Agke

So I just got a lightly used set of these wheels. They are by far and away the nicest wheelset I have ever owned, and I want to treat them right.

Looking at the brake track, it is hard to tell if it is aluminum or if it has a thin layer of carbon covering the surface. The Shimano tech doc for the wheels recommends carbon brake pads, but prior to that I read several reviews of the wheels and people mentioned that a feature of the wheelset is that carbon-specific brake pads are not needed. Anyone with experience riding these wheels care to chime in? Thanks.

abstractform20

if its not alu, i would go carbon specific.

ericm979

Do what they say. They know better than random dweebs on the internet. Use the make/model of pads that Shimano recommends. Different kinds of carbon work best with different kinds of pads. For example Bontragers use cork based pads but if you use cork pads on Reynolds, that will void the warranty.

Put your regular brakes pads back on when you switch to aluminium rims. If you have to use the carbon pads on aluminium rims, like if you get a wheel in a race, then you need to remove the pads and pick out all the aluminium shards before you use them on the carbon rims.

I mark the pads front and rear (left and right are obvious) so the pads go back in the same brake and maintain the same alignment to the wheel. A tip for removing the front pads- remove the wheel, put the brake quick release back, and then squeeze the brake lever. That moves the pads in so they will slip out of the holders without running into the fork. At least on my bike anyhow.

deyendznyr

The Shimano WH-7850-C24-CL are clinchers, hence the CL designation.
Are you sure you didn't buy the WH-7850-C24-TU (tubulars)?

Agke

Thanks for the input everyone. They are indeed C24-TU tubulars, not clinchers. I believe the rims are constructed similarly, and would both take the same type of brake pad.

MarkWW

The tubulars appear to be a full carbon construction, so use carbon specific pads. the clinchers are a mix of carbon with aluminum brake track, so regular pads for those.

eric01

TU = tubular, full carbon construction. Use carbon specific pads. TL = tubeless, alloy breaking surface. CL = clincher, alloy breaking surface. Use whatever pad you want.

Agke

Got it - thanks everyone. I was under the incorrect impression that the C24-TU wheels were carbon bonded to alloy. Carbon pads it is.

nhluhr

You or reviewers are confusing the CLs/TLs and the TUs. The CLs/TLs have an aluminum braking surface and use normal brake pads. The TU is a full carbon rim and requires carbon compatible pads.