Red Label RACE Brake Pads
$32.99
Improve your braking power, feel & modulation with zero noise output. Reap the benefit of our high-performance ceramic-based Red Label RACE brake pad with a risk-free 30-Day Guarantee and free same-day shipping.
Choose your model below – quantity of (1) will supply one caliper:
The choice for absolute feel and power
Our Red Label RACE Ceramic is the flagship brake pad in our lineup. Made with proprietary blends of Kevlar®, MTX CeraEvo® ceramic materials and other Japan-sourced additives and modifiers, we are bringing the performance benefit of ceramic to the cycling industry.
Who is the Red Label RACE compound for?
Specific compounds for specific needs
Racers
Performance fanatics
The silent type
Why buy from MTX Braking?
Feel confident in our die-hard level of testing, a product guarantee, and help when you need it.
Fanatik's Introduction
Legendary online retailer and Bellingham, WA bikeshop, Fanatik Bike Co., recently began stocking our product; here Dan walks through the Red Label RACE & our Gold Label HD brake pads.
Red Label RACE thoughts & opinions
The following are mostly snippets of longer reviews accessible from the Reviews link above.
I finally got a couple good rides in on the Red pads. All I can say… DAMN. I’ve never felt pads with such strong and consistent bite, but still able to modulate the power. The lever pressure needed from my M8020 XT brakes is much less and feels better as I don’t have to pull too deep into the lever travel. I’m not sure if this was intentional for the design of the pads, but they are thicker than Shimano pads which takes up some of the excess free stroke that plagues XT brakes.
Zane
5 frikkin stars! Slapped these on this morning, bedded them in, and rode lifts at Deer Valley all day. Much better modulation than Shimano pads. Silent and powerful! Well done MTX! I’ve got some coming for the wife’s bike too!
Brian
I think these might be the most noticeable upgrade I’ve ever made to a bike — more so than carbon wheels, new rubber, upgraded damper, etc. I run Code RSC brakes which are already excellent brakes, but swapping in a set of Red Label Race pads totally changed the way the bike rides.
Andrew
Dead quiet, great power, super consistent. I’ll never buy another pad! I tried out 1 set at first, and after 1 ride I ordered the second set. Do yourself a favor and try them out. You won’t regret it!
Andrew G.
The pads feel awesome! Not quite as much power as the sintered sram pads, but much better modulation and ALOT quieter!
Were you able to send us a dealer code to our shop email yet? We’ll probably order some soon!
Thomas
I love these on my xc bike and looking forward to them on my wife and I’s trail bikes!
Dustin
I ordered the red label pads and have been riding them for few weeks now, and let me say I love these pads! Quiet and powerful! I’m not sure about longevity yet but I have plenty of confidence they will last. Honestly if they don’t I’ll give the Golds a try. Quick shipping, quick responses, great customer service! I’m telling you that these guys are top notch!
Casey
This is the first bike I’ve owned with SRAM brakes. I wasn’t a fan. Noisy. Weak feel to them. Faded easily. I wanted to go back to Shimano. That is until I put on MTX Red Labels front and rear. WoW! What a difference these pads make. So quiet and the feel is amazing and the stopping power is on point!. I think I’ll keep my SRAM brakes and be perfectly happy, as long as I’m running MTX on them.
Chet
Instantly impressed. The noise level is almost non existent and I’ve been searching for quiet brakes forever. Will be changing my XC rig over as well.
Dan
I have used my MT brake pads for awhile, and they are so responsive, quiet and reliable. have no negative feedback regarding their quality or reliability. I felt like they were definitely an entire new brake set once I added them to my setup.
Aubrey
I’ve been riding with your pads for a little while now and I can honestly say the difference is profound. They make the Codes, a great brake already, even better. The red brake pads are silent and the power they offer are unlike any others I’ve tried before. I will definitely be turning more people onto your products. Keep up the great work.
Jeremy H.
The biggest difference I noticed is how quiet they are especially in the wet. One of the trail systems here is really steep to where your dragging brake a lot. I was following a buddy whose pads were howling and mine were silent. Most 3rd party pads that I’ve tried before weren’t as good as the brake manufacturer but yours are.
Jeremy
The pads have such a unique feel to them. They have a distinctly soft initial bite, with loads of power readily available for when you want it. Much less aggression than the stock metal pads but all the grab when needed.
Sam
I got a set of these pads a couple of months back and they are fantastic! Stopping power is incredible and 100% better than the SRAM pads I replaced. The modulation on these pads are great but the best part of it is that they are dead quiet.
Bryan
Pads are in; just took it out for a test ride. Love the bite they have for not being a metallic pad.
Ruben
Way better feel at the lever – like the pads are softer but have insane power. And no break-in time like the full-metallics I usually run.
Brian Baker
I put a set of Red labels in my wife’s Transition Smuggler with SRAM Level brakes. They really improved the stopping power of a low level brake system. Great bite and less fading. Highly recommended! Red labels will be going in my TRP Gspec right away
Chris
WOW I’m in love first they are silent, they have more control so smooth and the hold on the steep rock faces so good.
Nathan
Put in some serious miles on these already (100 miles in a local dirt century race) and the biggest thing I noticed was how quiet they are. I’m used to hearing some squealing now and then. Not a peep from these pads.
Mat Harris
I originally tried a pair of the MTX pads to get rid of a squealing brake, which it cured….completely! Then, on top of that, I realized I had better modulation and power, so I’m back to order another set for my other bike and my wife’s, they’re that good!
Ryan K
I have about 250 miles and 45k feet of descending on them in absolutely terrible weather for almost every ride. I’m super stoked on the performance of them.
Tony Dalton
I had Shimano XT 4-pistons for this new bike. YOUR PADS ARE EXACTLY WHAT SHIMANO BRAKES NEED. Its light and zappy feeling with the ability to drag lightly to really stick to the berms and rock shoots. I can’t believe MTX pads made the whole thing come together!
Robert
Coming from full metallic pad that are said to provide the best power, after trying these ceramic pads I noticed a slight increase in stopping power but more importantly they provided far more modulation.
