Read it first: Is there such a thing as a do-it-all brake pad?

Don't think they are there yet.

In the good old days, I ran Ferodo DS11 pads. They didn't work well at all until they were warmed up so I learned to drag the brakes on the pace lap so they would work fairly well on the first race lap.

Progress resulted in better compounds that worked when still colder than the Ferodo pads would, and we got some ceramic compounds that weren't bad.  Even today I'd wonder if there are any compounds that work at colder temps but also stick around into high race temperatures.

I've used both Porterfield and EBC pads that are better cold but I haven't had occasion to test them at race heats.  I'd be interested to hear from those still racing whether there is such a thing as a good all round pad you can use to drive to the track or race on it. 

In reply to wspohn :

Performance Friction (Indy car supplier) has a pad they call Fast Road/Track AKA Z rated.I've used this Pad for years E30,E39,F22. Starts working after first hard stop.Good for HPDS.

Reasonable price. No Dust, Will squeal after long term street use. A few high speed stops and you are good as new.

Man the stock elantra and veloster N pads are close. Perfect street manners from deaad cold and capable of 20 min sessions on track with street tires. Mine have lasted 55k miles with one track day. Downsides is that in heavy rain on the highway when you havent used them in a while, they can take 1 second to bite hard, and they are quite dusty.

The hardcore guys with 200tw tires put on track pads, but its generally the consensus that anything other than oem is a tradeoff, and nothing does the daily track car thing better. 

When I had a 2017 F56 JCW Mini Cooper, those brake pads were fine on street and managed to withstand some beating at Watkins Glen. Granted, the car was stock but it was on some sticky-ish 200TW tires and it lasted every session with no problem. I also think the Stoptech Sport Pads are pretty well balanced but obviously in heavier cars on track I don't think they would do well.

I don't want to spoil the story, but I'm enjoying reading all your personal experiences with different brake pads.

PowerStop's track day pad works pretty well until you really lean on them, they still work in that case but don't last very long. 

?4 @Colin Wood, is this similar to the brake pad test JG was discussing in this post: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/track-day-brake-question/277588/page1/

The answer will depend a lot on how big your brakes are and how much airflow they get compared to how heavy and powerful the car is. One could reasonably expect to get away with true street brake pads on a stock power NA Miata with a 14" brakes and ducting, but not on that same car if instead of the big brake kit it has a turbo kit and stock brakes.

Like the Elantra N, I've read that the GR Corolla brakes stand up to track use, but I can confirm that they're dusty and in the rain, there is a second or two before they start working properly after not using them for a few minutes. I'm still going to buy track pads for mine, partly just for the peace of mind.

The answer is no, followed by a whole bunch of trade-offs to consider.

EBC Bluestuff NDX. I've been running them on the Audi with RT660s. No problems on the track, and they seem to have street manners, too. You know... for the occasional test drive around my neighborhood. I don't know if they're going to hold up to slicks (in three weeks), but they sure as E36 M3 better because I've got nothing better available for the car that I'm aware of.

RX8driver said:

ThLike the Elantra N, I've read that the GR Corolla brakes stand up to track use, but I can confirm that they're dusty and in the rain, there is a second or two before they start working properly after not using them for a few minutes.

Can anyone explain what this phenomenon is? I can confirm my Elantra N does it, but I don't know WHY. The brakes are fine at first application in signle digit winter temps.