Hawk

Hawk Performance is an American brake pad manufacturer based in Solon, Ohio, USA. Founded in the late 1980s and later acquired by Friction Products Co., Hawk is known for developing brake compounds specifically tuned for track day, road racing, and high-performance street use.

Their most recognised compounds include HP Plus, a versatile pad suited to fast road and moderate track use with good cold bite; HPS 5.0, a street-oriented performance compound; and the HT-10, a full race compound offering high-temperature stability with minimal fade. For more demanding circuit use, Hawk’s DTC (Dynamic Torque Control) range — including DTC-30, DTC-60, and DTC-80 — is used in club racing, endurance events, and time attack, with each suffix indicating higher operating temperature range.

Hawk pads are widely used in North American club racing series and are a popular upgrade for Brembo, AP Racing, and OEM calipers on track-prepared vehicles.