Hi,
I have searched all the brake pad threads and can’t find an answer to my problem so hoping you guys can help. I have recently purchased a set of firecrest 808’s and am using the swiss-stop yellow brake pads. After only a couple of rides I’m noticing a yellow tinge colour around the braking surface. Not a major issue but it does detract from the overall look of the wheels. I understand the cork pads can be a problem when wet and I have heard about the dangers of swapping my black pads from my alu wheels (shards of metal etc) which some say happens, others say it doesn’t! I see zipp do a black pad but I think they are only for campag and I’m using Shimano. Would the campag brake pad carrier fit a shimano brake?
Anyone else notice this on their wheels and found a solution? I’m guessing it may scrub off but haven’t tried that yet.
Thanks
I’ve seen somewhere where Zipp notes they don’t recommend using the Swiss Stop yellow due to the issue you describe. They wont warranty the discoloration. Originally the only option was using the cork pads. Zipp now offers grey rubber pads for the Firecrest carbon rims. These are what now come in the box with new FC wheels. Look online at the Zipp site. You can find them on eBay too.
Hey mate,
I have a set of 2012 808 firecrest a and have always used the zip tangente platinum pro pads… They are fairly expensive but work incredibly well… I thought about looking for a cheaper option but then thought about how much the wheels cost me and stuck with the platinums…they have worked really well for me in all conditions.
I wouldn’t use the rubber pads that you use with alu rims either… They will cut up your 808s.
Hope that helps
I’ve seen somewhere where Zipp notes they don’t recommend using the Swiss Stop yellow due to the issue you describe. They wont warranty the discoloration. Originally the only option was using the cork pads. Zipp now offers grey rubber pads for the Firecrest carbon rims. These are what now come in the box with new FC wheels. Look online at the Zipp site. You can find them on eBay too.
Thanks for your help. I see that Zipp do include the Swiss-stop yellow pads as ‘approved’ pads and can’t find anything where they say don’t use them. The yellow does spoil the wheels though. I have just ordered the tangent pads!
Thanks again
It is listed in the wheel manually under “compatibility”. I think I noticed this with the 2011 version that included cork pads. This years 2013 printed manual was identical. The online manual is updated with 9/10/11 speed compatibly, but not for the new Zipp RVC valve extensions.
Sorry for the large images, but our new pad: Platinum Pro EVO is probably what you want. The compound has better modulation than Swisstop Yellow and runs as cool as cork, over 100 degrees C cooler (200+ degrees F!) in the Swisstop 60km-0 panic stop test. The EVO geometry is new this year and was developed to give more power. The Platinum compound has 3-5% lower coefficient of friction than Yellow, but this geometry adds 13% more surface area…so for similar lever force you can actually generate higher total stopping power, but still have superior modulation at more moderate lever forces. They will not discolor rims, and the bi-directional grooves get water off of the rim more efficiently than traditional geometries leading to shorter stopping distances in the wet.
And yes, the rims can handle Swisstop yellow, you will not melt/fail our rims as is possible with some others, but you will be far happier from a performance and cosmetic standpoint with Platinum Pro EVO.
Best
Josh
This is ProEVO geometry in silver with original Pro geometry in yellow. Most all of the additional material is located radially which distributes the friction accross more surface area leading to lower temperatures.
I havent tried their new pads but will be checking them out today after what I just read. I can say that I tried the Cork, Tangente and Swissstops. I preferred the Swisstops personally. The platinum pros were very loud under braking and the cork just didnt have the bite I wanted. I will try these new pads though and see how they feel.
Hi, thanks for the detailed response which reached me after I had ordered the tangent pro (not evo) and having looked I can’t find anyone with those in stock in the UK! Any idea when they might be available over here?
I hear that Swiss stop have also produced a new ‘black knight’ ( I think that’s what it is called) is it approved for use by you guys yet?
Thanks again, loving my 808’s
Hi - is it fair to assume these pads are equally compatible with e.g. a 2010 808 carbon tubular wheelset? I’m having the same discoloration issue with yellow SwissStop.
Yes, Platinum Pro and PlatinumPro EVO are both compatible with all previous generation Zipp carbon wheels (not any Zipp wheel with aluminum brake track).
The yellow residue can be fairly easily removed, I recommend denatured alcohol and a terry cloth towel. Some brake pad residue such as Campagnolo pad residue can require acetone or even a very light scotch-brite (grey or white fine/super fine ONLY). Be sure to remove tires as tires and solvents never get along well…also beware of the rim graphics…also not a nice paring with solvents.
As for availability of the EVO pads in various markets, I honestly do not know the timing everywhere. Initially we could not ship EVO pads into the aftermarket as we could only receive enough at first to ship with wheel sets. At the moment, we are shipping the new pads in all channels of the market from here in Indy, so availability should be imminent regardless of your location worldwide…but may not be immediate due to all the complexities of the sales channel.
As for Swisstop Black Prince, these are approved and work well with good power, modulation and low peak temperatures. Just as the Platinum Pro compound was derived by us using Yellow King as a starting point, Black Prince has been developed using Platinum Pro as a starting point. Black Prince has a slightly higher coefficient of friction than Platinum, but with the added surface area of the EVO geometry gives the EVO equal peak stopping power, while the lower coefficient allows the EVO exceptional modulation. The two pads run at nearly identical temperatures with EVO slight cooler due purely to utilizing greater swept area of the rim. Lastly, the EVO geometry is 1mm thinner than the Flash geometry allowing more clearance for wide rims on integrated brakes, etc…but the pads have identical volume of usable material since the EVO geometry just displaced the material over more surface area.
