Blank vs. Drilled & Slotted rotors: What do you really need?

July 02, 2020

Blank/Standard/Smooth/Plain Rotors

The majority of cars come standard with so called Blank rotors, with the obvious exception of luxury or sport vehicles. Blank rotors have plain and smooth braking surfaces without any elaborate features such as machined grooves or drilled holes. Factory plain rotors are designed to provide a reliable performance under all normal circumstances of your daily commuting. These rotors are often uncoated, and can be either solid or vented depending on position and application.

Quality blanks from AllRotors come in two options: Uncoated (Steel) and Coated with Geomet for protection from rust. Both rotors are designed to match or exceed the OEM performance providing excellent stopping power under normal conditions. Blank rotors are simple but robust, and unlike cheap no-name drilled & slotted rotors, our blank rotors are not prone to cracking under heavier applications. Some of our customers are even using AllRotors blanks for recreational track racing by pairing them with our semi-metallic braking pads. The uninterrupted precision-ground braking surface provides structural integrity and reliability, and metallic pad compound provides high breaking power and better heat removal to lower the chance of warping. This combo is very cost-effective and can be replaced frequently without breaking the bank.

Drilled & Slotted Rotors

These rotors have drilled holes and machined grooves cut in the braking surfaces where the pad makes contact. The through-holes are designed to evacuate the braking dust, offset gasses, and moisture that prevent good contact between pads and rotor during breaking. The slots are design to constantly shave off the low-friction glazing layer that is produced on pads due to overheating. Together holes and slots enhance the contact friction between the pad and the rotor, providing superior braking power in harsher conditions. Two things are worth noting. Firstly, these features come at a cost, as the production of the rotor becomes more complex and time consuming. Secondly, a performance rotor will not reduce your car’s original stopping distance, as this is mostly influenced by your tire bite and brake pad material.

Which rotor type is right for you?

Your driving style and conditions are two biggest factors in determining which rotor style is best suited for you. For a commuter vehicle all rotor styles will perform similarly well, considering that the rotors are of good quality from a reputable manufacturer. However, if you live in a wet climate or have a demanding application such towing, you may consider upgrading to our Drilled & Slotted performance rotors to enhance your braking performance.