Why Does the GR Yaris Need ColdForge Brake Pads?

The GR Yaris is one of, if not the hottest of hot hatchbacks on the scene, with an enviable WRC record and backlogged order book. In most technical areas the car excels, with a punchy turbo-charged 3-cylinder, mated to a next level 8-speed transmission, mounted on an exceptional chassis – but there is one major pain point – the stock brakes.

Common feedback on the OE fit brake pads is that they:

• lack performance when cold
• Overheat rapidly, leading to fade
• Regularly cause damage to caliper seals

Heat management is clearly one of the number one braking problems for this vehicle, causing issues not just with consistency of pedal feel, but actually leading to damage to the caliper – something that clearly isn’t expected of a track tuned hot hatch.

This is where Tribol’s ColdForge Carbon CF-3 brake pads come in. With a simple pad swap you get:

• Next level consistency from the first corner to the last
• An unrivalled heat barrier protecting your caliper and brake fluid
• 1kg reduction in un-sprung mass 

But don’t just take our word for it – after a day of testing on his own car, Rob West, a professional racer in the Ferrari Challenge series and one of the development drivers on the GR Yaris programme, said Tribol’s ColdForge CF-3 pads were:

“… the perfect track pad, when I compare them to the OE pad they are a big step forward and give you that consistent pedal, even after a long run”

If you are serious about your track days, you need serious braking – sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know when our pads go up for pre-order this summer.

About the Author

Dr Sam Erland
CEO & Co-founder, Tribol Braking

Dr Sam Erland is the CEO and Co-founder of Tribol Braking. With over a decade of experience in the composites industry, Sam has worked across both aerospace and automotive sectors, specialising in the practical challenges of manufacturing advanced composite materials at scale.

His background sits at the intersection of materials engineering and real-world application – bridging the gap between what composites can do in theory and what they can deliver in demanding environments.

That focus ultimately led to the creation of Tribol Braking, where Sam applies his expertise to bringing high-performance composite solutions into braking systems – an area long dominated by conventional steel.