Carbon rim brake tracks generate more heat than aluminum, and running the wrong compound on them is one of the fastest ways to glaze a pad, kill your modulation, or damage an expensive wheelset. Shimano's R55C4 Carbon Brake Pads use a compound developed alongside the Dura-Ace platform specifically for carbon braking surfaces, delivering consistent stopping power across Dura-Ace, Ultegra, and 105 rim brake calipers. Each package includes one pair of cartridge inserts — enough to service a single caliper — plus the fixing bolts for installation.

Compatibility is broad across Shimano's rim brake road lineup. The R55C4 slides into cartridge-style pad holders on BR-R9100, BR-9010, BR-9000, BR-7900, BR-7800, BR-7700, BR-R8000, BR-6810, BR-6800, BR-6700, BR-R7000, BR-5810, BR-5800, BR-5700, and non-series calipers including BR-R650, BR-R600, BR-R561, BR-R560, and BR-CX70. If you're running any generation of Shimano dual-pivot road caliper with a carbon wheelset, this is the correct-fit replacement.

The standard R55C4 is the full-thickness version and works well with traditional-profile carbon rims. If you're running a wider modern carbon clincher in the 24-28mm external width range, Shimano also makes an R55C4-1 pad that's 1mm thinner for extra caliper clearance — worth checking your rim width before ordering to make sure this standard pad clears without needing to open the caliper release. The segmented pad face helps channel water and shed heat during sustained braking on long descents, which is where carbon-specific compounds earn their keep.... Read More