There the stock brakes that came with the bike. Steel rim, yea. But I did put newer breakpads on it, the ones on mtb's [there about 2 inches long]. Right now the fronts squeal like a little piggy, [stock pads] , and the back hardly even slows me down! And on commute I add 50lbs more then they really don't stop. The wheels are a little out of true [new orleans, land of many potholes] But I don't know how to true them, or if my LBS even does that? The huffy is a really nice bike don't get me wrong, but it's lacking in the wheel and brake department. the brakes are a old side-pull. So do they make newer high-performance side-pulls? I hope!