There are certain things you can skimp on here and there when it comes to performance, but your Kia Optima brakes are not one of them. Maintaining predictable braking power is crucial, and brake pads are a major part of attaining this predictability. Driving your vehicle to its limits is one thing, but driving it beyond its brakes' limits is something no one should ever do under any circumstances. Even if you are simply replacing your factory Kia Optima brake pads, consider how you drive and then choose a brake pad that will give you the stopping performance you need under the extreme end of those circumstances.

Although ceramic Kia Optima brake pads are great at resisting brake fade and wear longer with less dusting, they weren't always considered a good option for high-performance driving. Today, many specialty performance Kia Optima brake manufacturers have created special ceramic compounds that are much better suited to the spirited driver. For more aggressive braking power on the track, however, we recommend carbon kevlar or aramid fiber compounds, as they will provide higher levels of friction. This comes at the cost of shorter Kia Optima brake component life, including the brake pads and rotors, but you've gotta pay to play!

Q: How do you install brake pads?
A: Brake pads are the easiest component in the brake system to install. Removal of your stock brake pads out of the caliper is needed before the new ones are installed. Your brake system should be bled after installing brake pads.

Q: Do brake pads come in set of 4?
A: Unless otherwise noted, brake pads are sold in pairs, meaning that you buy one set for the front and one set for the rear. Check product descriptions on our site for more details.

Q: What do brake pads do? Why buy brake pads?
A: Brake pads are what slow your vehicle down by transforming speed into heat against the rotor. Aftermarket brake pads outperform stock in terms of stopping ability. Brake pads are a great means of giving your car more stopping power without spending too much money.