RAYS VOLK RACING ZE40 Forged Wheels
RAYS VOLK RACING ZE40 — The Benchmark of Time Attack Forged Wheels
The RAYS VOLK RACING ZE40 is the wheel of choice for serious time attack competitors worldwide. Developed in collaboration with front-running teams at World Time Attack Challenge (WTAC) in Sydney and Super Lap Battle USA, the ZE40's triangulated six-spoke architecture represents RAYS Engineering's purest expression of circuit-bred monoblock design. Every gram saved, every tolerance tightened, and every surface optimised on the ZE40 exists for one purpose: faster lap times.
Available Sizes
- Diameters: 13" | 14" | 15" | 16" | 17" | 18" | 19" | 20" | 21" | 22" | 23" | 24"
- Available Widths: 5J to 14.5J
- Typical Offsets: ET−30 through ET+55 depending on platform
- Bolt Patterns: 4×100, 5×100, 5×114.3, 5×120, 5×130 and others on request
- Center Bore: 73.1mm standard; hub-centric rings supplied on request
All ZE40 wheels leave RAYS' Shizuoka production facility individually serial-numbered and accompanied by the manufacturer's certificate of conformance. No batch is released without passing RAYS' internal QC inspection protocol.
Need a Different Size or Specification?
Circuit teams frequently demand configurations outside the standard catalogue: extreme negative offsets, wider-than-standard barrels, or proprietary PCD combinations for purpose-built race cars. Our specialists can source custom ZE40 orders directly from RAYS Japan; typical lead time for special production runs is 8–12 weeks. We also offer an AI Wheel Design Service if you want a custom spoke pattern or finish concept rendered before committing to production.
Technical Specifications
- Construction: 1-piece forged monoblock (A6061-T6 aluminium alloy)
- Manufacturing Process: RAYS MAT (Multi Axial Technology) die forging
- Spoke Geometry: Symmetric 6-spoke triangulated layout
- Weight Range: 6.2 kg (17×9J) to 9.6 kg (20×11J)
- Surface Finish: Alumite-base electrochemical treatment with powder clear
- Available Colourways: Diamond Dark Gunmetal, Diamond Black, Gloss White, Bronze, Diamond Cut
- Load Rating: 550 kg per corner (JWL-compliant)
- Available Widths: 5J to 14.5J
- Hardware: M12×1.5 or M14×1.5 lug nuts; RAYS Racing Nut Kit available
Watch the RAYS VOLK RACING ZE40 in Action
Vehicle Fitment Guide
The ZE40's wide offset range and symmetric spoke layout make it the default circuit-class wheel for Japanese and European sports car platforms. Confirmed popular fitments:
- Honda S2000 AP1/AP2: 17×9J ET+35 or 17×9.5J ET+38 | 5×114.3 — the most iconic ZE40 pairing
- Honda Civic Type R FK8/FL5: 18×9.5J ET+45 | 5×120
- Subaru WRX STI VA/VB: 18×10J ET+38 | 5×114.3
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X: 18×9.5J ET+35 | 5×114.3
- Toyota GR86 / Subaru BRZ: 17×9J ET+45 | 5×100
- Nissan GT-R R35: 20×10.5J ET+30 | 5×114.3
- Mazda MX-5 ND: 16×7.5J ET+40 | 5×114.3
Contact [email protected] for brake calliper clearance confirmation before ordering.
Other Bolt Patterns Available
- 4×100 — Honda Jazz, Mazda2, Toyota Yaris GR
- 5×108 — Ford Mustang EcoBoost, Volvo S60
- 5×112 — VW Golf R, Audi RS3/S3, Mercedes-AMG A35
- 5×120 — BMW 2/3/4-series, Honda Civic Type R
- 5×130 — Porsche 718 Cayman/Boxster
ZE40 Heritage: Forged at World Time Attack Challenge
The genesis of the RAYS VOLK RACING ZE40 traces directly to competitive pressure from global time attack racing. When WTAC teams began quantifying the measurable lap time penalty of excess unsprung mass, RAYS Engineering responded with a design brief that prioritised rotational inertia reduction above all other parameters. The resulting six-spoke geometry — each spoke angled to resist lateral cornering loads at the precise angles experienced during high-speed circuit work — emerged from finite element analysis of real-world data collected from championship-level time attack cars running at Tsukuba Circuit, Suzuka Club Man course, and Wakayama track facilities.
