Brake Dust - The Future............................NOT good.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

I have long wondered where we are going with all of the minute particles of Brake Pads and rubber from tyres on our cars?

 

The Guardian has an interesting article;

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/14/brake-pad-dust-toxic-exhaust-emissions#:~:text=Microscopic particles emitted from brake,be able to be eradicated.

 

"Microscopic particles emitted from brake pads can be more toxic than those emitted in diesel vehicle exhaust, a study has found.

This research shows that even with a move to electric vehicles, pollution from cars may not be able to be eradicated.

The researchers found that a higher concentration of copper in some commonly used brake pads was associated with increased harmful effects on sensitive cells from people’s lungs, as a result of particles being breathed in.

Exposure to pollution generated by cars, vans and lorries has been previously been linked to an increased risk of lung and heart disease. While past attention has mainly concentrated on exhaust emissions, particles are also released into the air from tyre, road and brake pad wear."

[Penelope]

37 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

I have long wondered where we are going with all of the minute particles of Brake Pads and rubber from tyres on our cars?

 

The Guardian has an interesting article;

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/14/brake-pad-dust-toxic-exhaust-emissions#:~:text=Microscopic particles emitted from brake,be able to be eradicated.

 

"Microscopic particles emitted from brake pads can be more toxic than those emitted in diesel vehicle exhaust, a study has found.

This research shows that even with a move to electric vehicles, pollution from cars may not be able to be eradicated.

The researchers found that a higher concentration of copper in some commonly used brake pads was associated with increased harmful effects on sensitive cells from people’s lungs, as a result of particles being breathed in.

Exposure to pollution generated by cars, vans and lorries has been previously been linked to an increased risk of lung and heart disease. While past attention has mainly concentrated on exhaust emissions, particles are also released into the air from tyre, road and brake pad wear."

That'll give Khan and Millipede more ideas.

[enfieldspares]

Still, better than asbestos dust, as was the case in the 1960s!

[BobbyH]

That’ll be the next thing this silly government bans….The over use of brakes.

If you drive more than xxxx miles a years your subject to brake pad tax 😂😂😂😂😂

[Jaymo]

I don’t use the brakes much these days- all braking energy goes into ‘regen’ mode.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

1 minute ago, Jaymo said:

I don’t use the brakes much these days- all braking energy goes into ‘regen’ mode.

You don't really understand the technology, do you?   

[Gordon R]

Electric vehicles produce more particles as they are far heavier.

[Poor Shot]

10 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

You don't really understand the technology, do you?   

If Jaymo drives an EV or Hybrid then what he's saying is true. An Ev or hybrid will use the drag of its electric motors being spun in reverse to generate electric and recharge its batteries. Regen won't bring you to a complete emergency stop but it's strong enough to enable one foot driving. It's similar to rheostatic braking on a train but instead of the energy being turned into heat and vented off, it's used to recharge the car.

Of course they still have conventional brakes for emergency stops and harsh braking that wouldn't be possible using the motors.

Under some conditions they use the conventionql brakes so little that the discs wear through corrosion more than use.

[amateur]

1 hour ago, Jaymo said:

I don’t use the brakes much these days- all braking energy goes into ‘regen’ mode.

Me too.

This week, I was driving my wife's petrol car and it felt very strange having to use the brakes, and indeed the clutch.

[Jaymo]

2 hours ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

You don't really understand the technology, do you?   

Nope- you know I live on a different planet. 
 

1 hour ago, Gordon R said:

Electric vehicles produce more particles as they are far heavier.

Rubber supposedly? But I have to say that at 11696 miles, I have probably another 8000 miles of tyre wear left.
So I’m not convinced I’m putting out more to the atmosphere than I did with my old Navarra? 
But now I have 578hp at my disposal and that should be shredding them tyres shouldn’t it? 