Justin
I’m a big guy 6’6″ and upwards of 260lbs with a pack on. The feel is great, the power is great, that power doesn’t fade on long descents, and they don’t squeal like a banshee. For reference I’m running them in XTR M9120’s on a Transition Patrol.
Wesley Rasmussen
@mtxbraking I wanted to let you know I have put some miles on your brake pads and they are amazing! I don’t think I have ever felt so much confidence in my brakes before!
Sam
First time swapping the pads out in my Shimano XTs and couldn’t believe the difference and improvement with the MTX pads! From the very first ride I noticed a significant improvement in my stopping power, but also in the brake lever feel and control in feeling super responsive.
Eric Foose
MTX Braking getting it done. 100x more bite and power than the stock Guide pads. Braking later in corners and managing speed more smoothly at high speed.
Aaron Raines
My confidence on corners and steeps went up pretty drastically because of the confidence I had in the pads stopping power. Stoked to continue using these. I’m a convert.
Austin Tucker
Dead quiet. I rode them the other day in mixed wet/dusty conditions (perfect storms for howling brakes) and they never made any sound. It’s nice that my friends can’t hear when I’m braking.
Conor Barry
I immediately had the modulation of SRAM and the stopping power and consistency of Shimano. I am definitely a brake snob and have run every type of brakes and pads there are and was impressed with how they felt.
Aaron T.
Red Label RACE vs. Gold Label HD
To cut to the point, Red Label RACE is for all-out performance, the Gold Label HD is geared for eMTBs and heavier weight.
Red Label RACE
Choose Red Label RACE when the priority is all-out performance and absolute silence. For those who value the ability to dial in the feel of the brake into fast corners and want the ultimate balance of power and feel.
Gold Label HD
Choose Gold Label HD when riding an eMTB / e-bike and/or if you are in the Clydesdale rider category. This product is for those who prioritize durability & fade-resistance in their brake pads.
Gain more modulation & power with the Red Label RACE brake pads
Ceramic Technology
Ceramic compounds in brake pads have long-since been the premium option in automotive racing; we wanted to tap into that knowledge & technology and bring those friction benefits to the mtb space.
Our MTX CeraEVO (pronounced "sarah-e-voe") encompasses the knowledge from the automotive field, but maintains other vital properties needed for your mountain bike (such as a higher awareness of heat-resistance given the often-very-thin material on all mtb brake pads).
Stronger than Steel
While the use of Kevlar® by DuPont™ certainly isn't proprietary, it is still noteworthy and a significant part of the durability of the MTX Red Label RACE brake pad.
Kevlar® is a synthetic aramid that has outstanding heat-resistance properties relevant to braking products; for example, Kevlar will resist any degree of breaking down up to 850°F.
A brief explanation of what goes into the Red Label RACE
The ceramic ingredients
01
Kevlar®
A proprietary blend of German-made Kevlar® & copper fibers
02
MTX CERAevo®
Our own proprietary blend of ceramic materials
03
Resins
Heat-resistant resin materials sourced from Japan
04
Lubrication modifiers
Additives sourced from Japan
05
Friction modifiers
Additives sourced from Japan
Huan N.
First ride on your pads and I couldn't be more happy with how they performed. Mud, snow and water and they were quiet, strong - basically flawless. Awesome product.
| Weight | N/A |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | N/A |
| Applications | Avid Juicy / BB7 – RL210, Formula Cura 2-piston – RL250, Formula Cura 4 – RL255, Hayes Dominion A4 – RL260, Hayes Prime Expert / Prime Pro – RL265, Hope E4 – RL220, Hope V4 – RL230, Hope X2 – GL215, Hope X2 – RL215, Magura MT2/MT4/MT6/MT8 – RL195, Magura MT5 / MT7 – RL205, Shimano 4-piston ALL – TRP – RL131, Shimano Road / XTR 9100 – RL141, SRAM 2021 AXS / Red / Force / Level Ultimate RL160, SRAM Code – RL185, SRAM Red / Level Ultimate – RL170, Shimano Deore – RL111, Shimano XT / XTR / SLX 2-piston – RL121, SRAM G2 Guide / Avid XO Trail – RL175, SRAM Level / Avid Elixir – RL165 |
Aaron Raines
MTX Braking getting it done. 100x more bite and power than the stock Guide pads. Braking later in corners and managing speed more smoothly at high speed.
Brian Baker
Way better feel at the lever – like the pads are softer but have insane power. And no break-in time like the full-metallics I usually run.
Wes Macaulay
(taken from Instagram) – “Just so y’all know, I’ve been testing MTX’s ceramic pads in my SRAM brakes. Way better bite than sintered and wearing just as long so far! #bombproof” “Also – way quieter.”
Austin Tucker
I’ll admit it, I was skeptical. Are these going to just be the same brake pads I’ve been running, but spray painted red? Well, they weren’t. These pads bite way harder than my stock guide pads, while still being able to modulate/feather when needed. My confidence on corners and steeps went up pretty drastically because of the confidence I had in the pads stopping power. Stoked to continue using these. I’m a convert.
Nick Wilkes
I’m on SRAM Codes for braking duty. I mounted a fresh set of these pads up in parallel with a new SRAM centerline rotors. Fast “bed in” time, about 10 hard squeezes at speed and they felt good.
I now have 60 miles and 10k of descending on them. The pads have been dead quiet so far. They seem more powerful than metallics I was on, but the power seems controlled. Before if I would brake late and get on the lever hard I’d over squeeze sometime and cut the tires loose. Just enough modulation/power onset with these pads to prevent that.
I descended 2,700 feet in one shot off of Engineer mountain in Colorado and did not notice any noise or power fade. Not the steepest trail, but plenty of heat input since it’s high speed.
Excited to get them on sustained steeps and see how they perform. I’d buy another pair as of my initial impressions. I’ll rate it at 4-stars because I can’t speak on durability yet.
Ann Butler
I’m rating your rating? This was an especially helpful review because of its specificity: gear pairing, terrain, performance notes. Exactly the feedback I needed. Thanks!
Eric
All pads are not created equal. First time swapping the pads out in my Shimano XTs and couldn’t believe the difference and improvement with the MTX pads! From the very first ride I noticed a significant improvement in my stopping power, but also in the brake lever feel and control in feeling super responsive.
