Ice-tec rotors - real world difference?

Son #1 complained about the same at the EWS, std SRAM rotors and race matrix pads. We're just about to try the SRAM HS2 rotor. Next step will be giving the e-matrix pads a go.

Edit: First step was to replace brake fluid with new. Seemed OK at Revs and Dyfi last week.

Tried sintered pads? I never had much luck with uberbike race matrix stuff personally.

Ice Tec reduces the overall rotor temperature by 4% within climatic condition A1 to A3.

We have done just under 4000m of descent today and roughly the same yesterday. Temp is in mid 30s.
I have Icetec rotors and Kevin is on some old pass me down Uberbike rotors from our daughter Both are running Race Matrix pads and Saint brakes. It's hard to tell the difference between the rotors. No fading or howling brakes.
I don't think I would pay the extra

I melted the middle out of an ice tech rotor and had to send it back. I’m back on standard plain slx rotors now.

I went Icetech when my previous ones wore out just to see if they made a difference. I'd say theres a minor improvement in consistency under heavy continuous braking (e.g. very steep technical trails), but I won't fork out the extra next time.

OEM pads often work better IME

I melted my uber organics at Golfie with 180 ice tec rotors, it was a hot day though.

I am running shimano saints, going from non-icetech shimono rotors to icetech I found no noticeable difference.

Going from icetech to galfer 2.0mm thick rotors was absolutely a noticeable improvement.

I also always use brake authority ceramic pads, which are excellent but not an economy option.

what size of discs are you on?

Skills day

I recently had exactly the same. Race matrix pads, standard sram discs and code rsc brakes. Never had an issue with OEM pads but at golfie a couple of months ago, the brakes started howling. Anyway I put it down to the pads and too much heat. Swopped over to galfer pro pads and no howling or noise at revolution in similar conditions. Pad wise definitely an improvement (at cost) with the galfer pads over race matrix. More bite and less sound. Very similar if slightly better than sram OEM, but would happily go back to sram as well

I've also had problems with Racematrix pads.
Some squealing but the main problem seems to be an inconsistent amount of power.
OK on some descents and very under powered on others.
Cura4 brakes and rotors used in the Tweed Valley.
Trying Galfa red pads next.

Might be worth checking rotor wear, my Cura 4s started wailing badly when hot no matter how I adjusted them or cleaned them or threw new pads in. Measured the rotors and they were badly worn, new rotors have fixed it 🤞

I have tried the Ice Tech rotors in the past and found them really easy to bend / warp.

In my experience race matrix pads do not like extended runs like you get at the golfie and alps etc where the brake temperatures get high...

I found they were good on local shorter stuff but faded very badly when hot leaving a black residue on the disc as well.

Get OEM pads and I bet your problem goes.

Thanks for the input guys. Interesting to see other people have had the same problem with race matrix pads. I've been recommended some swissstop endurance ones by someone I trust for good recommendations so I'll try those - aware the bedding process is quite extensive to get them working well. I'll save the money on rotors and hopefully the new pads are better. Will maybe try galfer/hope discs if I feel I need to.

FWIW based on questions above - 200/180 rotors (I weigh about 70kg without gear)
Front rotor is just over a year old, rear is much newer than that after I had to replace a one that got buckled in the van.

Glad you're already identified the pads as the problem, rather than the rotors.

I'd suggest trying Shimano OEM or alternative resin pads. Superstar ones are cheap and work well for me in my Shimano 4-pot brakes with the RT66 rotors. No honking to report, even at the Golfie.

Front rotor is just over a year old

Pinch it with your fingers and run them from the centre to the braking surface, to see how worn it is.

You might want a new rotor for the Alps anyway, even if you keep the part worn as a spare.

Can't go wrong with these pads

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Noah-Theo-NT-BP018-BR-MT520-compatible/dp/B07YSQDCBG/

Those N&T pads are the worst pads I've tried by a long way.
Both organic and sintered.
They felt kind of waxy to touch almost like they had oil on them when i got them out the packet.
Worse than useless.
Even after trying to bed them in I could turn the wheel by hand with the brake full on.
They don't even grip each other when you rub them together.

Just back from a Golfie ride on my Eeber with fresh Shimano sintered pads in the Saints and they're flawless.
Strong, consistent and no noise despite getting wet and cold on the climbs.

I’d say theres a minor improvement in consistency under heavy continuous braking (e.g. very steep technical trails)

This is roughly what I found.

Barely noticeable on the trail, but then I swapped back to hope rotors for the winter and suddenly there's a couple of ohh crap moments, but only when you're braking from from flat out on a grippy surface with a steep gradient, levers to the bar etc. Not every corner.

180/203 with SRAM G2 calipers (needs 1mm washers to clear the front rotor)

I've had them since before XT 4-pots came out though and swapped them to the new bike. At the time they were cost effective upgrade, now I'd just have bought new calipers.

Both organic and sintered

Well those are ceramic and I’ve had no issue with my saints on uplift days, the tweed valley and dunkeld. Clearly the pads you got were contaminated or you contaminated them. It happens.

Clearly the pads you got were contaminated or you contaminated them. It happens.

Seems odd that two pairs of each pad were all the same.
One pair of sintered and one pair of organic never even made it out of the house into the garage.
All four pairs were waxy from getting them out of the bag.
Maybe the postie did it.😂
Either way I'll not be wasting time or money on them again.

All four pairs were waxy from getting them out of the bag.

and you put them on your bike rather than sending them back.

They wouldn't take them back so I tried them anyway.
As I said I'll not bother with them again.
Cheap shit was shit shocker.
Sticking to either originals or Galfa from now on.

I'm running Saints and I'm over 100kg. I do run the ice tech rotors when doing long downhills such as the Alps' ones and I do think it makes a difference. Less fade and they don't heat up so bad.

For normal riding, I don't think there is much difference though.

They cost more and wear out quicker, which are the down sides