Best Brake Pads for MTB & E-Bikes: Lab Results & Buying Guide

Updated 2 November 2026. This guide uses our published lab reports, current compound comparison and current product information.

Looking for the best brake pads for your mountain bike or e-bike? Start with the correct caliper fitment, then choose a compound for your terrain, braking load and preferred feel. Cold bite, braking power as temperatures rise, pad wear and the behaviour of the whole brake system all matter. A pad for short, cool trail rides may need a different character from one used for repeated downhill runs or a loaded e-MTB.

Below, we explain what our testing shows and how to choose from the current Gorilla Brakes range. Start with the brake pad finder to identify your fitment, then choose a compound.

Best brake pads by riding style

• Enduro, downhill, long alpine descents and demanding e-MTB riding: start with Enduro Pro Ultimate or Enduro Pro Semi-Metallic. These are also our recommended compounds for heavy cargo bikes and loaded touring.
• Everyday trail riding, road and gravel: consider Enduro Pro Resin for braking feel, or Enduro Pro Semi-Metallic for a versatile option.
• Strong bite from the first brake application: explore Enduro Pro Power. The current product descriptions emphasise immediate bite from cold and predictable delivery as heat builds. See the Shimano four-piston and SRAM Code / DB8 / Motive versions for exact fitment.
• A choice of braking feel and backing plate: explore Factory Racing, including Factory Racing STEALTH and Factory Racing Titanium. Our comparison identifies the same compound profile, with titanium offering a lighter backing plate.
• Wet-weather commuting and winter riding on conventional bicycles: Performance Sintered is our wet and muddy riding option. For demanding high-heat use, follow our Enduro Pro and Factory Racing recommendations.

These are compound recommendations. Always check the exact caliper, pad shape, rotor requirements and pack contents on the product page.

Resin, semi-metallic or sintered brake pads?

Compare the specific compound as well as its material label. Within the current Gorilla Brakes range, Enduro Pro Resin is an option for everyday trail, road and gravel riders who value braking feel. Enduro Pro Semi-Metallic is recommended for versatile riding, heavier loads and long descents, supported by the heat-management comparison below.

Performance Sintered is our choice in the Performance range for wet and muddy riding on conventional bicycles. For demanding downhill and e-MTB use, consider Enduro Pro Ultimate or Enduro Pro Semi-Metallic. Check the exact product's rotor compatibility; a compound name alone does not establish compatibility.

What the lab testing tells us

Our Gorilla Brakes and HINE-R Engineering lab report records testing carried out on 8 September 2026 in Darwen. The rig used a fixed lever force of 22.5 N at 200 rpm, with a Shimano M9100 lever, HINE-R Wilfred caliper and a 203 mm Shimano XT RT86 rotor for the main comparison. Braking power, rotor temperature and caliper temperature were recorded.

The useful question is how a compound behaves across temperatures. The report found differences in cold performance, power as heat built and heat transfer into the caliper. It also showed why bedding in and rotor choice matter.

Comparable power figures from the published compound comparison

The figures below are approximate highest plotted outputs from the shared Shimano XT RT86 rotor comparison. Peaks occur at different rotor temperatures. They describe the tested configurations, rather than maximum power ratings or stopping-distance measurements.

A higher peak alone does not decide the best pad for your ride. Read it alongside cold response, temperature behaviour, wear and fitment. Enduro Pro Power is a separate product name; it is not the “Trickstuff Power” sample in the original report, and we have not assigned it a figure from that comparison.

Heat transfer and pad life

The original report observed faster heat transfer into the caliper with the sintered sample. The current comparison also shows Enduro Pro Semi-Metallic maintaining a lower caliper temperature than Sintered at comparable rotor temperatures. This supports looking beyond the idea that a more metallic pad is automatically the best choice for a long descent.

Separately, the bench report summarised on our compound comparison page identifies Enduro Pro Ultimate as having the best wear resistance in its test group, using a Shimano BR-M8120 caliper and a Shimano 160 mm rotor. That is a different test from the September rig report, which did not measure pad wear.

Further dyno findings: rotors, repeat runs and backing plates

Our further dyno comparisons extend the picture beyond the original report:

• Repeat runs: four HEL rotor runs with titanium-backed pads showed stronger output at the cooler end and around 250°C in later runs than in the first. The accompanying caliper-temperature curves remained closely grouped.
• Rotor choice: with Factory Racing STEALTH, the HEL rotor gave the highest braking power across the shared plotted temperature range of the four rotor configurations compared. Lewis, Shimano XT RT86 and TRP each produced a different response.
• Backing plates: the steel and titanium comparisons showed similar thermal behaviour, with titanium offering weight saving. In the separate Enduro Pro Ultimate steel-versus-aluminium comparison, the steel-backed sample maintained a cooler caliper at comparable rotor temperatures.

