APEX SM-10 Mustang Wheel

APEX SM-10 Race Wheels

A modern motorsport design crafted using advanced weight saving techniques with a reinforced inner lip and I-beam spokes. The SM-10 is part of APEX’s Flow Formed Evolution line, with features typically only found on higher-end forged wheels.

One of the most prominent features of the SM-10 is its advanced "I" beam spoke machining. Any excess material that doesn’t add strength is carved out from the sides of the spokes using a precision CNC ball cutter. This process is often deemed cost-prohibitive by others, but for performance without compromise it's essential.

The SM-10 wheel includes details specifically implemented to enhance Mustang owners' track day and street performance experience; offering further-improved big brake clearance around the barrel and a direct bolt-on with standard factory issue lug nuts.

With the Mustang-specific SM-10, there is no need for aftermarket wheel studs or lug nuts, and no hub-centric rings are required for use. Simply put, Apex wheels were designed for long-term durability without sacrificing performance and fit, while also adhering to APEX’s mission of maximizing value. All APEX wheels accommodate over-sized race lugs and impact sockets to make swapping wheels lightning fast and easy.

Please note, small spacers may be needed up front for proper strut clearance depending on suspension type, vehicle ride height, and tire size, and brand. 

Brake Clearance – Spokes

If the spokes of a wheel don't clear your brake calipers, then the wheel can’t be used at all. Apex has made certain all 18-inch APEX SM-10 wheels can properly clear OEM steel brakes, spacer free.

Because of the large variation in clearance needs, APEX produced the EC-7 wheel using three unique face profiles. When the correct profile is used for each specific vehicle application, every Big Brake Kit can clear the spokes spacer free.

The SM-10 is one of the few 18-inch wheels on the market that can clear the S550 and S650 Performance Package brakes, S197 14-inch Brembo BBK, S197 GT500 15-inch Brembo BBK, and more! 

Brake Clearance – Barrel

Designing a wheel with spokes that clear a Big Brake Kit, is only half of the battle. The inside of the barrel needs to be large enough to physically fit large calipers and rotors. Be warned, not all 18-inch wheels are made equal.

The barrel of the SM-10 wheel offers unmatched caliper clearance because wheels shouldn’t limit your choice of aftermarket brake kits, and brake kits shouldn’t force you to run oversized wheels.

The SM-10 barrel diameter is also improvement over other common designs. That difference allows the SM-10 to clear massive big brake kits where others simply cannot. This is vital on 18-inch applications because they are the ideal wheel diameter for performance and race applications.

Without enough clearance, most larger diameter brake kits will almost certainly not fit behind typical wheels, forcing you to compromise with heavier, larger diameter wheels. Most 18-inch wheels on the market make aesthetic compromises to their design that consumers wouldn't even realize have a major negative impact on barrel clearance.

We 2D modeled most Big Brake Kits available in Solidworks and tweaked the wheel design of the SM-10 prior to production in order to fit as many kits as possible.

Face Profiles

The SM-10 wheel is available in three increasingly-concave face profiles. The shallowest face provides increased caliper clearance on narrow applications, while the deepest concave face reduces weight and creates a stunningly aggressive appearance on low offset and wide-width applications. The APEX SM-10 design offers these 3 face profiles in both 18-inch and 19-inch sizes. 

Spokes

The curved spokes of the SM-10 serve many purposes, both in terms of form and function. The split "Y" spokes were carefully evaluated from every aspect to ensure lightweight and remarkable strength.

Their curved design increases brake calipers in almost every application, allowing the SM-10 to fit where other designs simply cannot.

The unique curvature of each face profile reduces center pad material as they are optimally selected for each unique width and offset. The lack of a deep front lip and spokes that connect directly to the barrel's lip, producing a rigid wheel with even load distribution. 

Hub Center

Race wheels can't just be light, they need to function in a high-performance environment. Unlike the narrow lug recesses of most other wheels, the EC-7 wheel features bored-out lug recesses that easily accommodate oversized race lugs and beefy impact sockets. This allows for quick and easy wheel changes and prevents chips and scratches from tools. 

Hub Centric

All APEX SM-10 wheels are purpose-built for select vehicle applications, and centering rings are never required for any Mustang SN95, S197 or S550 application. All 5x114.3mm bolt pattern wheels feature a direct-fit, 70.5mm center bore. 

Center Cap

Apex doesn't reuse one cap design for all of its wheels. Every SM-10 wheel is designed to work with factory center caps. You can easily replace APEX center caps with OEM Ford center caps for a clean factory look. The SM-10 wheels will ship with a Gloss Black center cap that mimics the size and shape of a Ford factory center cap. 

Wheel Hardware

The SM-10 wheel can be used with all OEM and aftermarket mounting hardware with a 60-degree tapered seat. Lug bolts, wheel locks, and stud conversion kits all work perfectly.

The SM-10 wheel also accepts wheel spacers without issue. The shallow rear chamfer allows the wheel to remain hub-centric even when 5mm flat spacers are used.

The chamfer is deep enough to clear the chamfered lip found on some aftermarket spacers that would typically cause improper seating of the wheel and, therefore, wheel vibration. 

TPMS Sensors

TPMS sensors, which monitor tire pressure, are one piece of technology that can't be compromised. The attention to OEM compatibility on the SM-10 wheel doesn't end with center caps. All APEX wheels accept OEM and aftermarket equivalent TPMS sensors and any standard-sized metal or rubber valve stem.  

Flow Forming

All APEX wheels, including the SM-10 wheel, are produced using the Flow-Forming technique.

This process significantly reduces weight in the barrel, which has the greatest impact on rotational mass. During the manufacturing process, rollers apply high pressure to the inner barrel, compressing the aluminum into its final shape. This effectively eliminates porosity and aligns the grain structure of the metal, which increases tensile strength.

The end result of the Flow-Forming process is a lightweight and extremely strong barrel that equals that of a traditional forged wheel at a fraction of the cost. 

Testing & Certifications

Computer simulated stress tests are no match for real-world testing when designing a lightweight wheel that will see extreme loads.

All APEX wheels are crush and load tested to exceed JWL standards and those results are independently tested in Japan by the third party government agency known as the VIA.

Countless wheel companies falsely claim they are tested and certified by the VIA, and so they lack the certificates to prove it. Apex tests and certifies each and every design, diameter, width, and offset, separately.

Apex publicly lists all VIA registration numbers that are on file with the VIA for confirmation. Don't trust brands that claim to test, but can't provide verifiable registration numbers. 

Weight & Strength Optimization

Various design features were implemented to ensure that the SM-10 wheel design was as light as possible, but had even more strength to handle the abuses experienced in endurance racing.

Apex began with a beefy, multi-spoke, one-piece design. They built and tested this wheel with even higher load rating requirements. They added reliefs in the mounting pad to remove weight between lug holes, where they could safely save weight.

The design was then run through Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to further optimize the spoke and barrel design. The result is a lightweight wheel with extra strength in all the right places. Use the SM-10 with confidence as it is overbuilt for both street and track. 

Finishes

The SM-10 wheel is available in multiple finishes. All APEX wheels are finished using a comprehensive multi-stage liquid paint system over a powder-coated base coat.

Often overlooked, painted or powder coated lug hole seats can cause hardware to loosen or begin the spread of paint chipping to more visible sections. The coating process of the SM-10 leaves lug holes, center bores, and mounting pads untouched, which ensures proper fit and torque values.

Warranty

All APEX wheels are backed by a 2-year structural warranty and a 1-year finish warranty to the original. This warranty guarantees that all APEX wheels will be free from defects in materials, workmanship, and paint finish under normal and reasonable use.