Most notably though, there was something MISSING when I finished my first ride: hand fatigue! Even through the rowdiest of rides, my brakes now do exactly what they’re supposed to and let me focus on the ride without the unnecessary distraction of sore hands.
Great product, no-brained upgrade, and competitively priced 🙌.
Chris Tidwell
I put a set of Red labels in my wife’s Transition Smuggler with SRAM Level brakes. They really improved the stopping power of a low level brake system. Great bite and less fading. Highly recommended! Red labels will be going in my TRP Gspec right away.
Aaron
I wanted to reach out and let you guys know how awesome your Red Label pads are.. I even went as far as replacing my brand new XTR finned pads to give these a shot and WOW. I immediately had the modulation of SRAM and the stopping power and consistency of Shimano. I am definitely a brake snob and have run every type of brakes and pads there are and was impressed with how they felt. Nice work Kevin and team!
Nathan
Ok, these guys mtx just showed up on my feed. Ceramic brakes sure why not that might be an up grade and I was tired of my noisy pads. So I order 4sets for my bikes one needs them and the other I just want it quieter. Well after 20+ miles and multiple days WOW I’m in love first they are silent, they have more control so smooth and the hold on the steep rock faces so good. I will be ordering again and I’m looking for the new rotor that have who knew brake pads would be a real upgrade…
Thanks MTX Braking
Mat Harris
Put in some serious miles on these already (100 miles in a local dirt century race) and the biggest thing I noticed was how quiet they are. I’m used to hearing some squealing now and then. Not a peep from these pads. Excellent modulation with XTR brakes. I only changed my rear pads because the front still have some life, but I think I’m going to just change them out early because these were much better. My new go-to brake pads.
Ryan
I originally tried a pair of the MTX pads to get rid of a squealing brake, which it cured….completely! Then, on top of that, I realized I had better modulation and power, so I’m back to order another set for my other bike and my wife’s, they’re that good!
Mike Cartier
Aside from getting sick of my stock Shimano XT pads squealing and howling at every pulse of my finger, I was stoked to try a set of these MTX pads out, as a curious bike nerd at heart. As far as I know, no one has really taken a microscope to brake pad compounds past the existing organic, semi-metallic and metallic offerings, so it’s refreshing to see something new burst into the market with impressive claims. While I’ve gotten used to the ON/OFF feel my XT’s produce, I never truly liked the lack of modulation I experienced compared to other brakes. After a few weeks of saddle time, these MTX pads allow some great modulation at first bite while offering a detailed feel and stupid power to boot. When off the trails, you can catch me riding trials on my hardtail and playing on my back wheel at any opportunity. These pads have inspired confidence and received 100% of my trust already. Consider trying these pads out if you want to tune and enhance your braking performance. (Editor’s note: Mike was a contest giveaway winner).
Robert Majors
(Editor’s note: this is taken from an Instagram DM conversation)
So as far as performance, let me say that I have tried SRAM, TRP and Shimano 4 piston brakes with every pad available I think. I always use g***** rotors love them and g***** pro pads are my favorite but….they’re grabby and they lack modulation; Shimano is kinda on-off feel anyway.
So I had switched to TRP Slate 4 pistons with a longer lever which gave a better feel or leverage to modulate but didn’t like the actual lever. Kind of bulky.
So…this is a long story but I am going to get to my point where I tell you how amazing your pads are! (spoiler alert).
I had Shimano XT 4-pistons for this new bike. YOUR PADS ARE EXACTLY WHAT SHIMANO BRAKES NEED.
Its light and zappy feeling with the ability to drag lightly to really stick to the berms and rock shoots. I can’t believe MTX pads made the whole thing come together!
I am an old motocross guy so I love tuning and just always felt like MTB brakes just really missed the mark.
I am hooked and headed to your website to order two more sets for our other bikes thank you and great product!
Sam D.
(Editor’s note: taken from Instagram)
@mtxbraking I wanted to let you know I have put some miles on your brake pads and they are amazing! I don’t think I have ever felt so much confidence in my brakes before!
Conor Barry
Stoked.
Minimal break in time. I threw them on and like most pads I was expecting them to have zero power for the first half of the ride. Not the case. Powerful right from the get go.
Dead quiet. I rode them the other day in mixed wet/dusty conditions (perfect storms for howling brakes) and they never made any sound. It’s nice that my friends can’t hear when I’m braking.
I have about 50 miles on them and am stoked to see how well they hold up. If they last as long as stock pads they will easily take the cake.
Justin
Coming from full metallic pad that are said to provide the best power, after trying these ceramic pads I noticed a slight increase in stopping power but more importantly they provided far more modulation. So happy with the switch! However, there is a disclaimer. If you’re coming from full metallic/sintered pads you will want to sand down your rotors to get off any embedded metal from the old pads, if not you may get some squeaking.
Wes R
These are the brake pads I’m been waiting for my whole mountain biking life! But seriously, I’m a big guy 6’6″ and upwards of 260lbs with a pack on. I’ve struggled for years with brakes and had accepted it as my fate to deal with brake fade on downhills and constantly removing, sanding, then re-installing pads to keep them working okay. I just did the math and I’ve logged 142.25 miles and 20,576 feet of descent on my Red Label pads and I haven’t had to touch them since the initial install; they just work and keep working. The feel is great, the power is great, that power doesn’t fade on long descents, and they don’t squeal like a banshee. For reference I’m running them in XTR M9120’s on a Transition Patrol.
Tony Dalton
Race season is staring so i just ordered another set to have for spares. I have about 250 miles and 45k feet of descending on them in absolutely terrible weather for almost every ride. I’m super stoked on the performance of them. I thought about buying the Golds for the rear, but really enjoy the feel of the reds. Thanks for making a great product! Stoked to race on them.
Huan
First ride on your pads and couldn’t be more happy with how they performed.
Mud, snow and water and these pads were quiet, strong…basically flawless.
Awesome product.
Ruben
Pads are in; just took it out for a test ride. Love the bite they have for not being a metallic pad.
Bryan
I got a set of these pads a couple of months back and they are fantastic! Stopping power is incredible and 100% better than the SRAM pads I replaced. The modulation on these pads are great but the best part of it is that they are dead quiet. Because of all these pluses I am swapping all my bike pads out for MTX Red Label!! Thanks Kevin for the excellent product!
