Carbotech: Choosing the right brake pads

Collected information / guide about the various brake pads from Carbotech.

We have divided these into 4 different categories to simplify the choice of brake pads as much as possible. Carbotech writes in many cases that brake pads are not for street use. This is true in many ways, but up to XP8, the pads have been extensively used on the street with good results.

• STREET / LIGHTER TRACK / AUTOCROSS
  1521 / AX6 / XP8
• TRACK / RACING
  XP10 / XP12 / XP20
• LONG RACE / RACING
  XP24 / RP2
• OTHER
  913

Material: 1521 - Use: Street

Temperature up to ~426 degrees

Carbotech™ 1521™ is a high performance road compund. The 1521™ pads are known for their release and modulation, along with unmatched rotor friendliness. 1521™ is also a very low dust and low noise blend with an excellent initial bite. This compound's excellent linear torque production provides incredible braking power without ABS. Carbotech™ 1521™ operating range starts at ambient temperature and goes up to 800°F (426°C+). 1521™ is suitable for ALL street cars, perfect for your tow truck. Carbotech™ 1521™ is NOT recommended for ANY track use.

Material: AX6 - Use: "Autocross"

Temperature up to ~537 degrees

AX6™ is specially designed for autocross / lighter track use. A high torque brake compound that provides reliable and consistent performance over a very wide operating temperature range of 50°F to 1000°F + (10°C to 537°C+). The advanced compound matrix provides excellent initial bite, high coefficient of friction at lower temperatures along with highly progressive brake modulation and release characteristics.

Carbotech say: NOT FOR STREET USE!

Material: XP8 - Use: Performance and Racing

Temperature up to ~676 degrees

A high torque brake compound with a wide operating temperature range of 200°F-1250°F+ (93°C to 676°C+). Carbotech™ XP8™ is the first of their racing compounds. It provides good initial bite at race temperatures, high coefficient of friction, excellent modulation and release characteristics. The XP8™ offers extremely high fade resistance and is very rotor friendly. It is perfect for trackday use with any tyre.

Carbotech say: NOT FOR STREET USE!

Material: XP10 - Use: Performance and Racing

Temperature up to ~801 degrees

When Carbotech™ unleashed the XP10™ for the public, it immediately collected several regional, division and national championships. The XP10™ has a very strong initial bite with a coefficient of friction and rotor friendliness unmatched in the industry. Fade resistance is above 1475°F (801°C). The XP10™ still retains the highly acclaimed release, excellent modulation and rotor friendliness that have made all Carbotech™ pads so successful.

Carbotech say: NOT FOR STREET USE!

Material: XP12 - Use: Performance and Racing

Temperature up to ~1010 degrees

Another highly successful compound in the XP™ range with excellent initial bite, twist and fade resistance in addition to the XP10™ compound. XP12™ has a temperature range of 250°F to 1850°F+ (121°C to 1010°C+). XP12™ has the excellent Carbotech™ release and modulation that has made all other Carbotech™ compounds so successful. The XP12™ is more rotor-aggressive than the XP10™, but compared to the competition, the XP12™ is still very rotor-friendly.

Carbotech say: NOT FOR STREET USE!

Material: XP20 - Use: Performance and Racing

Temperature up to ~1093 degrees

The XP20™ is the latest version of the highly successful XP™ range of pads. With an extremely aggressive initial bite, linear torque curve and excellent fade resistance, XP20™ is another big step in the evolution of the XP™ series of compounds from Carbotech™. The XP20™ has a temperature range of 275°F to 2000°F+ (135°C to 1093°C+). Carbotech™ XP20™ maintains a tradition of having the outstanding release properties and modulation that have made all other Carbotech™ compounds so successful.

Carbotech say: NOT FOR STREET USE!

Material: XP24 - Use: Performance and Racing

Temperature up to ~1093 degrees

XP24™ is the pinnacle of the extremely successful XP™ series of compounds engineered by Carbotech™. This compound is based on the same fundamentals found in all other Carbotech™ formulations. The XP24™ has even more initial bite, more overall bite and more torque along with the most linear torque curve Carbotech has ever offered. The thermal properties are of the highest Carbotech™ offers along with one of the highest coefficients of friction offered by anyone in the brake industry. This compound is the compound that Carbotech™ has carried the longest as it was originally designed for endurance racing at the highest professional levels. This revolutionary new compound has been extremely successful in sprints, endurance racing and more. XP24™ has a temperature range of 400°F to 2000°F+ (204°C to 1093°C+).

Carbotech say: NOT FOR STREET USE!

Material: RP2 - Use: Endurance racing

Temperature up to ~787 degrees

The RP2™ compound was designed for endurance racing based on the highly successful XP™ series formulation. RP2™ has a strong initial bite, slightly less modulation than XP12™, but still maintains the rotor friendliness of XP™ series compounds. RP2™ has high fade resistance with a temperature range of 250°F to 1450°F+ (121°C to 787°C). RP2™ is as rotor friendly as XP™ series compounds.

Carbotech say: NOT FOR STREET USE!

Material: 913 - Use: Brake shoes

Temperature up to ~400 degrees

A D.O.T. approved high performance compound for brake shoes on high performance street and race cars. Carbotech™ Chelated Metallic (CKM) achieves a very high coefficient of friction (approximately 0.48 to 0.50) by taking advantage of a chemical reaction in the friction compound, which creates a tri-alloy metal film at the liner-drum interface when exposed to heat and pressure. Designed to overcome the shortcomings of other liner materials, CKM is highly versatile and provides excellent braking performance in a variety of applications. This compound exhibits excellent wear properties and very high resistance to locking under hard braking. Optimal recommended operating temperature range is from ambient to 750°F.