Kshawn

Hello,

I'll be doing my first track days at the Circuits of the Americas in March. Since it's a two day event, I'm trying to determine what pads to use. I've done everything else (SS lines, new rotors, Motul fluid) but it would really be a bummer to be sidelined by toasted pads. I've been told that OEM is fine since it's my first track day, and others have said that track is especially hard on brakes, so I should use an actual track pad. I daily my car. Do you think it would be better to just run OEM pads and swap them out for the track day, or run a pad like Carbotechs AX6 on the street and track? Science of Speed (I live literally 20min away from them) recommended just running the AX6s full time, though they'll dust and squeal a lot more than OEM pads.

ddess

Ok I'll start this with I've never ran COTA but I've priced it. Not a cheap two day event. It you are a beginner I'd still error on the side of caution and get a track pad. Good pads will cost $180+ for the fronts, showing up and cooking your oem pads would ruin your weekend.

imstimpy

Here are my experiences at CotA:
The Braking Demands of CotA
A Track Braking Review of 2015

dc2-2-ap1

I ran ax6 pads for years as my dual purpose street/auto x pad. They were great minus the the squeal on light braking. Initial bite was outstanding. They did pretty good at my first track day at AMP (225/255 BFG rivals) but I destroyed them on my second track event at WHP East a few weeks later (255/255 BFG rivals). The ax6 does not like to be in the upper heat range. The AX6 should be fine if your tires are mediocre, factory stagger (215/245) and you intend to take it easy. If you are confident, want to drive, running aggressive tires (RE71R, rs3, Rival S, ect) and/or are running larger than factory size tires (especially nonstaggered), I recommend going with better brakes. I run the tried and true Carbotech xp10 front / xp8 rear setup for track events (Stoptech sports on street). They are great. They are fine for the drive to/from the track and driving around when I am too lazy to swap back after an event- they are just uncomfortably loud during light braking. Who are you running with? I didn't think Nasaaz was running there, and Proauto isn't doing it until APR.
Several of us track out here, you should drop by the AZ subforum and say hello. Most of us run Proauto, I ran both Nasa and Proauto last year, but I don't think I will renew my Nasa. Nothing against them, they are great, there is just more friendly competition (s2000s) in Proauto.

spdracerut

Might want to read this:
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/s2000-ra...-cota-1113274/

King Tut

Are you going to a track day? Yes.
Are you going to an AutoX? No.

Maybe you should buy a set of actual track pads and not ruin your expensive CotA track weekend. It has been my experience that street/track or AutoX pads do not work well on the overheated OEM S2000 braking system for any driver with moderate skill and a good set of 200TW tires. Once a pad gets outside of it's temp range, it will destroy itself in short order. What company or pad to buy is your decision. Just make sure it is a full track pad.

sujohn

Run OEM pads on the street and swap them out for a much higher temperature pad for COTA. Even a novice can get enough speed at the end of the back straight to generate significant heat in the braking system. With a track pad (Carbotech XP10 or a Project Mu Club Racer) I can go through 35-45% of pad life in a single day at COTA (no ducting), and I am not very fast (mid- high 2:40's). I can't imagine a street pad lasting for anybody at COTA, even if it is your first weekend.

Tougefactory

I second this.

We also have that G loc group buy if you need some real pads

takchi

Currently testing out G-LOC R18 F/R brake pads and will be moving onto R16 F/R pad testing soon. Shoutout to Danny@G-LOC and CSG.

If you want to run pads for COTA, stick to XP12 or R12 minimum for your use.