Front, 18", Profile 1, 5 Lugs, Anthracite
Rear, 18", Profile 2, 5 Lugs, Anthracite
Porsche 996 GT3 Wheels
Lightweight forged & flow formed APEX wheels for your 1999-2005 996 GT3
Construction Type
AllFinish: Anthracite
Total
$2,956.00$2,292.90Overview
996 GT3 Wheel Performance
The factory 996 GT3 wheels are very close in terms of their fitment but are much heavier than one would expect of the track oriented 996. If you want to maximize the potential of your GT3, a set of our lightweight chassis specific and lighter wheels will make a world of difference. We created Forged wheels such as the Apex EC-7RS and VS-5RS and our Flow Formed SM-10 to increase performance. Find out what fitment is best for your application in our Porsche 911 996 GT3 Wheel & Tire Fitment Guide.
A Brief History of the 996 GT3
While we offer wheels specifically for the 996 911 GT3 let's take a look at the first GT3, the one that started it all. This car was about saving weight, leaving behind the majority of sound deadening, rear seats, sunroof, and even air conditioning. Although A/C could be optioned back in at no cost. While the 996 Carrera engine was all new for the company, the 996 GT3 utilized the legendary Mezger engine known for its use in the 911 GT1 race car. This engine case was the one originally used in the air cooled 911s, early casting of this case on the 996 GT3 even shows a 964 part number. Despite being an older design this engine had major advantages over the Carrera’s M96 engine. With its integrated dry sump oiling system and lack of an intermediate shaft to drive the cams this was the far superior choice for anyone thinking about tracking their new 911. This same engine architecture was used for this generation's Cup Cars (Porsche factory customer race cars) which ran michelin slicks. The GT3 was equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission that can be linked back to the aircooled days instead of the unit found in the 996 Carrera. This was once again an advantage as that gearbox was more durable and was better suited to track use. At the end of the run in 2003 Porsche gave the rest of the world the first GT3RS. This was another homologation special from Porsche to assist the new RSR they were racing in sports car championships across the world. With new cylinder heads and wheel upright being the key components they were looking for, customers benefited by getting them in this wonderful street car. This included front strut top mounts that were reversible for additional camber as well as adjustable front and rear control arms.
Our wheels for the 996 generation 911 GT3 are shared between the GT3 and RS models as this was the first and only generation with shared bodywork widths between the GT3 and RS variants. The 18x9”ET46 and 18x11”ET60 are the go to sizes for this chassis which almost perfectly match the specs of the 996 GT3 Cup car. We typically recommend running the OE tire sizes on this setup but more options can be seen over on our 996 GT3 Wheel & Tire fitment Guide.
996 GT3 Gallery
Porsche 911 996 GT3
Porsche 911 996 GT3
Porsche 911 996 GT3
EC-7RS Specifications
Reproductive Harm - www.p65warnings.ca.cov Fitment guides
Which Wheels Should I Get?
Check out our Fitment Guides, the most in-depth, authoritative guides for wheel and tire fitments, tailored for your vehicle and how you drive it.
EC-7RS features
10K Tons of Pressure
Our new forgings weigh as much as 120 pounds before machining. To form such a thick blank we require special equipment capable of 10,000 metric tons of pressure. This extreme pressure increases the strength of the aluminum by eliminating porosity and improving the grain structure.
True Motorsport Blanks
Many companies use 3rd-party blanks intended for non-motorsport wheels which can severely limit sizes, concavity, spoke design, and critical brake clearance. We designed our very own blank profiles from scratch to give us total control over the final product.
Side-Milled Spokes
One of the most significant upgrades to the EC-7RS is the addition of wider and deeper side-milled spokes. Any excess material that doesn’t add strength is machined out using a precision CNC ball cutter. Side-milling is often deemed cost-prohibitive by others, but for true performance without compromise we believe it's essential.
A Stronger Lightweight Wheel
Our forged Sprint™ wheels are lightweight without the strength compromises found on typical lightweight wheels. First, we machined out as much material as possible, then we purposefully added one pound back to reinforce critical areas, creating a stronger inner lip and a higher load rating.² What’s the point of a lightweight wheel if it’s fragile?
