No, the reason we "say that XP10's aren't as effective as stock pads while cold" is that they aren't. They're race pads, designed to work best when very hot. They simply aren't as good cold as good street/autox pads. They may be better than lousy street pads, but they're not better than good street pads when cold.

 

I agree, with one caveat. The first half dozen laps or so, you will probably have a lot of unusual brake judder. But that goes away, if you just aggressively brake the car until the old pad material is replaced by the new pad material.

However, that assumes you are using the pads hard, and fully up to temp.

I usually suggest to people who are new to the track that they just drive the car in the form they normally drive it on the street, the first time out. For one thing, you may not like tracking the car. A significant percentage of people only try this once.

 

Was never arguing that. Again, that is a given. Of course race pads are going to work better while hot. I said that XP10's were better than the stock pads even while cold, which they are. I know this because I replaced my stock pads with pre-bedded XP10/8's and went for a drive. From the first stop they were better. Your experience may be different, but I know for a fact mine stopped way better than stock even while cold. Are they better than a really good street pad? Probably not, but I can't say because I have no first hand experience with that.

 

I agree. Pre-bedded or not. The only people who suggest not using the XP10 on the street are people have haven't tried it. They're not the perfect street pad. The dust and noise precludes that but, they're pretty close to perfect for my purposes.

 

 

I'll drive to and from the track on my XP10's but they are certainly NOT safer than my OEM's. Sure, when they get warm they bite like a shark, but when they're cold and you need to stop now, they are much more slippery. Besides, why use $180 pads to putz around town?

 

Haha.

Because I'm lazy.
Because I'm typically at the track at least twice a month.
Because I normally just drive to the 7-11 for soda and don't have much of a commute.

It usually works out this way. I just haven't experienced what you've reported. I found them to be great pads hot or cold. I'm not doubting your comment. It's just interesting that our experiences are so different.

I don't drive it when it gets real cold so, maybe that explains it. When it gets real cold, I drive my truck.

 

Really? Of the three tracks I run (Lightning, Thunderbolt, Pocono North), I think Pocono is by far the easiest on brakes by far.

How fast are you taking turn 1? Going all-out, I can come into the braking zone at about 125mph, and usually take it down to about 60 for turn 1.

 

Delusional.

 

Pocono is not a real track 125 is fast on street tires, that is about what I am doing as well on R-comps. Turn 1 is taken at 70-75mph.