Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Which Kool Stop Pads?

I see that everyone reccomends getting koolstop pads for their brakes. I have torn through my pads pretty fast and want to upgrade, but dont know which pads to get for my brakes. So which koolstop pads for tektro r536 brakes?

Thanks

get salmons or dual compounds in the duratype refill.

It depends on your rims.

The 'normal' black pads are for normal braking.
The salmon-colored ones are for improved braking in wet weather.
The green ones are for if your rim is ceramic coated.
The silvery-black ones, which are also twice as expensive as the others, are for carbon braking surfaces.

get salmons or dual compounds in the duratype refill.

+1, I've used them (Kool Stops) for a few years and they still look new, now if your "skidding" and "doing tricks" and all that other stupid **** good luck finding anything beside asbestos that will stand up to that type of abuse. ;)


VVV KoolStops VVV
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/madisonok008.jpg

It depends on your rims.

The 'normal' black pads are for normal braking.
The salmon-colored ones are for improved braking in wet weather.
The green ones are for if your rim is ceramic coated.
The silvery-black ones, which are also twice as expensive as the others, are for carbon braking surfaces.


and the black and salom ones are for stopping normally and when your wheels get wet. :innocent:

I use just the salmon ones. Work great in dry weather and wet weather

Where can I get some of these wonderful brake pads?

Kool Stop pads are sold everywhere and come in a configuration for pretty much every type of brake made... the salmon pads are produced just like the old and legendary Matthauser brake pads.

They even come on old fashioned block style pads for vintage rides.

They stop well in every kind of weather and are extremely rim friendly... being softer they do wear a little faster but better that than grinding your rims to dust.

If your Tektros don't use a cartridge pad (meaning that they are one piece molded), you will need the Dura kit. It comes with a pair of cartridge holders (clones of the Shimano 105/Ultegra/Dura-Ace holders) and 2 pairs of brake pads (1 pair of salmon, 1 pair of salmon/black). They run around $20 for the set and make a HUGE improvement over the Tektro pads. Since I swapped mine out, my wet stopping is a lot better (even the dual-color pads), the pads don't seem to pick up as much trash (and subsequently damage the rim), and they don't squeal anymore. Well-worth the $20, IMO.

+1 on the salmon pads.

So if I have the holders, which refills should I get?

Kool Stop pads are sold everywhere and come in a configuration for pretty much every type of brake made... the salmon pads are produced just like the old and legendary Matthauser brake pads.

They even come on old fashioned block style pads for vintage rides.

They stop well in every kind of weather and are extremely rim friendly... being softer they do wear a little faster but better that than grinding your rims to dust.

I don't know how true this is as I mentioned I've had a pair for about two years and they still look new? I also heard (before I bought mine) that the salmon color wears out quickly? but so far there seems to be no truth to it? with my pads anyways. :)

Mine have lasted a couple months but there's some wear on them. There's no way they'll last two years for me. I also ride about 200-300K per week and bomb a lot of hills which involve extended braking at the bottom so that may be part of it.

So if I have the holders, which refills should I get?

If you have the Tektro holders, you'll need the Shimano style, IIRC.

If you have the Tektro holders, you'll need the Shimano style, IIRC.

Right on, thanks.

Along with salmon, silver, greenish and black, Koolstop also make yellow, blue and red pads. Anyone know what the story is with these? Is the durometer different or are they just meant to look different? I couldn't get any info off the website.

http://www.koolstop.com/brakes/vtype.gif

I got some red ones on a deep discount and though I've never used that color, the salmon and black KS pads I've used have been excellent.

Salmon (not to be mistaken for red) pads are reputed to be the ones to get. They were especially recommended for vintage rides with steel rims. For aluminum rims, I find their advantages to be marginal. But they work fine with all types of rims in all conditions. I've had sets for years, and while dirty, they don't seem especially worn out.

Mine have lasted a couple months but there's some wear on them. There's no way they'll last two years for me. I also ride about 200-300K per week and bomb a lot of hills which involve extended braking at the bottom so that may be part of it.

Ahhhh! :thumb: I ride maybe 20-40 miles a week! :lol:

Along with salmon, silver, greenish and black, Koolstop also make yellow, blue and red pads. Anyone know what the story is with these? Is the durometer different or are they just meant to look different? I couldn't get any info off the website.

http://www.koolstop.com/brakes/vtype.gif

I got some red ones on a deep discount and though I've never used that color, the salmon and black KS pads I've used have been excellent.

See the following link. :thumb:

http://www.koolstop.com/brakes/index.php

See the following link. :thumb:

http://www.koolstop.com/brakes/index.php

http://www.koolstop.com/brakes/compound%20chart.gif

:thumb:

http://www.koolstop.com/brakes/compound%20chart.gif

:thumb:

So! :p

Note that if you use salmon pads with ceramic coated rims, they will wear down quite quickly.

Note that if you use salmon pads with ceramic coated rims, they will wear down quite quickly.

This is interesting. I'm not familiar with the whys of coating rims with ceramic, but it seems that ceramics are better insulators than bare aluminum, and as such dissipate heat less efficiently. As a result, friction heat is concentrated in the braking surfaces. This would seem to contribute to cause increased pad wear, as higher heat translates into softening pad material. This behavior is associated with brake pads on steel rims.

well i know what i'm buying for my bike next. I need new brake pads anyway.

Same here
This has been most helpful

This is interesting. I'm not familiar with the whys of coating rims with ceramic, but it seems that ceramics are better insulators than bare aluminum, and as such dissipate heat less efficiently. As a result, friction heat is concentrated in the braking surfaces. This would seem to contribute to cause increased pad wear, as higher heat translates into softening pad material. This behavior is associated with brake pads on steel rims.

As far as I've read/been told, the reasons for ceramic coating rims is to improve braking performance, particularly in wet/muddy conditions and to make the rim more resistant to wear. In my experience, the braking part is true. The downside is, of course, that the increased coefficient of friction between the braking surface and the pad devours conventional pads.

That said, though, there aren't that many rims nowadays that rely on ceramic coating. Ambrosio is the only brand I can think of that does it widely throughout their range. Mavic does it as well in two models.
Improvements in metallurgy, brake pad compounds and the machining of brake surfaces have reduced the need for the coating.

I've got a set of ceramic coated SPIN wheels and they suck! (the ceramic brake pads) yes I used ceramic pads, they still suck, they make lots of noise and wear down VERY quickly! :mad: I switched over to regular brake pads and they no longer make noise and they stop 100% better! :thumb:

http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/ww349/robk131313/DSCF0074.jpg

Oh Yeah!