Sam
The pads have such a unique feel to them. They have a distinctly soft initial bite, with loads of power readily available for when you want it. Much less aggression than the stock metal pads but all the grab when needed.
Jeremy
I’ve had plenty of time on the pads. The biggest difference I noticed is how quiet they are especially in the wet. One of the trail systems here is really steep to where your dragging brake a lot. I was following a buddy whose pads were howling and mine were silent. I haven’t noticed a difference in bite or power but the TRP Quadiems were already powerful. Which to me is a good sign. Most 3rd party pads that I’ve tried before weren’t as good as the brake manufacturer but yours are.
Jeremy H.
I’ve been riding with your pads for a little while now and I can honestly say the difference is profound. They make the Codes, a great brake already, even better. The red brake pads are silent and the power they offer are unlike any others I’ve tried before. I will definitely be turning more people onto your products. Keep up the great work.
Aubrey J.
I have used my MTX brake pads for awhile, and they are so responsive, quiet and reliable. have no negative feedback regarding their quality or reliability. I felt like they were definitely an entire new brake set once I added them to my setup.
Dan
Instantly impressed. The noise level is almost non existent and I’ve been searching for quiet brakes forever. Will be changing my XC rig over as well.
Chet
This is the first bike I’ve owned with SRAM brakes. I wasn’t a fan. Noisy. Weak feel to them. Faded easily. I wanted to go back to Shimano. That is until I put on MTX Red Labels front and rear. WoW! What a difference these pads make. So quiet and the feel is amazing and the stopping power is on point!. I think I’ll keep my SRAM brakes and be perfectly happy, as long as I’m running MTX on them. Thanks MTX!
Casey
I’m 6’4” and around 210 riding weight. I’ve been riding for over 20yrs. I was looking for some new pads after great difficulties with some major brand name pads. MTX came up on my Instagram feed and at first I was skeptical. After a little research I realized this was a legit company. I ordered the red label pads and have been riding them for few weeks now, and let me say I love these pads! Quiet and powerful! I’m not sure about longevity yet but I have plenty of confidence they will last. Honestly if they don’t I’ll give the Golds a try. Quick shipping, quick responses, great customer service! I’m telling you that these guys are top notch! Don’t hesitate, just buy these pads and be done with searching! Help keep these guys in business because I don’t want to buy any other pads now! Great Job MTX
Dustin
I love these on my xc bike and looking forward to them on my wife and I’d trail bikes!
Thomas
The pads feel awesome! Not quite as much power as the sintered sram pads, but much better modulation and ALOT quieter!
Were you able to send us a dealer code to our shop email yet? We’ll probably order some soon!
Andrew G.
I seriously appreciate you reaching out and retroactively applying that discount code to my order. I’m a customer for life now. I’m sold on these pads. I just ordered my second set and I’ll make sure to preach you guys’ name to everyone on the trail! …onto my review – Dead quiet, great power, super consistent. I’ll never buy another pad! I tried out 1 set at first, and after 1 ride I ordered the second set. Do yourself a favor and try them out. You won’t regret it!
Andrew
*So in full disclosure, I am not a social media influencer, so my opinion can’t be treated as fact. I’m just a guy who needed new brake pads and bought these because I had heard good things, and wanted to verify the claims that these were better than the hype.
I think these might be the most noticeable upgrade I’ve ever made to a bike — more so than carbon wheels, new rubber, upgraded damper, etc. I run Code RSC brakes which are already excellent brakes, but swapping in a set of Red Label Race pads totally changed the way the bike rides. I’m able to brake less and brake later, kill speed faster, and the bite is amazingly consistent. They’ve been totally silent (you don’t know how loud your brakes were until you ride on totally silent brakes) even over long descents in moon dust. I don’t remember any bedding period. They just worked right out of the box. I’m only a few thousand feet of descending into the pads so far, so if they last as long as a stock pad, they will have exceeded my expectations in every way.
Brian
5 frikkin stars! Slapped these on this morning, bedded them in, and rode lifts at Deer Valley all day. Much better modulation than Shimano pads. Silent and powerful! Well done MTX! I’ve got some coming for the wife’s bike too!
Preston
It’s a bit shocking the difference these made from the moment I installed them. Brakes are usually something I feel people take for granted but since running these in my Shimano XT’s, it has transformed how I ride. I feel much more confident keeping off the brakes longer while coming into corners, and if or when I need to stop they do so immediately. I also appreciate how silent they are, since there are few things more annoying than loud brakes.
Zane
I finally got a couple good rides in on the Red pads. All I can say… DAMN. I’ve never felt pads with such strong and consistent bite, but still able to modulate the power. The lever pressure needed from my M8020 XT brakes is much less and feels better as I don’t have to pull too deep into the lever travel. I’m not sure if this was intentional for the design of the pads, but they are thicker than Shimano pads which takes up some of the excess free stroke that plagues XT brakes.
These are absolutely the best brake pads I have ever ridden. Thanks!!!
Cody F
I was having problems with the 2-piston Shimano XTs on my XC bike fading on long descents. I would get half way down and already be pulling the lever to the bar. I was thinking I needed to update to larger rotors but I wanted to keep my bike light. I opted to try these brake pads and first ride I was blown away by the stopping power. Recently I did a 4,000 ft descent in 90 degree heat that I would have had to baby my old brake pads on. With these red labels the brakes felt the same at the bottom as they did at the top. It’s amazing how much faster you can be on the downhills when you have complete confidence in your brakes! I will be updating all my bikes to these brake pads now.
Derick Hutchinson
When I first bought my bike I thought the brakes were horrible. I have SRAM Level brakes and they always felt squishy and sloppy. I was not ever able to lock up my rear tire and had to nearly bring the lever to the grip to stop. On the verge of purchasing a whole new brake setup, I noticed an instagram add from MTX and decided to try the $30 solution before dropping $300-400 on a new setup. I felt the difference immediately! I was able to lock up my rear end, the noisy squeek went way and the pressure needed to slow down was much less! I highly recommend MTX Red label if you have SRAM Level brakes. Million dollar value!
