Shimano Vs Tektro Brakes

Brakes are one of the most important components of any bike, whether that’s a road bike, gravel bike or mountain bike. Able to bring you to a stop safely, optimised brakes can also keep you rolling well on the trails and on the roads, allowing you to ride more quicker. There are a lot of brake manufacturers out there, so if you are looking at what upgrades to buy - it can be difficult to decide which is the right choice for you. We have already looked at SRAM VS Shimano Brakes, and in this post, we look at Shimano Brakes VS Tektro Brakes.

Are Shimano & Tektro Brakes Similar?

Whilst Shimano is a Japanese Company and Tektro is a Taiwanese company, the brakes produced have a number of similarities. On some of the older models, the brake pads manufactured are interchangeable. The rotors on a lot of the models also have the same thickness, 1.8mm so are also interchangeable.

Are Tektro Brakes Any Good?

Tektro is not as well known as Shimano - but that does not mean they are not good brakes. We have found that they work really well, providing great levels of performance and reliability. A lot of the filter-down technology comes from Tektro’s race division - TRP. This branch works closely with professional athletes and teams, to design and manufacture the best possible braking systems.

Shimano Vs Tektro Disc Brakes - Which Are Better?

Shimano is the starting point for many people buying mountain bike disc brakes. Many riders are familiar with Shimano Brakes and have used them for many years, without complaint. Those who have tried Tektro brakes however, do report good results. It’s reported that they feel very similar to Shimano Brakes - but provide in some cases, an improved feel. You can not go wrong investing in either Shimano or Tektro brakes, it’s all about personal preferences and how you want the brakes to perform and feel.

Shimano Vs Tektro Rim Brakes - Which Are Better?

Again, both provide good levels of performance on older bikes or on cheaper bikes using rim brakes. Shimano Rim Brakes however, tend to have the best reputation in the industry for rim brake performance.

Do Tektro Make Hydraulic Disc Brakes?

Yes! Tektro make both hydraulic and mechanical disc brakes. Hydraulic disc brakes provide superior performance compared to mechanical disc brakes.

Shimano Vs Tektro - Final Thoughts

Both brake manufacturers make good brakes - Tektro and Shimano compete at the low to medium end of the market, but Shimano’s higher-end brakes are incredibly difficult to beat.