APEX Wheels 2015-2022 Ford Mustang S550 19×11″ ET26 Satin Black SM-10 Wheel

Fit Matters

The SM-10 wheel includes details specifically implemented to enhance the Mustang owners’ track day and street performance experience. An optimized car setup begins with the right wheel and tire fitment, and without model-specific attention, maximum performance is compromised. These wheels were developed exclusively for S197 and S550 chassis including the GT350, and will work in either square or staggered configurations.

Face Profile

The SM-10 wheel was created in three increasingly-concave face profiles; The shallowest face provides maximum caliper clearance on narrow applications, while the deepest concave face reduces weight and creates a stunningly aggressive appearance on wide-width applications. All Mustang SM-10 wheels are built with a profile 2 – medium concavity face profile, as that yields optimum results with each of the wheel specifications.

“I” Beam Spokes

The spokes of the SM-10 were designed to be robust where they need to be, and extra lightweight where they should be. Weight is reduced by CNC machining material out from the sides of each spoke. It’s expensive and avoided by almost every manufacturer, but affordable with volume. In each concavity profile of our SM-10 design, the I-beam spokes are carefully evaluated from structural aspects to ensure minimal weight, brake clearance, and remarkable strength.

Beefier Lip

By saving weight elsewhere, we’ve added extra material where it counts. We’re beefing up the barrel’s inner lip on the SM-10 to better handle the repetitive abuse seen on the track.

Knurled Bead

We’ve upgraded these wheels to include a knurled bead seat to reduce unwanted tire rotation. This machined knurling throughout the wheel’s barrel increases friction between the wheel and tire to combat excessive tire slippage and maintain a true balance. Braking deep into a corner, bouncing off berms at the apex, and applying throttle at corner exit all apply enough tire load to cause unwanted tire slippage. Arrive to the track with balanced wheels and tires, leave the track with balanced wheels and tires.

Open 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 SM-10 wheel features a wide open hub center that easily accommodates oversized race lugs and beefy impact sockets. This allows for quick and easy wheel changes and prevents chips and scratches from tools.

APEX SM-10 Mustang wheels fit the following OEM Center Cap:
• FR3Z-1130-C

Hub Centric

All APEX SM-10 wheels are purpose built for select vehicle applications, and centering rings are never required for any Mustang S197 or S550 application. All 5×114.3mm bolt pattern wheels feature a direct-fit, 70.5mm center bore

Brake Clearance

Spoke clearance is only half the problem. The barrel construction on a wheel also needs to be big enough to clear the sides of your caliper and rotor. Many aftermarket wheels that have aesthetic compromises in their design may work with smaller stock brakes, or smaller diameter big brake kits, but the larger kits will pose a major problem. 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. 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. Good news GT350 owners, these wheels not only clear your massive Brembo brakes, the barrel to caliper clearance is quite impressive.

Wheel Hardware

The SM-10 wheel can be used with all OEM and aftermarket mounting hardware with a 60° 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.

Flow Forming
Benefits of forging, without the pain

These APEX wheels are produced using a manufacturing process known as flow forming. 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 is a lightweight and extremely strong barrel that equals that of a traditional forged wheel at a fraction of the cost.

Testing & Certifications

Many companies promote their wheels as being certified by the VIA when they actually aren’t. That’s like using the USDA logo on food without permission. APEX wheels get officially tested and registered by the VIA in Japan, and we have the proof to back it up.

Japan’s JWL is a commonly followed standard for wheel load ratings. Our flow formed wheels meet, and most exceed, their load rating requirements. Most manufacturers only meet the minimum while some don’t even do that. Check and verify load ratings before you buy.

Weight & Strength Optimization

We didn’t just redrill and recycle an old wheel. We’ve rebirthed it specifically for Mustang use. After many months of Mustang-specific optimizations, we’ve minimized weight while maximizing strength. Heavy cars need beefy wheels, and that calls for load ratings that are 10% above the JWL/VIA’s standard. The result is a lightweight wheel with extra strength in all the right places. Use the SM-10 with confidence on 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. Standard finishes include gloss-metallic finishes, and semi-gloss or matte finishes.

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.

Lifetime Warranty

As of recent, all APEX’s wheels now come with a lifetime structural warranty and 1 year finish warranty, so you can be confident in your purchase.