Luddite

I did not know there is a difference in "grip" on different brake pads? Someone (who shall remain anonymous) hooked me up with new brake pads, I was getting down to the end of my front brake pads, so this person swapped them all out, told me the news ones have more grip. Previously, I had the cheap ones from MEC.

The ones I have now are red, I can't ever remember seeing red brake pads before...I would take a photo but it's pouring rain out, sorry.

eta: crappy photo:

mikeybikes

Yeah, depends on the composition of the pad.

I find the Kool-Stop brand pads to be the best

Luddite

You have a creepy avatar. Are red brake pads indicative of a particular brand? I'm so confuzzled. lol.

See above crappy photo.

RonH

No. Red pads are probably made of a different composition. Or maybe the manufacturer liked the color.

socalrider

Red Pads are normally a softer compound and work a little better in the wet.. There will be more grip but they will not last as long as black pads..

Luddite

Ah...well, the rainy season just got off to a roaring start here, so brake pads that work better in the wet is a definite bonus.

Wanderer

Kool Stop Salmon Pads are the best there is..... PERIOD. (excepting pads for carbon or ceramic)

The red ones have (I think) iron oxide in them. They are good stoppers, too, but are more prone to wear aluminum rims. Salmon (orange) are the best there is for stopping power, wet or dry.

meanwhile

The manufacturer is trying to make his pads look like Kool Stop Salmons, I suspect. Which are what the OP should buy.

Sci-Fi

Color doesn't mean much. Kool Stop pads groups/slots their 'color pads' inbetween, their black and salmon pads, which means their color pads are 'all around compounds' and Kool Stop makes 'branded' pads for other companies in the colors they specify:
https://www.koolstop.com/brakes/Compound.html
Durometer hardness readings don't mean much either. The typical durometer hardness range is 89-91. The salmon pads spec out as one of the hardest pads you can buy (91).

So it comes down to the brake compounds/formulations and how the manufacturer decides how to balance durabilty/wear with braking performance. Some of the fast wearing inexpensive pads actually brake better with less pressure and noise...they are usually rubber compounds (Bell, Jagwire Basics, BBB, etc).

Wanderer

I'll see if I can dredge it back up - I'm almost positive the red pads get their color from iron oxide.

Luddite

So these pads are going to eat away at my probably aluminum rims?

Sci-Fi

Think your confusing Red with Salmon pads. The salmon compound has iron oxide in its formula and that's what gives the pads their distinctive salmon color.

Panthers007

Kool Stop pads, by and large, are the second best there are. Hate to throw kerosene on the parade - but SwissStop actually surpass the Kool Stop pads by a discernible hair across the rat's butt. Throw into the mix SwissStop's mounting hardware - Kool Stop is in the weeds covered in cobwebs.

Sorry! But I found out after finding Kool Stop ceramic-green pads with mounting hardware was non-existent in the USA and England. So I went SwissStop (from England) and ran a bunch of tests. Wow!

Wanderer

I'm still digging for color/compound info - but, NO, don't worry about them - one is just kinder to rims than the other..... one is slightly more abrasive.

And, until I find the answer, I still think the red ones are formulated with iron oxide. The Salmon ones are softer(grippier,) and wear out quicker. It may take time, but, I'll find it!

Wanderer

YIKES !!!!!! Swiss Stop replacements for one wheel (pads only) are $30!!!!!!! Doesn't even include the holders!!!!

For that, I'd expect them to decide when they need to be applied, and then do it.

I was shocked when I saw the price......

edit: it's a little better, I find that $30 covers 4 pads, enuf for two wheels. But, I think I paid $12 for four pads from Kool Stop. And, they are like power brakes.

Luddite

Ok, I will chill.

I like that the brake pads match my bell and panniers.

njkayaker

They could be better pads and they are newer. (In this case, the color has nothing to do with their performance.)

Some colored pads are just colored (ie, it has nothing to do with iron oxide). One can get all sorts of colors (even from Koolstop).

https://www.koolstop.com/brakes/index.php (and scroll down).

The salmon Koolstops don't seem to be appreciably softer. Nor, do they wear that much faster (especially, compared to the original pads, which appeared to dissolve in water!).

My salmon Koolstops match nothing on my bike but they do stop pretty well!

The salmon Koolstops have a very good reputation (the Swissstops should be at least as good).

Panthers007

Scott Mathauser, who made brake-pads before he sold the formula to what became Kool Stop, did indeed invent these pads by adding ferric oxide (iron oxide, rust) to the rubber mixture. And they still use this formula today. It works!

meanwhile

That's what I've heard about the Swiss Stops for ceramic rims too. I haven't heard anything to say about the pads for conventional rims though.

Dr.Deltron

I was wondering if anybody was going to mention them.

THE best pads EVER!

I have then on all my nice bikes and the Clive has had the same pads for more than 20 years and still going strong.
Or should I say stopping strong??

If they ever wear out I may have to try the SwisStops, as they sound like my kind of brake pad.

cc_rider

How are Sunlite pads?
Just finished replacing my rear pads with them. It was the only brand the shop had for a post-style cantilever.

cyclokitty 

I'll add my vote to the Koolstop salmons. I have a downhill ride downtown that I dread in the rain. The Koolstops are much better than the no name brake pads that were on my bike originally. I recall seeing them mec in the past (I don't usually shop there but stopped in once and they only had 1 pair in stock).

Luddite

I dunno what brand my pads are, but they work like a hot damn! Me like!