Pagid RST3 on Track: More Bite at the Front, or Rotation at the Rear
RST3 gets used in two quite different ways. On heavier front-engine cars on sticky tires, it goes at the front for more stopping power than RS29. On Boxsters, Caymans and 911s, it goes at the rear behind RS29 fronts, to make the rear brakes do more work. In both cases it is the more aggressive pad in the car — which is also why Pagid does not sell it as a street pad.
This article is part of our guide to Pagid pads for track cars. Every shape we list is in the RST3 collection.
What Pagid says
| RST3 | |
|---|---|
| Family | RST — rally, sprint and stock car racing |
| Friction | "Medium high friction coefficient"; "good initial bite" |
| Character | "Low heat conductivity"; "excellent modulation and release characteristics" |
| Intended use | "Rally tarmac and gravel, GT cars, Touring cars and prototype circuit racing, formula cars and club racing. Wide range of applications due to its combination of bite, friction and controllability." |
| Material | "Metal-ceramic compound containing steel fibers" |
One dealer adds that "the release characteristic of RST 3 makes it ideal for use with ABS systems." Northstar, a large US Pagid distributor, now suggests RST3 as the replacement for RS14.
At the front: more stopping power than RS29
Mustang owners describe the difference clearly. On trackmustangsonline, a Boss 302 owner wrote: "The RST-3 pads allow you to brake significantly harder than the RS-29 given equal pedal pressure," and a Mustang-focused Pagid dealer said RST3 "has significant stopping power and heat handling capability" over RS29 when used up front. OG Racing's own guidance is that it is "more suitable for use with racing slicks and R-Compound tires" and "more suitable for drivers with higher experience levels."
The same Boss 302 owner added a caution: "The RST line are a bit hard to modulate with street tires such as the PSS." On 200-treadwear tires, RS29 or RSL1 is often the better front pad.
At the rear: rotation on a Porsche
On mid- and rear-engine Porsches, owners use a more aggressive rear pad to put more of the braking on the back axle. "If you want to run a more agressive compound on the back, RS14 or RST3 would be the ticket," a Porsche parts vendor wrote on Rennlist, and in the Spec Boxster world, behind the RS29 front / RS14 rear favourite, "some go with RST3 (red) rear." On the GT350, the dealer above recommends it as "a perfect companion" to RS29 "when used on the rear axle." With RS14 being run out by some distributors, RST3 is likely to become the more common rear choice.
This is a setup for experienced drivers. A stronger rear pad changes how the car behaves under trail braking, and on a fast track it can catch you out. As one Rennlist poster put it: "DE like square and ill advised to mix bias on fast tracks unless you've changed brake hardware."
On the street
Owners disagree. One dealer says "because of its' low rotor wear characteristics it is a pad that can work on the street," while an owner in the same thread was clear: "I am not recommending the RST-3 as a true dual purpose street / track compound. The brakes will squeal and dust more, but they are not unsafe for limited street use." Pagid positions it as a race pad. We would treat it as one.
Which cars run it
| Car | How it's run | Our RST3 pads |
|---|---|---|
| Porsche 986 / 987 / 981 Boxster & Cayman, 996 | Rear, behind RS29 fronts. | Rear U2406 · S front U2405 |
| Porsche 997 | Rear, behind RS29 fronts. | Rear U8006 / U8008 |
| Porsche 981 S / 991 Carrera, 997 Carrera | Front, for more bite than RS29. | Front U8074 |
| 991 GT3 Cup / 981 GT4 Clubsport | Race fitment. | Front U4928 · rear (PFC calipers) U4929 |
| 997 GT3 Cup | Race fitment. | Front U8004 |
| Mazda Miata (1.8) / ND Brembo & Global Cup | Little owner data. | 1.8 front U8127 · ND Brembo front U8023 |
| GT4 race cars (570S, Vantage, E92 M3 GT4) | Race fitment. | Rear U1607 · E92 M3 GT4 front U1538 |
We do not currently stock RST3 in the Mustang shapes; ask us and we will check availability.
RST3 pads ready to ship
 RST3 Rear — Boxster / Cayman / 996 (U2406) $346.64 Shop on Enzuca → |
 RST3 Rear — 997 (U8008) $495.66 Shop on Enzuca → |
 RST3 Front — 981 S / 991 Carrera (U8074) $513.54 Shop on Enzuca → |
 RST3 Front — 991 Cup / GT4 Clubsport (U4928) $683.01 Shop on Enzuca → |
 RST3 Front — Miata ND Brembo (U8023) $419.73 Shop on Enzuca → |
 RST3 Front — Miata 1.8 (U8127) $211.30 Shop on Enzuca → |
Browse every shape in the RST3 collection.
The Bottom Line
RST3 is a race pad with more bite than the Yellows. Put it at the front of a heavier car on R-compound tires when RS29 is not enough, or at the rear of a Porsche behind RS29 when you want the car to rotate more and know how to handle it. On street tires or as a first Pagid, start with RS29 instead.
Not sure of your shape? Tell us the car and caliper and we will confirm before you order.
Related guides
- Pagid brake pads for track cars: which compound, car by car
- Pagid RS29 / RSL29 on track, car by car
- Pagid RSL1: the step up from RS29
- Pagid RS14 Black: bite, and the rear-pad split
- Pagid RS19 / RSL19: endurance and the rear axle
- Pagid RSC1 for carbon-ceramic rotors
- Best Pagid brake pads compared
- PFC brake pads for track cars, car by car
- Hawk brake pads for track cars, car by car
- Track day brake fade: prevention and recovery