A separate HEL/Sintered 1 run reached approximately 1,940 W near 225°C. It uses a different rotor configuration from the table above, so it should not be treated as a direct compound ranking against those RT86 figures. The block-by-block temperature charts identify Sintered 2, a different run.

What these tests do not establish

The September test used clean, dry conditions with the cooling fan off. Some pads were not fully bedded in, green fade affected results, and the report documents timing and measurement limitations. It did not establish wet-weather performance or a universal service life. The later published charts use approximate readings from supplied graphs; each retains its own setup and run labels.

The original report also describes a destructive test in which Enduro Pro Ultimate continued producing braking without observed fade at extreme rotor temperatures, while the rotor and other brake components failed. This is a test observation, not a safe operating temperature or a promise that a complete brake system cannot fade or fail.

Current product examples: check the details before ordering

Enduro Pro Ultimate: steel or finned aluminium

The Enduro Pro Ultimate pads for SRAM Maven use steel backing plates and the Maven XL shape. The Enduro Pro Ultimate finned pads for Shimano four-piston calipers use aluminium backing plates with integrated fins. Both listings specify two pads and one spring for one compatible caliper. The finned version has its own caliper list; check that list instead of assuming all Shimano pads are interchangeable.

Enduro Pro Semi-Metallic, Enduro Pro Resin and Factory Racing STEALTH

The current Maven versions of Enduro Pro Semi-Metallic, Enduro Pro Resin and Factory Racing STEALTH use steel backing plates, with two pads and one spring per caliper. Their product pages distinguish demanding braking, everyday braking feel and Factory Racing STEALTH's quieter braking character. These compound findings are not separate lab tests of every pad shape.

Enduro Pro Power

The current Shimano four-piston and SRAM Large-shape listings describe steel-backed pads with strong immediate bite from cold, followed by consistent, predictable power as heat builds. Use each product's compatibility information to select the correct version.

Choosing the best brake pads for wet trails and long descents

For wet UK trails, think about the first application as well as performance once warm. Mud, water and grit also affect wear. Our Performance Sintered recommendation for wet conventional-bike riding comes from the current range guidance; it is not a wet-test conclusion from the dry September report. Factory Racing Organic can wear quickly in wet and muddy conditions.

For Morzine, the Alps, repeated bike-park laps or heavier loads, start with Enduro Pro Ultimate or Enduro Pro Semi-Metallic and check the whole brake setup. Rotor diameter, thickness, condition and the brake manufacturer's requirements matter alongside the pads. No compound removes the need to manage heat and inspect the brakes.

Fitting, bedding in and maintenance

Follow our installation guide and bedding-in procedure. Bedding in establishes the friction surfaces and transfer layer; fresh resin-bound material can also experience temporary green fade during thermal conditioning. The laboratory heating procedure is not a road-riding instruction.

Check pad and rotor wear using the measurement method and limits for your exact brake. Inspect before demanding rides and more frequently in mud. Replace damaged or contaminated pads as appropriate, check alignment and investigate a sudden change in braking performance.

Best brake pads: frequently asked questions

Are sintered pads always best for downhill or e-MTB?

No. Compound formulation and heat transfer matter. Our current recommendations for demanding e-MTB use and prolonged descents are Enduro Pro Ultimate and Enduro Pro Semi-Metallic. Choose the compatible pad shape and a complete brake system suited to the load.

Can I choose by the highest watt figure?

Use it as one piece of evidence. These figures depend on the test setup and temperature. They do not predict stopping distance, and values from different rotor runs should not be mixed into one ranking.

How many packs do I need?

Check the listing. The product examples above for Enduro Pro Ultimate, Enduro Pro Semi-Metallic, Enduro Pro Resin and Factory Racing STEALTH contain two pads and one spring for one caliper. Replacing front and rear normally needs a pack for each, after checking both fitments.

How long will my pads last?

There is no reliable universal mileage. Terrain, load, weather, braking technique and compound all affect wear. Inspect the pads and follow the limits for your exact brake.

Ready to choose? Find your brake pads, explore the full compound comparison, or call 01524 964740 for fitment and compound advice.