Jarvis
Not much to add that isn’t said in other reviews. Improved modulation, increase in overall power, and way less noise. Who wouldn’t love all of that? Ran a set on some SRAM Guides and just bought another set for some Codes. Excited to keep using them!
Bart C
I’m typically not one to leave reviews on things, but these are phenomenal. Dead silent (even when wet), never fade and just simply work. Great job MTX team and great website.
Kevin
I just wanted to drop you a note and let you know how stoked I am about your Red Label Race pads. It only takes one ride to discover they are superior to Shimano or SRAM pads, but after 6 weeks I can say I have finally found the feel and performance I have been searching for. I’m excited to see how they are in wetter conditions over the winter. I have a pretty heavy influence with the Bay Area crew I ride with, and I see you have already fulfilled a few orders from my friends. I’m getting nothing but positive feedback, so you can expect more orders from NorCal. Keep up the great work!
Fabio Pizarro
From the customer support, to the delivery of the product….. this guys are amazing and very helpful. I was not 100% sure going aftermarket on break pads, but after few chats with this guys, I was convinced I wa smaking the right choice so I went with the red label brake pads. The braking feels very different in comparison to shimano brake pads, modulation could be the word? But the bite is always available with extra pressure on the lever. Braking is silent, precise, and punchy. There is no decrease in braking during wet conditions (at least with some of the rain we get in Florida). I highly recommend these brake pads to anyone wanting to upgrade the OEM pads. You won’t be disappointed.
Warning: once the pads are bedded in, go easy on the levers until you get to know its true potential…… over the bar flying is no fun 🤣🤣🤣
Fred
The Red Label pads are fantastic! They last lots longer than organic pads while still being quiet with lots of power and solid feel. Haven’t experienced any heat fade either.
Mike Sears
I’ve been running the Shimano brand metalic pads – they were the only set available when I bought them. As they have worn they became louder and louder… total howlers. They still had good life left but I could no longer take the noise. I bought the Golds as they were recommended for the extra weight of the emtb (and me). While bedding them in I was disappointed as they were already starting to howl. When we hit the trail this evening for their break in 20 mile ride I was particularly sensitive to the noise and feel. Silence is Golden (see what I did there). These pads had better feel and modulation by far. The Shimano metalics had minimal modulation to a firm bite – good stopping power but you better ride the front easy. With these golden pads I felt like the front breaking was the best I have ever ridden. Great modulation to a solid bite. I wish I has bought these sooner. I will be swapping all of my bikes to MXT break pads as they need replacing. Two thumbs up, 5 star, etc… would recommend to anyone.
Jeff
I have always ridden Shimano XTR brakes. Current bike has SRAM level ultimate. I wasn’t too hot on them. In 10 months I have gone thru 3 sets of pads! I ride XC and don’t think I am hard on my braking. So I decided to try the Red labels and so far I am impressed. No brake fade on long descents, modulation is great. They grab and feel like a Shimano system. They are very quiet, with the SRAM pads I was experiencing some noise. I have about 100 miles on them so far and the pads look brand new. The true test will be at the 300 mile mark. That was about the life span I was getting out of the SRAM pads. Sounds crazy but I also like the red paint. Makes for a cool custom look when the pads are in the caliper.
Russ Richerson
Recommended by my buddy in St George. Bought 2 sets, replaced the back because old pads were worn out. Was so impressed that I replaced the fronts half way through their life and I almost always wear out parts before I replace. So smooth, quiet, and responsive. I am recommending to all my friends. Also love that you are a US based company
Steve
Installed a pair of Red Label pads in hopes of better stopping power than OE SRAM pads. So far they’ve lived up to the hype. Better stopping power than organic and power organic compounds from SRAM. I’m a heavier rider (205) and still get some fade on long, steep, aggressive descents. I’m going to give Gold Label pads a try next to see if those work better for me. Last note is that these red pads add some cool flair to the brake calipers!
Tim
I’m 250 and have been riding my sl like I stole it. I was thinking about buying new brakes for this bike then heard about these pads. I have been very happy with the red pads. Next is the gold pads. Can’t wait.
Jonathan
I’m very impressed now with the consistency of performance and how quiet the pads have remained. My winter fat bike has been plagued with noisy brakes and inconsistent performance over the last 3 years, I’ve swapped pads, cleaned rotors, cleaned pads, basically everything you could possibly do to try to fix the issue. Nothing helped for more than a few days. I’ve now had these Red Label pads for a bit over a month and they have been everything they were promised to be, plus they have worked in a huge range of temperatures in that short time (temps have been all over the place, +20*f to -30*f now). What has sealed the deal was a ride earlier this week that dropped 1000ft of elevation in a mile and a half over 15 minutes. In that descent we passed through a temperature inversion that took us from 20*f to -12*f. Brakes stayed working consistently and noise free despite the layer of frost that flash developed on our bikes and clothes as we passed through the inversion. To give some context of what these pads are working with.. my fat bike is around 37lbs with gear on it and I’m about 220lbs with gear on. The bike has got a set of SRAM Level T single pot brakes and 160mm rotors front and rear. Not really all the beefy for what they need to stop on a descent like that. They continued to work quietly and consistently even with the rapid and massive temperature change. I’m thoroughly impressed after a month of riding and will be buying more for my other bikes.
Dave
Here’s an initial review. I don’t write a lot of reviews but I liked these pads and don’t think enough people understand the importance of good brake pads since there aren’t usually many choices with bike brakes.
I used a 1/4″ pneumatic die grinder and a medium grit sandpaper roll to make a new crosshatch sanding pattern on my 203mm Shimano Ice Tech rotors, then bedded in the new gold pads in SRAM Code RSC brakes on a trail w/ 500 ft elevation and ~2 min duration, so moderately steep but not too long. They smelled like brake at the bottom and wore most of the sanding marks off the rotor. The next runs were on “social” trails that are very steep and require some sliding, the brakes did very well and I never got any more brake smell. The main difference seems to be the braking power vs lever input is more linear. With the OEM pads I feel the braking force vs lever force may actually be digressive, so you need more and more force on the lever as braking forces increase, if you’re not used to that it can be disconcerting and this is the main reason I think Shimano brake users don’t usually adapt well to using SRAM brakes. With the MTX pads I feel like lever input corresponds with braking forces more linearly and evenly. IMO, this actually seems to improve modulation and predictability even though it shortens the overall range of input forces on the lever, so it requires less force to lock the brakes up vs OEM. I think Code RSC is a decent brake but after using the MTX pads I can see how they can be even better! So, these pads are not cheap but IMO they actually improve the brake’s performance significantly, and many are willing to spend FAR more vs the cost of these pads on better brakes.
