The Late Brake is back with another GTI update. This time we actually fix the car and realize just how bad the brakes were after that track day at COTA almost a year ago. If you haven’t been following the series, long story short, make sure you have good brake fluid and brake pads rated for track usage if you are going to be tracking your car. You can see the whole story in the article here. Fast forward to today, and we are replacing the pads and rotors. I liked the EBC Red Stuff pads I previously used, but obviously, I needed something higher-rated for the usage I would be doing. I decided to go with EBC Yellow Stuff, the next higher level. This pad is still not a track day pad, but from my research a simple HPDE wouldn’t be too much for this pad, and since most of my driving is around town or autocross, it seemed like a good idea. So I got started in the garage and it felt good to be finally replacing the brakes.

After I got everything installed, it was time to put on a new surprise. Last November, I purchased a new set of wheels due to an unbelievable Black Friday sale. I have always loved the DTM-era styling so when I found the Fifteen52 was making a new line of wheels inspired by 90s DTM, I had to get a set. I went with the Fifteen Podiums in Speed Silver. A gorgeous set of wheels with a cover plate to make them look like they are a single lug wheel. I went silver with black hardware to keep it simple, although they do sell other colors if you are into that sort of thing. There are the exact same size and offset as my current wheels so I didn’t have to worry about any fitment issues. I missed the silver looks since the day I sold my old set of wheels and was excited about getting these on the car. Even my cat liked them.

Something about a GTI with a multi-spoke silver wheel brings me back to the first time I saw an R32 when I was around 14. I knew then I wanted a VW and was willing to move mountains to get one someday. When I originally got these, I had intentions of swapping my Pilot 4S tires onto these new wheels and getting some 200 treadwear tires onto the Neuspeeds but moving got in the way and changed up my need for tires quite a bit. Now living in the high desert, I decided some all-seasons were more necessary seeing how it gets down in the 20s often. Having decided on some new Bridgestone Potenza RE980 AS tires, I got them mounted by a mobile tire company and was ready to go. By the way, if you have the option to use Tread Connection, I highly recommend it, especially the Reno, NV branch. The team there was super great and genuinely interested in my needs as well as my car. I always love working with car people! 

Once the wheels were on the car, I couldn’t wait so I went to bed in the brakes. Fortunately, I live near a fairly steep hill which makes bedding them in easy. Even before they were properly bedded in, the first time I hit the brakes was like night and day difference. The brakes gripped like never before and was IMMEDIATELY apparent why my autocross times haven’t been the same since I moved. It should have been obvious to me, but it was like the entire knowledge of the universe hit me at once. The reason my brakes weren’t working was because my brakes weren’t working, who would have known that? I finished up the bedding process as per the guide from EBC and made my way back to my house. I parked up and for the first time in a long time, I had to stop and look back at my car. The new wheels with the new rotors shining through were gorgeous. I found that without the bronze my car as more of a bluish-silvery vibe, whereas the bronze gave the car a greenish-gold look. 

I love this new look so much. I am currently weighing options with my bronze wheels, but I’ll probably keep them. I am hoping a seasonal change will keep me interested in both sets, but for now, I’ll be drooling over the silver ones. Wheels are the #1 change you make to your car, they make or break your build. Upgrading them to the exact spec you are looking for is worth the money and don’t let anyone tell you differently. On a more serious note, make sure that your braking system is always working at its best. If something feels wrong, it’s probably wrong. Don’t drag your feet and wait like I did, as my situation could have gone much differently than it did. Remember you can’t Late Brake if you can’t brake!