Which replacement rim brake pads?

[DaveReading]

I need to replace the pads on the Tectro CR-520 cantilevers (non-cartridge type) on my tourer, and the conventional wisdom appears to suggest that there are better alternatives to another pair of Tectro's own pads, for example Koolstop/Swisstop.

But I'm having trouble working out which ones from those ranges would be drop-in replacements.

Can anyone advise, please ?

 

[RebornBumbler]

It depends whether you have longer V-Brake-type pads or the shorter normal road caliper-type.
V-Brake pads are around 7 cm long, road-type around 5.5cm.

I'm pretty sure Koolstop, Swisstop, Clarks and Aztec (to name but a few) all do both fittings.

 

[DaveReading]

The Tectro pads were 63mm, and a bit more digging came up with KoolStop Supra 2 (black - all-weather) as a suitable alternative.

I did think about ordering the salmon compound, advertised as being better in the wet, but they would have clashed terribly with my midnight blue frame and besides, it never rains in Reading.

 

[RebornBumbler]

The Supras are 66.5mm long, but are certainly V-Brake-style. Perhaps the Aztecs I have are slightly oversized.
Just make sure you've got enough clearance to the forks and stays in/out and fore/aft, and you'll be fine.

I agree, it's usually going to be tough to colour-match Salmon