What distinguished the ZE40 at launch was its departure from the traditional TE-series spoke aesthetics. Rather than the bold, thick spokes of the TE37 family, the ZE40 features slender, swept spokes that taper toward the hub — a geometry that minimises material in low-stress zones while concentrating metal at the root where bending moments peak. Teams at WTAC Open Class and Time Attack World Trophy events adopted the ZE40 rapidly; within three seasons of its release it had appeared on circuit class podiums in Japan, Australia, Europe, and North America. The ZE40 Time Attack III special edition, developed with direct feedback from WTAC championship-winning constructors, represents the current pinnacle of the model range.
Unlike many wheels with motorsport marketing claims, the ZE40's racing credentials are fully documented: RAYS publishes homologation data, and the wheel appears in the technical regulations of multiple national time attack series as an approved fitment. This transparency reflects RAYS Engineering's engineering-first culture and its willingness to subject its products to public scrutiny.
MAT Forging Technology: Crystalline Superiority
RAYS Engineering's Multi Axial Technology (MAT) forging process is the manufacturing foundation that separates the ZE40 from flow-formed competitors. Conventional forging presses the aluminium billet in a single axial direction, generating directional grain structure that is strong in one axis but relatively weaker perpendicular to the press direction. MAT applies controlled pressure from multiple simultaneous angles during the die forging cycle, coaxing the A6061-T6 alloy's crystalline structure to align isotropically — meaning roughly equal strength in all directions throughout the spoke cross-section.
The practical implication: RAYS' engineers can design spoke cross-sections with smaller cross-sectional area than would be possible with conventional forging, because the material's inherent strength is higher and more consistent. This is why ZE40 spokes appear dramatically slimmer than cast or flow-formed wheels of comparable load rating — they genuinely are slimmer, because they genuinely do not need as much metal to achieve the same structural performance.
Post-forging, each ZE40 undergoes 5-axis CNC milling at RAYS' Shizuoka factory to achieve dimensional tolerances of ±0.05mm — tighter than the vast majority of aftermarket wheel manufacturers. The alumite-base surface treatment bonds an oxide layer electrochemically to the aluminium substrate, providing adhesion for subsequent primer and topcoat layers that outlasts conventional mechanical bonding methods by a substantial margin.
ZE40 vs Circuit Competition
| Model | Construction | Weight 18×9.5J | Circuit Pedigree | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAYS VOLK RACING ZE40 | Forged monoblock | ~6.5 kg | WTAC / Super Lap Battle | Catalogue + custom |
| Gram Lights 57DR | Forged monoblock | ~6.3 kg | Drift / time attack | Catalogue |
| Enkei NT03+M | Flow-formed cast | ~7.6 kg | General track | Wide catalogue |
| Work Emotion ZR10 | Forged monoblock | ~6.8 kg | Time attack / circuit | Catalogue + custom |
Explore the RAYS VOLK RACING Lineup
- RAYS VOLK RACING TE37 — the original six-spoke monoblock icon, circuit-proven since 1996
- RAYS VOLK RACING TE37 SAGA — 25th-anniversary evolution with deep concave and refined proportions
- RAYS VOLK RACING TE37SL — street-legal TE37 with reinforced double-flange construction
- RAYS VOLK RACING TE37 SONIC — aerodynamic six-spoke engineered for Super GT GT500 competition
- RAYS VOLK RACING RE30 — classic fan-spoke forged from Japan's golden era of touring car racing
- RAYS VOLK RACING G25 — gran turismo forged for luxury European and JDM performance platforms
- Browse all forged wheels at Hodoor World
Can't Find the Right Configuration?
