Cobalt Friction compounds for Miata

[MiataSteve]

I have been running Cobalt pads. Very happy with the overall consistency and durability of the pads. Currently installed are the XR3 front, and XR5 rears. I woulds like a bit more initial bite. Anyone have experience with the more aggressive compounds (XR2 and 4)?


Or any other recommendations?

[CP]

Hawk Blues on all 4 corners with the rear adjusters turned out 1.5 turns is how I begin all my race weekends. Takes a lap or two for the rear calipers to get happy and then I'm good to go for the weekend (SCCA NER regional front runner, 2011 STU champ, 2011 SM 2nd place).

[jeffw]

I'm a fan of Carbotech (xp12 front/xp10 rear).

[TroyV]

I used the XR2 before, but not on a Miata so I don't know if you will find this useful. What I can say is that I went from using the Carbotech XP12 to the Cobalt XR2 on my 03 SVT Cobra....the car I was tracking prior to the Miata. I used almost every available pad for the cobra that I could find, and found the XP12 and XR2 to be the two best pads for that car at 3800 pounds or so running on V710's. The XP12 was easier to modulate and was much more progressive in its application, whereas the XR2 was more aggressive in its initial bite and felt like more of an on/off switch. I find Carbotech pads in general to be a rotor conserving pad....meaning they don't last very long, but they don't chew up your rotors either. The XR2 was more a pad conserving pad...which did last longer, but put more of a beating on the rotors.

I have run Carbotech XP10/8 since I bought the Miata and have been very happy with them. I assume the XR2 in a Miata application will be much more aggressive, and with that tendency, make it a little easier to lock up a wheel under hard braking if your car is not loaded exactly even....such as when entering T9 at NHMS.