Braking on Gloss or Matte finish on carbon wheels
 

I can't find anything about whether a glossy finish on a rim brakes better or worse than a matte finish. My last set of wheels were glossy and I like the look of glossy better but heaven forbid I got stuck in wet conditions because they couldn't brake to save their lives (or mine :eek:). So I got to thinking today, maybe a matte finish brakes better?

My carbon rims are matte finish. I think the treated brake track areas improve wet performance, but i don't think any finish makes it as effective as a disc or aluminum brake track.

There may be a small difference initially, but it won't take much use before the pads have worn off whatever "cosmetic" finish (if any) was applied over the brake track.

Do you have the good ol chinese carbon rims?

I suppose that's true. I think the problem with my old wheels is that the pads left a slick residue on the brake track as they wore. If I cleaned the track braking was better for a while but still not great.

Not sure if you saw this, but I have always wondered if something like this would help. I guess somebody thinks it will:

Enve launches featherweight tubulars - VeloNews.com

from the article: "The most striking aspect of the new SES 2.2 wheels is the new “next gen” molded brake track. Enve developed this with the MTN-Qhubeka team in mind, as its riders have to ride up and down mountains, often in less-than-ideal weather. The brake track looks and feels like a very fine file, which is said to give 30 percent better braking. So, riders can purportedly pull the brake lever 30 percent easier while getting the same amount of stopping power at the rim. Enve also claims that the new brake track has improved modulation and that these wheels will stop “virtually as well in the wet as they do in the dry.”

My carbon wheels have a brake track that has specific properties for braking that don't match the aesthetic of the remainder of the rim

I hadn't seen that. I bet that chews up brake pads, which is not a concern for the team of course. If it isn't too bad then it sounds like a great innovation. Wet weather braking on carbon just plain stinks, I hate it.

Not 100% certain of the origin of the rims. Assembled in south carolina i believe though.