I’m about 210 lbs in gear and ride a 37 lb 2020 Spec Enduro w/ Fox 38 and DHX2.
Terry
I only have one ride on these so far. They are completely quiet and powerful. You can easily control them so no skids. This is a great product
Oliver L.
Wow! I was about to order a whole new braking system for my bike, and then I decided to try out these pads. Needless to say, I’m still running my levels, and I’ll be running MTX pads as long as they make them for my application! Silent, grippy, and trustworthy when you need it most.
Mark
I have an 2021 Turbo Levo Comp. After contacting Kevin at MTX he set me up with Red Lable Race Pads .I must say these Pads are outstanding. My Shimano SLX 4 Piston Brakes have been transformed into very predictable and progressive brake system.
Larry
Man, you should’ve warned me I may shift a freaking tectonic plate with a hard pull on the lever with these pads installed!! That first pull on the trail was impressive! Luckily there’s still plenty of modulation. These things stayed quiet and performed extremely well with my Codes. Finally stoked with braking performance again. I’ve gone through the floating bite point of Shimano, shimano hybrids of race levers and trail/saint calipers, hopes, maguras, trying all kinds of tricks with bleeding and could never get it to be consistently crisp. The codes have been the best so far and easiest to bleed and now with these pads I am WAY stoked. Thanks for the rad products!
Dustin Young
It is about time somebody brought motorsport race quality to mtn bike braking! If you made no other upgrades to your bike, these brake pads and the right tires and you will have more control than you could have imagined. I have these on my SB150, Mondraker f-podium, my wifes SB130, and both fat bikes. There is no weather, terrain, nothing these pads are bothered by. If you have ever ridden a moto hard you know the brake pads matter, finally have that for MTB!!! Kudos to you Kevin, amazing product.
Steve
MTX has amazing customer service and a unique product that offers something different than OEM. I bought 2 sets of the Red Label pads (previously running power organic on SRAM G2). The Red Label have a quick break-in period and good initial bite – similar to many other reviews. However these pads did not solve my braking issues and I don’t think it’s anything against the pads, more so wrong choice by me. I’m a heavier rider (210lb., riding steep trails). I was hoping these pads would offer more power for sustained descents than the OEM. These pads on my G2s with 180mm rotors still get spongy at the end of long, steep runs and glaze over. I’d love to give the Gold pads a try because I think they’ll better suit my needs.
GERALD STANLEY
Received my Red Label RACE pads Monday, installed them Monday evening, and took the maiden voyage Tuesday afternoon. Wow! Full, hard stops executed from 35+ mph – no squeak, no squeal, excellent modulation and feel at the brake lever. Could not be happier. Super easy installation – set it and forget it. I’ll be switching my gravel and mountain bikes over to MTX pads as well. Thanks MTX!
Gino Mordocco
I was skeptical of all the claims of how great these pads are. I mean how “great” can they really be from the Shimano cooled pads that came stock on my bike? So it came time for new pads and I gave these race red pads a go. Well hot damn! If I had only known!!!! Putting how great these pads into words is impossible for me. Just buy a set. That’s all I’ll say. Hands down top 3 upgrades you can make to your bike. Stop reading this and buy these pads. Go go go. Do it now. Go!
Andy
All the power of metallic pads but without any of the noise. Very nice touch for your bike when it’s time to replace your pads!
Kenneth Luis Ayson
Been using the Red Label pads for front and rear. And all I can say how amazed I am with them. So much power and at the same time very little noise. Amazing product, will definitely purchase again. May even try the gold label next time!
Adam
I’m happy! More than happy really. I have been running the MTX Red Label on my TRP Quadiems for a season now and couldn’t be more pleased. They are everything they promise to be and the customer service was top notch, I’m a customer for life.
Josef Henley
Organic pads worked okay until a large decent. Pads faded very quickly on 200mm rotors
Michael Bellamy
I purchased the MTX Red Label pads for my 2015 Shimano XT Twin Piston brakes. After some research I found that the pads were price competitive to the equivalent Shimano pads. The shipment was delivered in under 2 weeks to Australia. I have found that the pads performance is excellent in all conditions. They completely remove the squawking inherent to the Shimano heat sink pads and provide the confidence to tackle challenging terrain.
Great job team!
Nick
I wanted to wait a couple 100 miles before leaving a review and all I gotta say is these pads are THE BEST. I replaced my Shimano SLX 4-pistion finned pads with these because I was getting overheating issues accompanied by some ear-piercing squeals. It got so bad that I would alter my riding technique to avoid using brakes (not ideal). These pads stay completely silent no matter how rotor-bluing the descent may be. The power is great and consistent which is all I want out of my brakes. I truly don’t think I’ll ever use other pads.
Doug Smithe
Excellent performance! I was worried at first of going away from stock as the performance was there, I just couldn’t get pads. Was not disappointed. The Red Label pads work amazing.
Andrew Mancini
These brakes are amazing! Fast and quick shipping, very quick install, immediately noticed a difference! I love them, not sure I will use anything else.
Chris Allbright
I have entry level Shimano brakes on my bike and an upgrade isn’t in the cards right now. A buddy told me to check out MTX pads when the time came to replace my pads. I put a set of Reds on and Holy crap!! These things are amazing. The feel of these pads makes my brakes feel like I upgraded brakes. The bite and modulation is sooo good and they are silent. Worth every penny. I doubt that I’ll ever buy anything else.
Trevor
These pads gave my grabby Shimanos much smoother modulation, without giving up stopping power. Nice.
