Galfer brake pads for MTB, e-bike and road bike

Galfer brake pads: which colour for which use?

Galfer offers five compounds for bike pads, which you can identify by the colour of the backplate. All are organic-semimetallic and asbestos-free. The ratings in parentheses are provided by Galfer on a scale of 1 to 5 for braking power, wet performance, fading resistance, and durability.

• Pro (green, G1554T): the race compound with maximum bite and no bedding-in time (5 / 4 / 5 / 3). For racing, bike parks, and long, steep descents. All Galfer Pro pads
• E-Bike (purple, G1652): heat-resistant, very durable, and certified according to ECE R90, according to Galfer (4 / 5 / 5 / 5). For E-MTBs, heavy bikes, and the rear of enduro bikes. All Galfer E-Bike pads
• Advanced (red, G1851): the compound for wet conditions, mud, and changing terrain (4 / 5 / 4 / 5). For trail, enduro, and anyone who often rides in the wet. All Galfer Advanced pads
• Performance (black, G1053): the all-rounder for gravel, XC, trail, and enduro, formerly called "Standard" (4 / 4 / 4 / 5). All Galfer Performance pads
• Road (blue, G1455): for road bikes and gravel, with high braking power, precise modulation, and long durability (5 / 4 / 5 / 4). All Galfer Road pads

Green or purple? Our recommendation

We ride these pads ourselves. For trail and enduro, we have found Galfer Pro in the front and Galfer E-Bike in the rearto be the best combination: you get full bite in the front, and in the rear, where braking is often sustained, the purple compound lasts significantly longer. On an E-MTB, use E-Bike front and rear; use Advanced in very wet conditions and Pro for racing.

Which Galfer brake pads fit my brake?

Your brake caliper determines which pad shape you need, not the compound. We stock Galfer pads for:

• Shimano: 4-piston (Saint, Zee, XTR, XT, SLX, Deore), 2-piston, Road & XC, as well as B01S, e.g. Pro for Shimano 4-piston
• SRAM/Avid: Code, Guide, G2, Level, Elixir, HRD, and Maven, e.g. Pro for SRAM Maven
• Magura: MT2, MT4, MT6, MT8, MTS, MT5/MT7, and Gustav Pro, e.g. E-Bike for Magura MT5/MT7
• Hope and Trickstuff: V4, Maxima, M4, E4, Direttissima, and C42
• Hayes and Formula: Dominion A4, Cura, Cura 4, and the R-series

Every pad lists the Galfer reference number, for example, FD426 for Shimano 4-piston. Match this with the model and year of your brake caliper or use the "Compatible with" filter above. If you are unsure, contact us.

You can find a detailed comparison including the Galfer ratings in our guide Galfer brake pads compared. You can find matching rotors under Galfer brake rotors, and adapters and accessories under Galfer adapters & accessories.

Frequently asked questions about Galfer brake pads

What do the colours of the Galfer brake pads mean?

The colour of the backplate indicates the compound: Green is Pro, Purple is E-Bike, Red is Advanced, Black is Performance, and Blue is Road. The shape of the pad depends only on your brake, not the colour.

Galfer green or purple – what is the difference?

According to Galfer, green (Pro) has the top rating for braking power and requires no bedding-in time, but it does not last as long: 3 out of 5 for durability. Purple (E-Bike) offers slightly less braking power but is top-rated for durability, wet performance, and fading resistance. That is why we like to combine green in the front and purple in the rear.

Which Galfer brake pads last the longest?

According to Galfer, E-Bike, Advanced, and Performance receive the top durability rating of 5 out of 5, with Road at 4 out of 5. Pro is designed for braking performance and lasts the shortest time at 3 out of 5. How long a set actually lasts depends heavily on riding style, weight, weather, and the rotor.

Do Galfer brake pads need to be bedded in?

The Pro compound is ready for use without bedding-in time, according to Galfer. You should bed in the other compounds: on a flat section, perform several controlled stops from medium speed without locking the wheels.

Can I use different Galfer pads on the front and rear?

Yes. Compounds can be freely combined as long as the pad shape fits your brake. It is often worth using more bite with Pro in the front and greater durability with E-Bike or Advanced in the rear.