Brake pads are one of the cheapest parts on a disc-brake road bike, but they decide how your brakes feel, how quiet they are in the wet and how often you replace them. Shimano's own pads, SwissStop and Kool-Stop are the three brands most road riders consider. This guide compares their road pads using each brand's official product pages and specifications, checked on 8 October 2026, with a focus on the Shimano flat-mount calipers most riders own.

Key Takeaways

• Shimano offers two resin pads (finned L05A-RF and finless K05S-RX) and two metal pads (finned L04C-MF and finless K04S-MX). All four fit Shimano's current BR-R9270, BR-R8170 and BR-R7170 calipers.
• SwissStop names its pads by shape and compound. For Shimano road calipers the shape is Disc 34, sold in four compounds: RS, E, C and EXOTherm2. SwissStop does not make sintered or metal disc pads.
• Kool-Stop's Shimano road flat-mount shape is the D625 family (organic D625, sintered D625S, cooling D625CS and D625CA, and D625E). The D635 is a different, mostly mountain bike shape.
• Campagnolo riders need a different shape: SwissStop Disc 30 or Kool-Stop D160.
• None of the three brands publishes official pad prices on its own website, so compare local retail prices.

How Pad Names Work

Each brand labels pads differently, and getting the shape wrong is the most common mistake.

So "Disc 34 RS" is one product: shape 34 in the RS compound. It is not two different pads.

Shimano: The Original-Equipment Choice

Shimano's current road pads, from its official product pages:

Shimano lists all four for its Dura-Ace, Ultegra and 105 road calipers (current and previous generation), Tiagra BR-4770 and GRX calipers including BR-RX820. Shimano claims its 5th-generation resin pads wear 50% better than the previous generation.

Strengths: guaranteed fit, a fin option for heat, and Shimano's own replacement and bed-in procedure. Limitations: no official US pad prices on Shimano's store, which lists rotors but not pads.

SwissStop: Four Organic-Based Compounds

SwissStop, the Swiss specialist best known for rim-brake pads, offers four disc compounds and rates each on a 0–10 scale:

These are SwissStop's own ratings, useful for comparing its compounds with each other rather than with other brands.

• Disc 34 RS (part number P100005052) replaces Shimano pad types including L05A-RF, K05S-RX, L04C and K04S-MX, and fits Dura-Ace BR-R9270/R9170, Ultegra BR-R8170/R8070, 105 BR-R7170/R7070, Tiagra BR-4770 and GRX calipers. SwissStop says Disc RS has a 1.6 mm steel back plate and is quiet in wet, dry, snow and ice.
• Disc 34 EXOTherm2 (part number P100005317) replaces the same Shimano pad types, with a road and gravel caliper list.

Strengths: quiet compounds with clear published ratings; EXOTherm2 for heat and pad life. Limitations: no sintered option, and no official prices on SwissStop's websites.

Kool-Stop: Organic and Sintered Options

Kool-Stop makes the widest range of compounds for the Shimano road shape, all in its D625 family:

Kool-Stop's D625 fit list names calipers such as Dura-Ace BR-R9170, Ultegra BR-R8070, 105 BR-R7070, the BR-RS series and GRX BR-RX810/RX400, but does not name the newest BR-R9270, BR-R8170, BR-R7170 or BR-RX820. Because Shimano uses the same pad shape across these generations, the D625 shape matches, but check with your retailer if you own the newest calipers.

Kool-Stop does not use the term "semi-metallic". Its compounds are organic, sintered, E compound, aluminium-backed and Aero Kool.

Strengths: a sintered option for wet, gritty or long-descent riding; cooling back plates in organic and sintered. Limitations: the newest Shimano calipers are not named on the D625 page, and Kool-Stop's US site shows no prices.

Campagnolo and SRAM Road Calipers

Not every road bike uses Shimano calipers.

• Campagnolo: SwissStop's Disc 30 fits Campagnolo hydraulic disc brakes, including Ekar (replacing DB-210 and DB-310 type pads) and DB-410, in RS, E, C and EXOTherm2. Kool-Stop's KS-D160 is listed for Campagnolo H11 and Magura MT calipers.
• SRAM: SwissStop Disc 35 fits SRAM RED AXS (current and previous generation), Force AXS and Rival AXS; Disc 32 fits SRAM's first-generation eTap AXS and HRD calipers.

Choosing the Right Compound

Resin, organic, metal and sintered explained

Brands use different words for similar ideas, which makes comparison harder than it should be.