Benny
Goooooood! As good as or better than stock – I’ve not noticed any lack of power or control so I’m happy. Pretty quick shipping to the SW of West Australia too
Adam N
I put your MTX Red pads on my bike and they are the best ever. My Shimano four-piston brakes always had the power but now they have the modulation too. It truly is the best of everything! Also, finally, they’re quie
Matt L
I’m running these on Code RSC’s on both my trail and enduro bikes. To be honest, I was a bit underwhelmed for the first couple rides. It’s not that I was disappointed, but just not blown away. It wasn’t until I took them on one of the steepest, loosest, sketchiest trails we have here – That is where I was truly impressed. Compared to the SRAM sintered pads, I’ve found that I now have noticeably more control in my ability to brake as hard as possible without locking up the wheels and skidding. They give me more confidence when scrubbing speed coming in to loose corners, and just braking in general when grip is at a premium. The best way I can put it is that I have a better feel for the limit of grip when I’m hard on the brakes.
The other two big bonuses I’ve found are with bed-in time and glazing. These pads start to grab hard after just the first several pulls, and they’re fully bedded in by the end of the first downhill run, whereas the SRAM sintered pads would always take a bit more that that, especially in the rear. I am also guilty of being a rear brake dragger down steeper trails. This would normally glaze the SRAM pads, causing them to howl and diminish how hard they bite. These Reds seem to have eliminated that issue.
I should note that I’ve also ran the Golds up front. Compared to the Reds, the primary difference I feel is that the Golds ramp up in power more quickly with the tradeoff of a bit of modulation. On faster, smoother trails with more grip, I actually prefer the Golds over the Reds. They deliver train-stopping power at just a light touch of the lever. However, overall, I’ve found that I prefer the modulation and feel of the Reds for everyday trail riding for both bikes, since I tend to seek out more of the steep, loose, and sketchy stuff that’s typically more slow to medium speed. The Golds now go on my big bike for bike park days, and since they also bed in so quickly, it’s easy to swap pads. The ridiculous amount of power they deliver really helps combat forearm and hand fatigue, since I don’t have to squeeze the levers as hard.
Lastly, I should mention that I’ve received absolutely top-notch customer service and response from Ben (and I’m sure the rest of the team is equally great). Both an excellent product and customer service – it doesn’t get any better than that.
Trevor
1 set of red pads lasted for the entire Great Divide route! Wooo! IG @trevorgay
Russ K.
Got a new bike with XT brakes. On the second ride they started squealing like crazy. I tried everything, cleaning, baking, full disassemble and reassemble, nothing worked. Replaced the pads with MTX and the noise is gone. I’m only one ride in but I have faith the noise is gone. The pads also, once bedded, have great feel and power. Looking forward to continuing to ride these and see how they work in the long term.
Vince Gest
MTX Red pads improved my riding experience tenfold. I no longer worry about brake fade nor squealing from heat build up. The increase in braking power was so dramatic that I now exclusively use MTX pads on all my bikes and highly recommend them to all of our customers at the bike shop.
Adam Nov
These brakes are simply the greatest. I recently got a silent Onyx rear hub and was enjoying the quiet while riding. One side effect was it made everything else seem loud. I got MTX red on a recommendation and they are, in fact silent. They may squeak a little when wet but otherwise, silent. I wasn’t expecting the improved performance but these have much better modulation than anything else I have used in my XT 8120 4 pot brakes. The modulation is just so much better. This is an actual performance improvement. They are not good brakes pads, they’re great brake pads. They took about 20 miles to bed in and become perfect for me.
Debbie Keough
Bought these on a whim as a few other riders around me said they were a game changer for SRAM brakes and the constant screech using SRAM pads. The Red Label brakes have made me love my SRAM brakes finally. Riding in the wet all day they barely made a noise when first using the brakes then dead quiet. On the dry days they just run consistent and quiet all day on long DH park runs. Also got some really good help from customer service on some install questions. A+ for their customer service!
Victor Teodocio
Wow, what a difference it has made swapping out the OE brake pads to the Red Label RACE. I didn’t notice the amount of brake fade I had previously until swapping to the new pads. Definitely will be buying an extra set!
Dave M
I have waited 3 months now before writing this review. The first thing that impressed me, right away, was the customer service. I have Hope E4 on the front, and the X2 on the rear( which quickly was told, that they are in the stages of development/release in 2022). Can’t wait!!! I love my Hope brakes, and with the MTX pads on the front , love them even more. Break in time was quick, my modulation improved even more, the control I feel allows me to brake a little later in the turns, and the life still looks like new. I usually replace pads about every 2-3 months. Thank you so much for introducing these pads to the market. I have some friends who have just purchased these, our LBS is preparing to get them, and I am just getting ready to purchase these for some Shimano brakes for our sons bike. You can not go wrong!! Enough said!!!!!
Will D.
I’ve been running these pads for about a year. They are awesome, bringing great modulation to my Shimano brakes without compromising power. I’m a big fan!
Jim
I have replaced all the Shimano brake pads on my Evil Wreckoning and Banshee Rune with red pads on the front, gold pads in the rear. Anyone need some Shimano pads!
Aaron Silver
Excellent pads, running mt7 pro with hc3 levers, I’ve tried 4 diff brands of pads, most of them take forever to bed, and don’t grab as hard as Magura brand. These grab amazing, and take very little time to bed in. Highly recommend
Allen
I’m currently running the red label race pads on the front of my ripmo and the stock Shimano metallic pads on the back. The red label race have equal power to the metal pads but much better modulation and are always quiet, even when wet. Great pads, definitely would choose them over the Shimano metal pads. After a couple of hundred miles on the red label race pads, MTX breaking pads are definitely my pads of choice and I will be purchasing more in the future.
VJ
Outstanding performance!
Kent
I gave these a shot on my wife’s bike and she loved the performance so much it changed the way she rides! Much more confident all around. All my bikes are due up for maintenance for the coming race season so I placed a big order. Called in with a question and was impressed with the service!! MTX gets it.
David
First of all, WHOA! Man, night and day difference from the stock pads.
I rarely leave reviews on any products, but these are too good to not leave one.
I had 300 miles on the brakes (Shimano M 6120) that came with the bike. I have not been impressed them at all and have been shopping for a new brakeset.
I had heard of MTX and seen their product at a local shop. The dude at the shop said they were great.
