Zipp

Tangente Cork Composite Brake Pad

First things first. The Zipp Tangente Cork Composite brake pads have a singular purpose: To revolutionize braking quality on carbon rims. We need to stress the word "singular" here, though, because Zipp says in no uncertain terms that they should never be used on aluminum braking surfaces, including Zipp's own clincher wheelsets. If you switch back & forth on a regular basis between training wheels with an aluminum braking surface and full-carbon race wheels, just stick with Zipp's rubber pads. But if you ride on full-carbon wheels every day (or if you have a personal mechanic who can swap out your pads on demand), you'll brake with power and modulation like never before.

The Tangente Cork Composite pads brake at a full 10 degrees Celsius less than rubber pads. This means a big decrease in pad residue -- greatly reducing the grabby, pulsating braking you all-too-often get with carbon rims. You get better stopping power than what you've felt from rubber or other cork compounds. And their unique arrowhead shape (there's more material at the front of the pad) reduce your braking time in wet conditions. They're 0.5mm thicker than rubber pads. Combine this fact with their lower heat and you'll get a wear rate comparable to rubber.

The Zipp Tangente Cork Composite brake pads ship two to a package (enough for one brake caliper), and in two versions -- a Shimano/SRAM-specific style, and a Campagnolo-specific style.