I agree with rob here. I don't have any experience with the XR2's, but we all know the GTS pads have had similar issues. knowing this, I make sure to swap the pads in on the track day, and remove them immediately the day after. Also, keep it away from water...they only "weld on" to the wheels when water is applied. Only expose it to water when you're actually washing them.

I haven't had any problems with my pads when handling them this way

And, as stated before, these pads aren't meant for use on daily driven vehicles

 

Hmm than I guess I'm gonna have to start swapping them out/in for track days

 

After reading comments about the Cobalt XR3 in this thread, I purhcased a set for a mix of autocross and track. I've used them several times for autocross, and had decent results, but was disappointed that they didn't seem to work well cold. It would take a few hard braking zones for them to come alive for the first run, then if they had much cool down time before the next run, they would have to heat up again. I figured this would be okay as long as they worked better on a real track.

I went to my first track day on Saturday at Eagles Canyon Raceway, which is notoriously VERY hard on brakes. I knew this track would be hard on them, but figured they would do okay. I was wrong. They sucked balls. After just a few laps, I was having to push VERY hard on the brake pedal, and was not even able to make the tires squeal or engage ABS. My braking zones got bigger and bigger throughout the day. I wasn't able to even finish my 3rd run session since the pads started depositing large amounts of material on my rotors. I had to spend an hour driving up and down the highway (1 mile cruise followed by hard braking, repeat, repeat, etc.) trying to clean the rotors up again. The brakes finally started working well enough to do a 4th session, but I had to REALLY baby them.

Basically, they are going in the garbage. The other S2000 that was turning times close to mine was running Carbotec XP8's, IIRC, and had no issues at all, so I think I'll give those a try next.

 

^ XR3 is the wrong compound for the front of the S2000.

If you want the.. do every thing well, but noting great pad.. get the Carbotechs, and be happy with your compromise.

If you want a brake pad that will exceed all your expectations (on a race track)... get Cobalt XR1 and pair it up with XR3 in the rear (or if your brave XR2 works well in the rear as well). XR1 is in my opinion quite possibly the best race pad made available to the general public.

XR2 would be the right pad for street tires. I would recommend XR3 in the rear..

-Rob

 

I guess I should have prefaced my comments by saying I'm running a BBK.

I have friends that had no problem destroying XP8's and even XP10's on the track. Some have switched over to Cobalt and are happy they did.

 

im on xr3/xr5 now, they have amazing stopping power and on top of that, after two days at t-hill they still have almost the same thickness as new with alot of meat left. I have flat black wheels and i clean before and after track, so brake dust doesnt really concern me. ill probably try the xr2 when i run R-comps
i would def recommend these pads over the few pads i have tried ( Endless CC-X, Project Mu circuit max900,Carbotech XP10)

 

I am one of those. I ran xp12/xp8 combo for a looooong time. I went through many many sets of cb's. I was happy with them at first....until I started picking up the pace. Last 2 sets lasted me 2 trackdays each. After which I made to switch to cobalt xr2/xr5 on street tires. Pads now have more than 4 days on them and still have enough for the next track day or 2. Cobalt>carbotech for sure.

 

oh very interesting. might have to give these a shot. hows the initial bite on these compared to the xp10?

 

Sounds like need so switch as well. 2 tracks days per xp12 is expensive and I am tired of paying that much!

 

I'm on my 4-5 trackdays and still have some pad life left. I wanna try XR-4 or XR-5 in the rear but still have old GTS left.

Good track pads but I never try other pad except OEM.