New Forged TC-10RT Wheels for Audi & Volkswagen

• The all-new TC-10RT is a fully-forged wheel designed to solve the brake clearance problems faced by Audi and VW platforms that feature massive OEM 8-piston brakes.
• It features a heritage motorsport aesthetic that draws inspiration for its split 10-spoke design from the wheels used on the wide-body race cars Audi and VW runs in the TCR series.
• TC-10RT delivers remarkable stiffness, strength, and excellent weight-savings in tailored fitments that require no centering rings, spacers, or additional hardware to fit the platforms it was designed for.

Whether building a track weapon, an optimized street machine, or using das auto as a medium for self-expression, Audi and VW owners are some of the most passionate enthusiasts in the world. While the aftermarket has always recognized that passion and generally takes great care of that community, some of their most potent platforms – like the 8V RS3 and TT RS – feature massive 8-piston OEM brakes that are plagued by clearance issues, greatly limiting their options in high-performance aftermarket wheels, and especially so when it comes to forged wheels. After looking closely at our existing offerings for Audi wheels and VW wheels, we recognized the need for a completely new design to clear those big brakes. With the all-new TC-10RT, we’ve designed a forged wheel from the ground up to solve that problem.

This wheel design doesn’t just clear the huge OEM brakes found on these cars, certain fitments can accommodate any big brake kit on the market for these platforms and clears every relevant brake scan in our library – a first for an Apex design.

The TC-10RT project was originally dreamt up by our in-house VW/Audi market fitment expert, himself a deeply dedicated VAG tuning enthusiast. Being that this wheel was designed specifically to solve a problem faced by these marques, its styling had to be a love letter to their motorsport heritage. We found the perfect inspiration for its aesthetic in the wheels VW and Audi ran in the legendary Touring Car Racing (TCR) series. The actual wheels used on the wide-body race cars campaigned in that series are a heavy, basic, cast design that have never been made available to the public, and their fitments would never work on a street car. With its split 10-spoke design, the TC-10RT brilliantly evokes that look and translates it into a tremendously functional forged wheel that nods at the motorsport heritage of these brands in a way no other wheel does. As such, we’ve produced it in fitments for many of their platforms, like late model GTIs and Golf R, that don’t necessarily require massive brake clearance, but want an upgraded wheel packed with Real Performance features that captures that once unobtainable Touring Car Racing look.

We also recognized the lack of high-performance forged wheel options being made in direct fitments for these cars, so we engineered that uncompromising brake clearance into a well-balanced, fully-forged wheel that delivers tremendous stiffness, excellent strength, and respectable weight-savings, all in fitments tailored for the unique needs of small-bore (5x112/57.1mm) Audi/VW platforms. And unlike the majority of aftermarket wheels available for these cars, the TC-10RT works with OEM hardware and requires no centering rings, spacers, or additional hardware to fit.

Made to Brake, Not to Break

The TC-10RT is part of our Touring Line. Its unique 10-spoke design delivers exceptional stiffness and it boasts a load rating that exceeds JWL standards at 1,600 lbs, and at ~19.9 to 20.9 lbs (depending on your fitment), it offers excellent weight-savings. In fact, this wheel weighs around 3 lbs less than the simple cast TCR competition wheel it takes its visual inspiration from, and it shaves off almost 8 lbs relative to these platforms’ OEM wheels. For example, in an 18x9” ET42 fitment, it is 20.4 lbs, whereas the OEM wheel found on an 8V RS3 is 28.2 lbs. We also incorporated our reinforced Sprint Spec inner lip for extra strength where it’s needed most at the least supported point on the wheel, making it a truly competition-grade wheel with remarkable durability engineered into its design.

Part of how we accomplished TC-10RT’s unrivaled brake clearance was by developing a unique spoke profile for it. This profile delivers as much inner brake clearance as possible, but does so without sacrificing strength. Additionally, those spokes are side-milled, which is more than just an upscale aesthetic detail, but removes as much excess weight from the spokes as possible without compromising stiffness.

Initial Fitment Offerings

The fitments we’ve produced the TC-10RT in were engineered with our massive library of 3D scans for the perfect fit and fully-optimized for Audi and VW. To figure out which fitment is ideal for your application and which tire sizes to run, check out our Audi wheels and tire fitment guides and our VW wheel and tire fitment guides. The initial fitment offerings include:

• 8x8.5” ET43 - OEM+ fitment and is a direct fit for all MK5 through MK8 VW models, as well as all non-RS Audi models.
• 18x9” ET42 - Performance street and track fitment for all MK5 through MK8 VW models and non-RS Audi Models, and works as an OEM+ fitment on RS Audi models.
• 18x9.5” ET41 - Performance street and track fitment that’s a direct fit for small-bore Audi 8V RS3 and TTRS models, and will also fit the 8Y generation of RS3 with a 20mm spacer on the front wheels.

Heritage Motorsport Style, Classic Apex Finishes.

The initial finish offerings for this wheel include Anthracite, Motorsport Gold, Race Silver, and Satin Black, giving you plenty of options. We’ve also designed the TC-10RT to be compatible with OEM center caps for an OEM+ look.

Built to Last. Covered Just In-Case.

Like all Apex wheels, the TC-10RT is covered by our wheel replacement program and warranty post-purchase, and are backed by Apex’s industry-leading customer support. Whether it happens in the heat of battle on-track or it’s just a rouge curb around town, Apex is proud to offer 50% off replacement wheels – regardless of the damage. If you have additional questions about these products or how they fit your specific application, feel free to email our Fitment Experts at experts@apexwheels.com.

Geirsen K.

Geirsen (pronounced “gear-sen”) has been a Product Expert at APEX Wheels for more than four years, specializing in VW/Audi and BMW wheel fitments. Prior to joining APEX, he worked for five years in various roles at a BMW dealership, including detailing, service, and BMW Genius. During this time he participated in multiple, corporate training classes in the technical and motorsport aspects of new BMW models. The first car he ever purchased, at the ripe old age of 17, was an E46 325i sedan. That car introduced him to the automotive enthusiast world and instilled a passion for driving that has continued to grow ever since. More recent rides include a Z4M coupe and a 2011 335i, both of which allowed him to further expand his driving skills at HPDEs. Fun Fact: After picking up a Tacoma in his home state of Washington, Geirsen now tows his boat to the river more often than he tows a car to the track.

Have questions about wheels for your VW/Audi, or BMW? Use our contact form and ask for Geirsen.