Brake pads for carbon rims have always been fussy about heat management. The resin in carbon fiber starts to soften when temperatures climb, which is why you'll see recommendations about feathering brakes on long descents rather than dragging them continuously. Zipp's Tangente Platinum Pro Evo pads address this through compound chemistry—a formula developed specifically to work with their carbon rim surfaces while keeping heat buildup within acceptable limits.

The compound matters more than most people realize. Standard rubber pads on carbon generate friction in ways that can glaze the braking surface or cause that unsettling squeal when things get hot. The Platinum Pro Evo uses a proprietary blend that Zipp engineered to match the texture of their rim brake tracks, providing consistent bite whether you're scrubbing speed into a corner or managing a 20-minute alpine descent. The pad material also handles wet conditions better than cork-based alternatives, maintaining more of its dry-weather stopping power when rain shows up.

These pads fit Zipp's Tangente brake pad holder system, which uses a cartridge design that makes replacement straightforward. The holder accepts the pad insert from the top, secured by a small bolt—no need to remove the entire brake pad assembly from the caliper. If you're running Zipp carbon rim brake wheels and haven't replaced pads in a while, worn compound is often the culprit behind diminished stopping power that riders blame on brake setup or cable tension.... Read More