When the ZE40 catalogue specifications fall short of your build requirements, Hodoor offers a custom forged wheel manufacturing service that covers bespoke spoke counts, exclusive colourways, and completely non-catalogue PCD/offset combinations. Our engineering team works directly with RAYS Japan on special production requests, ensuring full factory quality on every custom order. You can also use our AI Wheel Design Service to visualise your concept before production begins.
How to Order the RAYS VOLK RACING ZE40
- Confirm your vehicle's bolt pattern, hub bore, and brake calliper clearance
- Select diameter, width, and preferred colourway from available catalogue options
- Contact our team at [email protected] for a personalised fitment quote
- Review and approve your configuration — deposit required for made-to-order sizes
- Your ZE40 set ships from stock or direct from RAYS Japan with full provenance documentation
- Track your order through our customer portal at hodoor.world
ZE40 Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How does the ZE40 differ from the ZE40 Time Attack III edition?
A: The ZE40 Time Attack III is a limited-production variant with a thinner spoke profile, deeper concave depth, and an aggressive barrel specification developed in direct collaboration with WTAC championship-winning constructor teams. Standard ZE40 is catalogued; Time Attack III requires a special order with extended lead time from RAYS Japan.
Q: Is the ZE40 JWL-VIA certified for road use?
A: Yes. Every production RAYS VOLK RACING ZE40 carries JWL-VIA certification — the independent verification tier of Japan's wheel quality standard, more stringent than self-certified JWL. RAYS also publishes TÜV and ECE certifications for EU and UK market requirements.
Q: What is the minimum recommended wheel width for track use?
A: For circuit applications with semi-slick tyres, most ZE40 builds run 9J minimum in 17" or 18" diameter. Narrower widths (7J–8.5J) are available for street-focused builds but limit the tyre contact patch on track. RAYS recommends consulting their sizing chart or our fitment specialists for tyre-width-to-rim-width compatibility.
Q: Are ZE40 wheels repairable after kerb strikes?
A: Cosmetic kerb rash on the outer lip can be professionally repaired by wheel refurbishment specialists. Structural impacts — visible cracks, severe bends, or impact damage to the spoke roots — require replacement; forged aluminium does not respond safely to straightening attempts. RAYS recommends visual inspection of spoke roots after any significant impact event.
Q: Does the ZE40 come with a RAYS centre cap?
A: Yes, a RAYS Competition Series centre cap is included with every ZE40 set. Spare centre caps and alternative RAYS logo variants are available through our accessories catalogue.
Discover Hodoor World
Hodoor World is a premium portal for discerning wheel buyers seeking the highest-quality forged products from RAYS, Brixton, Forgeline, Work Wheels, and other elite manufacturers. Our team provides expert fitment consultation, transparent pricing, and worldwide logistics. Explore the full catalogue at hodoor.world.
Wheel Care and Maintenance
The ZE40's multi-layer alumite-base coating is durable, but consistent care preserves its appearance significantly longer:
- Clean with pH-neutral wheel cleaner and a soft microfibre cloth after each circuit session
- Remove iron fallout (brake dust) within 48 hours of track use — it etches the coating progressively
- Apply a quality wheel sealant or ceramic coating every 3–6 months
- Avoid pressure washing directly at spoke roots and hub-face bolt holes
- Torque wheel nuts to specification — typically 108 Nm for M12×1.5 on 5×114.3 applications
- After any kerb impact, visually inspect spoke roots for hairline cracking before next use
International Delivery
Hodoor World ships RAYS VOLK RACING ZE40 wheels to the UK, EU, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, and beyond. DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) freight options are available for most destinations, eliminating customs surprises. In-stock orders typically dispatch within 2–4 business days; made-to-order RAYS Japan productions carry a 6–10 week lead time. Contact [email protected] for rate quotes and documentation support.