I figured I should try new pads before spending $100s of dollars on a “better” brakeset.
No need. I only bought pads for the rear and the bike was transformed. I’m not exaggerating.
When I was pushing the bike with the old pads, I often felt very unsafe. Therefore, I would pull back on speed to stay alive. I never felt that way with the MTXs on the rear.
I felt safe, in control, and FAST!
I will be ordering front pads and will ONLY buy MTX from now on.
Itchy
You know when you upgrade a component on your bike and you think you can detect the difference? Well these brake pads are the total opposite. You certainly will feel the difference with these! I upgrade the front pads on my gravel bike from the stock Shimano pads to the MTX Red Label pads and felt the improvement immediately. Smooth at the lever with tons of power and zero noise. I had to warn my riding parter after a few stops that I would be braking later and harder than usual because of the increased stopping power. It ended up being a game – “Let’s see how late I can brake”. I have already submitted the order for the rear pads. Thank you MTX!
Jeremy
I was looking everywhere for metallic N04C brake pads and had no luck. I saw the Red Label RACE pads on a forum and decided to give them a try, and man was it worth it! Amazing modulation with no fade or squealing while still maintaining excellent power! I would definitely recommend these brakes to anyone looking for amazing brake pads all the way around.
David B
Massive bite improvement on my Magura MT 7s. Just what I was hoping for.
Patrick Machacek
These brake pad are ok but not as good at the stock metallic shimano pads for me. They are the noisiest pads I’ve ever run, slightest bit of water and they squeal. The braking power is fine but they have a soft touch to them, I miss the bite of the metallic pads.
Conor / MTX
Hey Patrick – If you came from metallic brake pads, then you would most-likely prefer our Gold Label HD product instead; this more-closely aligns with a sintered metallic product. Hit us up and we’ll get you handled.
Brian
I’m a “Sturdy” rider. I can’t keep up with fellow cross country riders that are half my size. But, put them in a cage match and I’m pretty sure I can do some serious damage. Started out with the Red pads and Holy @#$%@, these things are solid. They allow me to drop the hammer and modulate really well. They are as impressive as my cage fighting skills. Going to be testing the Gold on another bike soon. I don’t have many friends left. But, for the ones that I do have… I will be recommending these bad boys.
Ricky
I’m running 105 BR-R7070 calipers with Ultegra SM-RT800 rotors and needed to replace my worn out L03A pads. The RL141 pads exceeded my expectations. I can’t say the stopping power is better than the Shimano pads, but the Red Labels are quieter. The Shimano pads would heat up and rub the discs, but the Red Labels have been silent so far, even with sustained downhill braking. I was able to get 6,000 miles from the Shimano pads and will see how long the Red Labels last.
John K.
I’ve been very pleased with the red level pads. I stocked up on pads for 3 different bikes and brakes. So far I see no reason to ever go with a different company. In addition to the pads being next level, the customer support has also been super. MTX gets my business from now until I can’t ride.
Jason
I can’t recommend these pads enough. They replaced the stock finned pads on Shimano XT 4 pot brakes. Immediately I noticed better beginning bite modulation compared to shimano metal pads with the same power allowing me to control skids and control slow speed tech easier. Also they are silent (finned pads rattle) and don’t squeal. I’ve taken these pads down numerous 20+ minute descents with 20-30% grade where you are on the brakes a lot and they still performed all the way down. Bedding in I find takes a little bit more time than stock shimano pads but once set are excellent. Life of the pad seems adequate for a 150lb person as well. Price is also great.
Adam
Incredible brake pads! These far exceeded my expectations! I installed these pads on my 2020 Trek Fuel EX 8 with Shimano RT66 180/203mm rotors, Shimano Deore M6000 brakes and over 1000 miles of Western NC trails on it. Prior to deciding to replace my pads, I genuinely thought my rotors were shot because of a “grinding” sound when braking. My existing Shimano pads seemed to have plenty of life left, but I changed them anyway to these Red Label RACE pads based on online feedback. I could not be happier! Installation was easy; I prepped my rotors by cleaning them with isopropyl alcohol, sanding them with regular 150 grit sandpaper, then cleaning again with alcohol, all with the rotors installed on the wheels. I bedded them in by bringing the bike up to speed, then modulating the braking without locking them up, one brake at a time. Three runs on the front brake followed by three on the back was all that was needed to get these pads ready to ride! ZERO squeaks, squeals or grinding. They feel amazing and I couldn’t be happier! I highly recommend!
Brian
I had been using Shimano organic for years. I had two piston finned on the old bike and 4 piston no fins on my Ripmo. I have a season now with the Red Label Race pads on 200/180 XT Ice-Tech rotors. These pads are an upgrade in every way. They stay quiet, the modulation is fantastic, and the braking power is stronger.
Charles
I bought 2 sets of Red pads over a year ago for my road bike with Shimano 9100 brakes. I’m still on the first set and I checked them for wear but after thousands of miles it doesn’t look like there is any. Lots of pad left. Quiet and smooth as silk braking. However I will say I don’t ride in the wet so I don’t know about performance in that respect. But I do remember how unimpressed I was at the original Dura-Ace pads that came with the group. Seriously, how can a company stay in business if there never is a return customer. It’s looking like I will never have to replace these pads as long as I own the bike. But if they do wear out I have another set already to go. These pads offer the kind of performance we should be getting for our money, unlike Shitmano.
Arsalan
Best brakes I’ve ever used. I’ve been using them for over a year with my 4-pot XTR brakes – about 2000 miles ridden in that time. They STILL don’t make noise. I clean and maintain my bike regularly, but even so, typically Shimano resin/metallic brakes would either be worn out by now or howling like a banshee. I also haven’t changed my rotors, so they may also increase rotor longevity? Not sure. Maybe I brake less now with the stopping power of these bad boys.
When friends step on my bike they comment how nicely the brakes grab. The reviews are correct; there is no bedding in period and the modulation is fantastic. I’m overly satisfied with these pads, especially considering they cost as much as standard Shimano pads and last and work much better (please don’t raise the price!!). I have yet to find a gradient where I feel the brakes will be the limiting factor. These brakes rule. You won’t be disappointed.