Performance Guides
Ceramic vs Sintered vs Carbon Brake Pads: Which Should You Choose? (2026)
Ceramic vs sintered brake pads explained: ceramic is quieter and cleaner for the street, sintered is stronger for heat, load and wet. Which to choose and the best brands.
Choose ceramic brake pads for everyday street and city riding, where they are quieter, cleaner and gentle on the disc, and choose sintered (metallic) pads for heat, heavy loads, touring and wet weather, where they bite harder and last longer. Both are safe and legal. The difference is the friction material, and the right pick comes down to how and where you ride. This guide explains each type and names the best pads for your bike.
You can browse all brake parts while you read.
Ceramic vs sintered brake pads: the quick answer
| Property | Ceramic | Sintered (metallic) |
|---|---|---|
| Cold bite | Smooth, progressive | Strong from cold |
| Heat tolerance | Good | Excellent |
| Noise | Quieter | Can be noisier |
| Brake dust | Low, clean wheels | More |
| Disc wear | Gentle | Slightly more |
| Wet weather | Good | Excellent |
| Best for | City, commuting, smooth feel | Touring, loads, wet, track |
What are ceramic brake pads?
Ceramic pads use a ceramic-based friction compound. They give smooth, progressive braking with low noise and very little dust, and they are gentle on the disc, which is why they suit daily street and city riding. Popular ceramic options at Rawtorque include the Vesrah SD ceramic pads (₹1,750), the NGage Whisker Ceramic (₹1,389), the 66BHP Street Pro semi-ceramic (from ₹789) and CRANK1 ceramic pads.
What are sintered (metallic) brake pads?
Sintered pads are made by fusing metal particles under heat and pressure. They bite hard, handle high temperatures and heavy loads, hold up in the wet, and last a long time, which makes them the choice for touring, loaded riding and the track. They can be a little noisier and wear the disc slightly faster. Options include the 66BHP Race Pro Sintered (₹1,989), the NGage Sintered (from ₹2,189) and CRANK1 sintered pads.
What about semi-ceramic and carbon pads?
Semi-ceramic pads, such as the 66BHP Street Pro, sit between the two for a smooth, low-dust everyday pad at a friendly price. Carbon pads, offered by CRANK1, are a specialist compound for high-performance and superbike use where ceramic and sintered are not enough.
Ceramic or sintered: which should you choose?
- City and commuting: ceramic, for quiet, clean, smooth braking.
- Touring and two-up or loaded riding: sintered, for heat and load.
- Wet and hill riding: sintered, for confident bite when cold and wet.
- Track and superbikes: sintered or carbon, for the most heat tolerance.
What are the best ceramic brake pads?
For ceramic specifically, the Vesrah SD series (₹1,750) is an OE-grade Japanese favourite, the NGage Whisker Ceramic (₹1,389) is a strong all-rounder, and the 66BHP Street Pro semi-ceramic (from ₹789) is the value pick. See them on the 66BHP Brake Pads and NGage Brake Pads collections.
Do ceramic or sintered pads wear the disc more?
Sintered pads are harder and tend to wear the disc a little faster than ceramic, while ceramic is gentler and produces less dust. Either way, fit pads made for your bike and bed them in with a series of gentle stops so they wear evenly against the disc.
How to choose the right pads (fitment guidance)
- Match your exact model and year, and choose front or rear as needed.
- Pick the compound for your riding: ceramic for everyday smoothness, sintered for heat, load and wet, carbon for high-performance machines.
- Bed them in with a series of gentle stops before braking hard, so the material beds evenly against the disc.
If you are unsure which pads suit your bike, our team is happy to offer fitment guidance before you order.
Why buy brake pads from Rawtorque
- Genuine pads from 66BHP, NGage, Vesrah and CRANK1, sold by a registered Indian business.
- Partial COD on serviceable pincodes: pay a small advance online to confirm, balance on delivery.
- Free shipping on selected products and regions, dispatch in 1 to 2 business days, delivery in 3 to 7 business days across India.
- 5 day returns on unused, uninstalled pads in original packaging.
- Fitment guidance from our team so you order the right pads the first time.
Frequently asked questions
Are ceramic or sintered brake pads better?
Neither is universally better. Ceramic pads are quieter, cleaner and smooth for street and city riding. Sintered pads bite harder, handle heat and load, and last longer, which suits touring, wet weather and the track. Choose by how and where you ride.
Are ceramic brake pads quieter?
Yes. Ceramic pads run quieter and produce far less brake dust than sintered pads, and they are gentler on the disc, which is why they are popular for everyday street and city riding.
Do sintered brake pads last longer?
Sintered pads handle heat and heavy use very well and generally last a long time, especially under touring and loaded riding. They can wear the disc slightly faster than ceramic in exchange for that durability and bite.
Which brake pads are best for touring?
Sintered (metallic) pads are best for touring, because they hold their bite under heat, heavy loads and wet conditions. The 66BHP Race Pro Sintered and NGage Sintered are good choices.
What are the best ceramic brake pads?
The Vesrah SD ceramic pads (₹1,750) are an OE-grade Japanese favourite, the NGage Whisker Ceramic (₹1,389) is a strong all-rounder, and the 66BHP Street Pro semi-ceramic (from ₹789) is the value pick.
Do performance brake pads damage the disc?
No, when matched to your bike and bedded in properly. Sintered pads wear the disc slightly faster than ceramic, but both are safe. Always fit the correct pad for your model and bed it in with gentle stops first.
Written by the Rawtorque Editorial Team. Rawtorque supplies genuine brake pads from 66BHP, NGage, Vesrah and CRANK1 to riders across India. Last updated 19 June 2026.
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