• Resin and organic describe the same broad family: friction material bound in resin. Shimano calls its pads "resin"; SwissStop and Kool-Stop call theirs "organic". These compounds are generally quiet and progressive, bed in quickly and are kind to rotors, but they wear faster when wet and gritty and are more sensitive to sustained heat.
• Metal and sintered describe pads with metallic particles fused into the friction material. Shimano calls its version "metal"; Kool-Stop calls its version "sintered". Shimano's own summary is "more braking power and durability". They usually last longer in bad conditions and cope better with heat, but they can be noisier and need more effort to bed in.
• Ceramic and composite blends, such as SwissStop's Disc C (Kevlar, ceramic, brass and resin), sit between the two, aiming for low noise with good power.

A pad's back plate and cooling design matter too. Finned or aluminium-backed pads, such as Shimano's L05A-RF, SwissStop EXOTherm2 and Kool-Stop's D625CA and D625CS, move heat away from the friction material, which helps on long descents.

Swapping between brands

You can usually change from Shimano pads to SwissStop or Kool-Stop (or back) as long as the shape matches your caliper. Three things to watch:

1. Clean the rotor thoroughly with isopropyl alcohol before fitting a new compound, so residue from the old pad does not affect the new one.
2. Bed in from scratch. A new compound needs its own bed-in, even on a used rotor.
3. Avoid mixing compounds front and rear unless you have a reason to; the brakes will feel different in each hand.

Noise and wear troubleshooting

If new pads squeal, the usual causes are contamination, incomplete bed-in or a misaligned caliper. Re-check alignment, clean the rotor and repeat the bed-in procedure before concluding that a compound is noisy. If pads wear unusually fast, look at your conditions first: wet, gritty roads wear resin and organic pads much faster than dry tarmac, which is where a sintered or metal pad can make sense.

Fitting and Bedding In Any Pad

1. Check the shape. Shimano L/K-type, SwissStop Disc 34 or Kool-Stop D625 for Shimano road calipers.
2. Replace at the limit. Shimano's dealer's manual says to replace pads at 0.5 mm, or if contaminated with oil or grease.
3. Keep everything clean. Clean rotors with isopropyl alcohol and never touch the friction surfaces with oily hands.
4. Fit finned pads correctly. Shimano's finned pads are marked L and R.
5. Bed them in. Shimano's procedure is at least 20 stops from moderate speed to walking speed for each brake, one lever at a time. Follow the pad maker's instructions where they differ.

Shimano also warns not to use a rotor that is 1.5 mm thick or less.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which SwissStop pad fits Shimano 105 R7170?

Disc 34, in RS, E, C or EXOTherm2. SwissStop lists BR-R7170 for Disc 34 RS.

Which Kool-Stop pad fits Shimano road flat-mount calipers?

The D625 family (D625, D625S, D625CS, D625CA, D625E). The D635 is a different shape for older mountain bike and road calipers.

Does SwissStop make sintered disc pads?

No. Its disc compounds are RS, E, C and EXOTherm2.

Are Kool-Stop pads semi-metallic?

Kool-Stop does not use that term. It offers organic, sintered, E compound and aluminium-backed pads.

Which pads fit Campagnolo disc brakes?

SwissStop Disc 30 (including Ekar) or Kool-Stop KS-D160.

Can I use any Shimano road pad on my R8170 Ultegra brakes?

Shimano lists L05A-RF, K05S-RX, L04C-MF and K04S-MX for BR-R8170.

How much do these pads cost?

None of the three brands lists official prices on its website; prices are set by retailers.

Are aftermarket pads better than Shimano's?

Not automatically. Shimano's pads are designed with its calipers and come with Shimano's own compatibility list and bed-in procedure. Aftermarket pads are worth trying if you want something Shimano does not offer: SwissStop's very quiet Disc RS compound, or Kool-Stop's sintered and cooling-backed options for harsh conditions.

How do I know my pads are worn?

Measure the friction material. Shimano says to replace pads when the most worn part is 0.5 mm thick. A longer lever pull, grinding noise or reduced power are also signs to check them.

Do finned pads fit every caliper?

Finned pads need space around the caliper. Shimano lists its finned L05A-RF and L04C-MF for its current road calipers, but always check the pad maker's fit list for your specific caliper.

Verdict

For most riders with Shimano calipers, the simplest choice is Shimano's own L05A-RF or K05S-RX. If you want quieter braking in the wet, SwissStop's Disc 34 RS is the specialist upgrade, and EXOTherm2 is its answer for heat and pad life. Kool-Stop's D625 family is the pick if you want a sintered pad for wet, gritty riding. Whatever you choose, match the shape to your caliper first: Disc 34 or D625 for Shimano, Disc 30 for Campagnolo.

Sources

• Shimano: BP-L05A-RF, BP-K05S-RX, BP-L04C-MF, dealer's manual DM-RADBR10
• SwissStop: compounds, Disc 34 RS, Disc 34 EXOTherm2
• Kool-Stop: KS-D625, KS-D625S, KS-D160

Equipment mentioned in this guide

• Shimano L05A-RF disc brake pads
• SwissStop Disc 34 RS
• Kool-Stop D625 disc pads

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