Tiagra Brakes Vs 105 & Ultegra

StanwaySteve62

Just got road bike for the first time and find the Tiagra brakes rather poor.
What mechanically makes 105 and Ultegra better?

Anonymous

Stiffer caliper, better modulation.

However, before spending big money on new calipers try a set of Koolstop Salmon brake pads...

acidstrato

other than having more bits to adjust and more positions for the release clamp rather than the tiagra's on/off i notice no other benefits on my ultegra 6700 brakes over my tiagras. better pads on the ultegra but same fitment

personally i dont think theres anything wrong with the tiagra brakes i have (they just say shimano on) not had to touch them since the bike was new and still plenty of life in the pads 2 years on. must have seen 10-15000 miles?

alfablue

Brake callipers are probably where your upgrade money gets you least - all of them work very well, subject to good setup and pad choice, and they are probably the longest lasting component in the groupset.

StanwaySteve62

Thanks, guess I will just try some new pads.

dennisn

alfablue wrote:

Brake callipers are probably where your upgrade money gets you least - all of them work very well, subject to good setup and pad choice, and they are probably the longest lasting component in the groupset.

+1..... I've got an old bike with Suntour Superbe brakes from the 70's. It's not my everyday bike but it gets out once in a while and to be honest I really can't tell much difference between it's brakes and my DA equipped new bike.

Meds1962

I 'upgraded' from Tiagra to Ultegra and found no appreciable improvement using standard shimano pads in both cases. I don't rate the shimano replaceable pads any higher than cheaper compatible makes. I've got DA on another bike with koolstop pads, they are in a different class but I think it's as much to do with the koolstops as the callipers and levers.

Don't ask me about modulation, I only use them for braking!! I think Bradley Wiggins is one of those mod ulations.

Pross

NapoleonD wrote:

Stiffer caliper, better modulation.

However, before spending big money on new calipers try a set of Koolstop Salmon brake pads...

+1 on that. I wore my Tiagra blocks out in about 300 miles! Just fitted Kool Stops and the difference has been huge. You won't get many more noticeable upgrades for under £30, just make sure you get the ones that include the holder as Tiagra pads are not the cartridge type.

Downwardi

Any links to coolstops please ?
I need some.

Mike67

Downwardi wrote:

Any links to coolstops please ?
I need some.

Linky:

http://www.dotbike.com/ProductsP5993.aspx?utm_source%3dinternal%26utm_medium%3dsite%26utm_campaign%3dDDI

They come with two sets of inserts (at least mine did)....salmon and dual compound'

stokepa31

Mike67 wrote:

Downwardi wrote:

Any links to coolstops please ?
I need some.

Linky:

http://www.dotbike.com/ProductsP5993.aspx?utm_source%3dinternal%26utm_medium%3dsite%26utm_campaign%3dDDI

They come with two sets of inserts (at least mine did)....salmon and dual compound'

will the holders fit tiagra calipers too??

Pross

Yes, they're the ones I bought last week. Just done my first wet ride in them and despite having the calipers further than normal from the rear rim due to a slight buckle I had no problems stopping. Best upgrade I've ever bought. Just a quick note - I took a while to decide which way they should be fitted and finally put them on with the grub screw that holds the pad into the cartridge at the rear which I've since been told is correct!

gattocattivo

I've got 105 on my race bike and Tiagra on my winter road bike. The brakes seem much worse on the winter bike. Someone said this might be because the callipers have got a longer drop on them to allow clearance for mudguards - does that sound right?

alfablue

I have some 1997 vintage Shimano R100 long drop callipers (Tiagra of its day) on my audax bike, and with Koolstop pads they stop every bit as well as on my other better equipped bikes, so I think it is really to do with setup and pads, not the Tiagra callipers.

Oh, and I have some Tiagra (2009) levers on my tourer and their really good (attached to Campag linear pull), so I don't suspect the levers either.

PeterBL

gattocattivo wrote:

I've got 105 on my race bike and Tiagra on my winter road bike. The brakes seem much worse on the winter bike. Someone said this might be because the callipers have got a longer drop on them to allow clearance for mudguards - does that sound right?

If they are standard 105 and Tiagra brakes respectively, they are both standard reach. But there could be a tiny difference in how far down on the caliper the pads are located, though it shouldn't make any big difference.

Are you sure the winter brakes can engage the rim properly without the caliper touching the mudguard? If you waste power bending the mudguard, it might affect you brake effect.

Lopseychops

Just to drop it down a level:

Speaking of upgrading brakes etc, would it be worth my changing my Sora brake set for Tiagra i.e. would there be any discernable difference or should I also give the Koolstops a try? They come as standard on my 2010 Allez Sport Double and I think they are pretty damn poor.

rally200

Nothing wrong with Tiagra - but they wont feel quite as good as the Vs on a flat bar.

If you're not riding every day. Try giving your rims and blocks a clean - makes a huge difference

alfablue

Lopseychops wrote:

Just to drop it down a level:

Speaking of upgrading brakes etc, would it be worth my changing my Sora brake set for Tiagra i.e. would there be any discernable difference or should I also give the Koolstops a try? They come as standard on my 2010 Allez Sport Double and I think they are pretty damn poor.

I don't believe you would detect any difference at all between Sora and Tiagra brakes.

stokepa31

just gone from tiagra to ultegra and the braking is far far better. thinks its dow to he quality of blocks. i will be adding some swiss stops when these wear out