Load Ratings (lbs)
JWL Load Standard
1521
Typical Forged Wheels
1521
APEX Flow Formed
1550
APEX Forged Sprint™ Line
1600
Weight Optimized
We conducted extensive Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to reinforce high-stress areas and to remove material where it didn’t improve strength. The result is a wheel that is exceptionally light without the strength compromises found on typical lightweight wheels.²
Wheel Weight
Load Rating
APEX Sprint™ Line
18 lbs
1600 lbs
APEX Flow Formed
21 lbs
1550 lbs
Independently Tested
We don't rely solely on computer simulations or unverifiable in-house testing. We believe independent testing is critical to protect consumers in this unregulated industry. We chose STL, an independent lab in Ohio, to test our Sprint™ wheels far above JWL standards, including increases in testing duration, impact drop height, and total load.
Tougher Inner Lip
Introducing the Sprint™ spec inner lip, with a unique channel profile that makes it even stronger than our previous designs. So even though our Sprint™ wheels are pounds lighter than comparable flow formed wheels, the inner lip is stronger.
32%
More reinforcement
than our flow formed wheels3
Big Brake Clearance
From day one, APEX has been on a mission to build wheels that clear big brakes. Our new forged wheels are the product of everything we’ve developed over the past 10+ years, including an innovative high-clearance barrel design and vehicle-specific spoke profiles.
Deeper Concavity
Our new forgings were redesigned to create extra deep, concave spoke profiles. Their new shape allows us to make any profile, from flat to deep and everything in between. Each one is optimized for a specific application using 3D laser scans of factory and aftermarket brake kits.
Paintless Knurled Bead
Whether it's a day at the track or months of street driving, repeated hard braking and acceleration can make a tire slip along the bead seat and go out of balance, causing vibration. Knurled beads help, but are less effective when painted over. Our forged line features unpainted knurled beads that stay sharp and maximize grip.
Built for Impact Sockets
Track wheels need track tools. Don’t settle for wheels that require undersized tuner lugs or thin walled sockets. All APEX wheels accommodate over-sized race lugs and impact sockets to make swapping wheels lightning fast.
32mm
Socket Diameter Clearance
Laser-Engraved Specs
As track enthusiasts ourselves, we know how frustrating it is to try to locate and decipher wheel specs that have been hastily hammered into the rim or become unreadable over time. With our new Sprint™ wheels, we chose to invest a little extra and laser-engrave the specs on the barrel, in plain sight, making them easy to find and read. (You’re welcome.)
Additional features
Hub Centric
All EC-7RS wheels are purpose built for select vehicle applications. Very few applications require centering rings.
Center Caps
All APEX wheels come with our gloss black cap included that is interchangeable with the OE cap. We also offer additional colors for select fitments.
Wheel Hardware
APEX wheels can be used with all OEM mounting hardware, proper aftermarket hardware and most wheel spacers. Wheel locks and stud conversion kits also work perfectly.
TPMS
All APEX wheels accept OEM and aftermarket Tire Pressure Monitoring Sensors and standard fit valve stems. If you don’t have sensors, then select from our metal stems available in multiple finishes.
Accessories
A Wheel You Can Depend On
Accidental damage replacement
Curb rash or pothole damage on the street? Make an oopsie at the track? We’ve all been there. APEX is proud to offer 50% off replacement wheels, no matter the damage.
Lifetime warranty
All APEX wheels come with a lifetime structural warranty against defects in workmanship and materials, plus a 1 year finish warranty. Exchanges are fast, easy, and hassle-free.
¹ EC-7RS Vs. the original EC-7R comparing side milling of 18x9” ET46 5x130 fitment
² Strength and weight comparisons are based on an 18” BMW 5x120 wheel.
³ Comparing the amount of material reinforcement in our standard inner lip profile vs Sprint™ spec inner lip profile on an 18” wheel.
⁴ All wheels compared with equivalent 18x10” ET25 5x120mm / 72.56mm fitment
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