Edited February 14 by Jaymo

[Jaymo]

1 hour ago, Poor Shot said:

If Jaymo drives an EV or Hybrid then what he's saying is true. An Ev or hybrid will use the drag of its electric motors being spun in reverse to generate electric and recharge its batteries. Regen won't bring you to a complete emergency stop but it's strong enough to enable one foot driving. It's similar to rheostatic braking on a train but instead of the energy being turned into heat and vented off, it's used to recharge the car.

Of course they still have conventional brakes for emergency stops and harsh braking that wouldn't be possible using the motors.

Under some conditions they use the conventionql brakes so little that the discs wear through corrosion more than use.

Full ev- one pedal isn’t quite how it is on mine. 
We have normal regen and auto regen which is great as it slows to vehicle in front without braking. 
If I have to put the anchors out then the conventional braking system is mega too. 

43 minutes ago, amateur said:

Me too.

This week, I was driving my wife's petrol car and it felt very strange having to use the brakes, and indeed the clutch.

I have driven two petrol cars this week and disliked the experience both times. 
Ages to warm up. Lag on pulling away. Noisy and don’t get me on the ‘stop/start’ thing. 

[Gordon R]

Not just tyre wear, but brake pads.

[amateur]

4 hours ago, Gordon R said:

Not just tyre wear, but brake pads.

But, as Jaymo points out, with the regen switched on, we can go many journeys hardly ever touching the brakes and, with my car too, tyre wear has been minimal over the past two years.

[vmaxphil]

I give up let's all go back to the stone age I mean we all lived longer then 👍

[Gordon R]

My eldest has a Mercedes EQC400 which goes through tyres and brake pads like there is no tomorrow.

[London Best]

11 hours ago, Jaymo said:

Nope- you know I live on a different planet. 
 

Rubber supposedly? But I have to say that at 11696 miles, I have probably another 8000 miles of tyre wear left.

I would call that horrendous, unacceptable tyre wear! 
I am used to getting between 57,000 to 60.000 miles from a set of tyres.

[Bigbob]

WE will all end up wrapped in cotton wool stuck inside watching the tv 

[old'un]

7 hours ago, London Best said:

I would call that horrendous, unacceptable tyre wear! 
I am used to getting between 57,000 to 60.000 miles from a set of tyres.

57,000 to 60.000 miles from a set of tyres, I would call that exceptional mileage.

[London Best]

2 hours ago, old'un said:

57,000 to 60.000 miles from a set of tyres, I would call that exceptional mileage.

Not uncommon at all.

Michelins 45 years ago on a Mk.1 Range Rover, 57,000 fronts and 60 and 63,000 rears. 
2 sets of Avon Rangemasters on a 110 Defender County Station Wagon during the 1990’s each did between 57 and 60,000 miles. 
Previous set of original equipment Good Year on present 110 County Station Wagon did 57,000 and current set of BFG are currently close to 40,000 miles but I would say are over half worn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jaymo]

50 minutes ago, London Best said:

Not uncommon at all.

Michelins 45 years ago on a Mk.1 Range Rover, 57,000 fronts and 60 and 63,000 rears. 
2 sets of Avon Rangemasters on a 110 Defender County Station Wagon during the 1990’s each did between 57 and 60,000 miles. 
Previous set of original equipment Good Year on present 110 County Station Wagon did 57,000 and current set of BFG are currently close to 40,000 miles but I would say are over half worn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tread on all terrain tyres probably starts at three times the depth that mine were new. 
Probably not exactly under a great load on a Landy in comparison to 578hp loony machine 😉

 

[London Best]

12 hours ago, Jaymo said:

Tread on all terrain tyres probably starts at three times the depth that mine were new. 
Probably not exactly under a great load on a Landy in comparison to 578hp loony machine 😉

 

Yes I understand. Point taken. 
But you cannot regularly make use of 578hp and expect good tyre mileage.

[Jaymo]

3 minutes ago, London Best said:

Yes I understand. Point taken. 
But you cannot regularly make use of 578hp and expect good tyre mileage.

Yes. It’s difficult to not always use it to put a smile on my face.. up to the legal limit of course!