keep the weight of these wheels low and a redesigned inner lip reinforces the wheel in the most critical area of the barrel to reduce bends from offtrack excursions or unexpected potholes on the street. These are fantastic features for enthusiasts looking for the ideal dual-duty setup. Beyond the technical details, the SM-10’s modern design was well suited to the M2 chassis and has us excited for the future of APEX wheels on the M2 and M2 competition chassis!
Learn more about our SM-10 wheels here:
https://www.apexraceparts.com/our-wh...tion-sm10.html
APEX EC-7 & SM-10
Details and Specifications
EC-7 Finishes:
EC-7 Specifications:
➡︎ 19x9.5 ET28
Weight: 22.65 lbs
Face Profile: 3
➡︎ 19x10.5 ET45
Weight: 23.4 lbs
Face Profile: 3
SM-10 Finishes:
SM-10 Specifications:
➡︎ 19x9.5 ET28
Weight: ~22.6 lbs
Face Profile: 3
➡︎ 19x10.5 ET45
Weight: ~23.1 lbs
Face Profile: 3
Fitment Recommendations & Tire Availability
Staggered vs. Rotatable Square Configurations
As defined in the chart above, we anticipate the most popular setup to be the staggered wheel fitment wrapped in 265/295 tires. There are pros and cons of both staggered and square configurations, and a laundry list of contributing factors to conclude which is superior like chassis type, suspension components, alignment settings, HP and TQ figures, whether or not aero is present, etc., so for the sake of brevity lets keep the comparison high level.
Earlier generations like the E36, E46, and even the E9X M3 are
typically better suited running a rotatable square setup. Not only does the ability to rotate wheels and tires on all four corners of the car have a dramatic impact on the seasonal tire budget, but these chassis also respond very well to square configurations from a performance perspective. Squaring things up is an easy way to dial out unwanted understeer while improving turn-in, and it often results in a more neutral handling experience overall. Square fitments can limit your tire width, as you are bound to what you can manage to fit under the narrower front fender arches. With the E36 (S50/S52), E46 (S54) and E9X (S65) M3 generations, the respective naturally aspirated power plants are not pumping out overwhelming amounts of horsepower or torque, therefore, with negative camber dialed in enthusiasts are able to stuff compounds that are plenty wide under the front fenders, and the rears simply follow suit. In short, by going with a rotatable square setup for the aforementioned chassis, you really aren't sacrificing rear end grip to gain all of the benefits square fitments have to offer.
Enter the F8X M generation which scavenges power through forced induction, the conversation becomes a little more interesting. It is up to the driver to decide which wheel and tire configuration best suit his/her personal skill level behind the wheel, driving style, seasonal budget, and ultimately goals and intentions when attending HPDE's. These cars can make some serious power with very simple modifications like a tune, so rear end grip becomes more of a concern. While one driver piloting an F8X M is perfectly satisfied running 275's on all four corners of the car to gain all of the benefits of a square setup, another driver in pursuit of shaving down lap times or finishing on the podium will prioritize maximizing front and rear end grip at all costs. As they say, big HP figures look attractive on paper, but you have to be able to put that power down to the pavement. This is most noticeable when applying throttle on corner exit, and cars like the Mustang GT350 and Camaro ZL1 1LE find themselves in the same predicament.
The last major contributing factor is tire availability. With 18" wheels, there is an overwhelming amount of support from tire manufactures, and for many years this diameter (and smaller) was the primary focus for manufacturers offering track and race compounds. As the industry shifts to larger brake setups and in turn larger diameter wheels, tire manufacturers are
slowly expanding their 19"+ offerings. At the end of the day, you can have the perfect wheel specifications, but they are of no value to you if there aren't tires to choose from. Tire availability or lack thereof in your desired compound may influence your decision you to run a square or staggered configuration. The good news is that we are offering both solutions.
We took the liberty of listing tire options in each of the respective configurations with an emphasis on performance street tires, r-compounds, semi slicks, and racing slicks. We are really hoping more extreme summer and r-compounds become available in the appropriate 19" sizes. If we missed anything, just let us know and we will edit the list.
Tire Availability - Staggered Configurations
APEX Staff Picks are noted with
blue text. These are our favorite options in certain critical categories and fitments.
F: 255/35-19 / R: 275/35-19
Performance Street
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, Yokohama Advan Apex V601, Continental Extremecontact Sport, Hankook V12 Evo2
Extreme Summer
Yokohama AD08R
Streetable Track and Competition
Michelin Cup 2
F: 265/30-19 / R: 285/30-19
Performance Street
Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2, Kumho Ecsta PS91, Firestone Firehawk Indy 500
Extreme Summer
None available
Streetable Track and Competition
None available
F: 265/30-19 / R: 295/30-19
Performance Street
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2, Kumho Ecsta PS91
Extreme Summer
None available
Streetable Track and Competition
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2,
Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R , Toyo R888R
F: 275/30-19 / R: 295/30-19
Performance Street
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2, Kumho Ecsta PS91
Extreme Summer
None available
Streetable Track and Competition
None available
F: 275/30-19 / R: 305/30-19
Performance Street
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, Continental Extremecontact Sport, Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2, Kumho Ecsta PS91
Extreme Summer
None available
Streetable Track and Competition
None available
Tire Availability - Rotatable Square Configurations
F&R: 265/30-19
Performance Street
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2, Kumho Ecsta PS91
Extreme Summer
None available
Streetable Track & Competition
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2,
Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R, Toyo R888R
F&R: 275/30-19
Performance Street
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, Continental Extremecontact Sport, Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2, Kumho Ecsta PS91, Firestone Firehawk Indy 500, Dunlop Direzza DZ102
Extreme Summer
Nitto NT05
Streetable Track & Competition
None available
Photos
- Ryan and the APEX team -