How Do We Know It Works?

Brakes are Your Last Line of Defence

Brakes are critical – arguably the most safety-critical component on any car. Every time you drive on track or on the road, you’re trusting your brake pads and calipers to perform without hesitation.

This is Why We Take Testing Seriously

Our high-performance, carbon fibre brake pads have been developed through an exceptionally long and rigorous programme, spanning nearly a decade. During that time, we’ve worked closely with brake pad manufacturers, OEMs, engineers, and professional test drivers to refine and validate our technology.

The goal has always been simple: ensure our composite brake pads perform consistently, predictably, and safely under every condition a performance driver might encounter.

 

Testing Where It Hurts: The Dynamometer

Our brake testing programme is built around two core phases: laboratory dynamometer testing and real-world track testing.

On the dynamometer, we push far beyond typical on-vehicle conditions. These tests simulate extreme braking scenarios rarely seen outside of even the most demanding motorsport environments, generating:

• Extremely high disc temperatures
• Elevated torque loads
• Hydraulic pressures at the upper limits of braking systems

Track-focused lap simulations include 45 consecutive heavy stops, with disc temperatures reaching 650°C. OEM-level thermal destruction testing has pushed discs beyond 900°C, with caliper pressures exceeding 200 bar.

Through this process, Tribol’s composite backplates have demonstrated performance that meets or exceeds traditional mild steel backplates. Simply put, if it survives this, it survives track use.

 

Why Lab Results Aren’t Enough - Take it to the Track

Laboratory data is essential – but numbers alone don’t tell the whole story.

Braking performance must ultimately be proven on track, where conditions are unpredictable and margins are tight. That’s why the final stage of validation took place in real-world testing with professional drivers, evaluating braking behaviour under genuine performance driving conditions.

Their feedback matched the lab data:

• Consistent pedal feel
• Stable friction
• Confidence under repeated hard braking

 

A Compound Designed for Real Drivers

Testing doesn’t stop at the backplate. Over the years, we've evaluated a wide range of friction compounds and landed on a solution that is perfect for enthusiasts through to professional racers:

• Works from cold
• High friction
• Controlled wear
• Exceptional thermal tolerance
• Precise modulation
• Minimal bedding requirements

This makes it suitable not only for demanding track use, but also for serious performance driving where feel and predictability matter just as much as outright stopping power. Our key mission has been to build confidence from consistency, not peak numbers.

Built With Drivers, Not Just Data

Every driver has their own preferences when it comes to brake feel and friction characteristics – and we respect that.

Tribol Braking is committed to developing brake pads that drivers genuinely want to use and trust. That’s why feedback plays a crucial role in shaping future compounds and product development.

Sign up now to be at the front of the queue to try a set of Tribol brake pads and judge for yourself.
Your input helps drive what comes next.

 

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.