Will These Wheels Clear My Corvette's Brakes?

For the vast majority of you, the answer is, “Yes.” (Check out our Master Brake Clearance Tables, linked below, listing dozens of popular brake kits for both 18″ and 19″ diameters.)

How were we able to achieve such impressive clearance on wheels of this size? We test fit our wheels over the various OEM calipers, such as C7 Z51 and C6 Z06, from each generation and found they cleared with ease except the carbon ceramics. So we hired Rennscot Manufacturing, an AS9100-certified company, to conduct 3D scans of the Carbon Ceramic brakes on the C7 Corvette, and then modified our wheel design for even more clearance. The result: Now both the 18” and 19” Widebody Corvette fitment wheels clear the Carbon Ceramic brakes with ease.

We also obtained 2D templates from several aftermarket brake manufacturers and used SolidWorks to verify the clearance of dozens of popular kits by Essex/AP Racing, Brembo, Wilwood, and Stoptech. We learned that a handful of aftermarket brake kits caused barrel or spoke interference, and a few required spacers to fit, but the 18” and 19” EC-7 wheels cleared most of the Wilwood Aero 6 brake kits used in SPEC Corvette racing, as well as a slew of aftermarket kits, and the SM-10 designs cleared most aftermarket kits without the need for modification or spacers.

To see the kit-specific clearance notes for your Corvette brakes, refer to our Master Brake Clearance Tables (linked below). These tables are fairly extensive in their coverage, but if you don’t see your brake setup on the list, feel free to contact us with the part number of your particular setup.

EC-7 Brake Clearance Table – For C5, C6 Base/Z51, C7 Stingray/Z51

SM-10 Brake Clearance Table – For C6 & C7 Grand Sport/Z06/ZR1

Cory has been Domestic Fitment Expert at APEX since 2018, helping owners figure out the proper wheel fitments for their Camaro, Corvette, Mustang, Challenger, Charger, Cadillac, and Tesla vehicles. Prior to joining APEX, he worked as Service Advisor at an automotive performance shop. Never one to sit at a car show, Cory has had a lifelong passion for performance driving. His extensive track experience began with HPDEs in 2015. He soon got the itch to start competing in time trials, which he has been doing ever since. Among the cars he has tracked are three Mustang GTs (2005, 2006, 2011), a 2016 Fiesta ST, and his current ride, a 2010 Corvette Grand Sport with APEX SM-10RS wheels. Fun Fact: Apparently Cory’s love of speed isn’t limited to the racetrack; after not training at all, he recently ran a 5K and placed 7th out of 210 competitors.

Have questions about wheels for your domestic vehicle? Use our contact form and ask for Cory