It used to be that you could just order your new Porsche and it’d come with brakes. Well, to be fair, it still does come with brakes. But now you have a variety of choices when it comes to which brakes adorn your new ride, and each of the respective colors of Porsche brakes means something. We figured it’d be helpful if we broke down the various colors and what they mean, and help talk about the process that goes into making Porsche’s legendary braking systems.
The first company to offer disc brakes was not Porsche but Crosley with its Hotshot model back in 1948. Porsche started offering disc brakes in 1962, the same year Studebaker introduced a Bendix system on the Avanti. Before incorporating them into their road cars, Porsche had been using disc brakes on their racing cars for a few years. Although they weren’t the first, Porsche has consistently prioritized the development of disc brake technology. Starting with the annular-style discs on the 1962 Carrera 2, up to the modern PCCB systems, Porsche has maintained a strong presence in brake development.
Currently, Porsche provides several types of brakes across its model range, with each system distinguished by a unique caliper color for easy identification.
Black: The standard Porsche brake color
In modern Porsche terminology, black brake calipers indicate the standard brake package. For example, on a 911, this typically includes 330mm cast rotors at both the front and rear, paired with cast monobloc calipers. Black calipers were the first color used by Porsche, debuting on the 928 and 911 models in the late 1970s. In earlier models, black calipers often represented an upgrade from the basic, often unfinished, standard calipers. For instance, while the standard 944 featured zinc-plated single-piston calipers, the Turbo, Turbo S, and S2 models used black-finished cast aluminum calipers.
Today, black calipers are standard across all Porsche models.
Silver and red: The standard for S
Porsche S models typically feature standard brakes finished in either silver or red. The 718, 911, Taycan, and Panamera often use red calipers, while the Macan and Cayenne use silver for this level. This color change also marks the first brake upgrade; for example, the base Macan comes with a 345mm front brake rotor and a 4-piston monoblock caliper, while the S model includes a larger disc and a more powerful 6-piston caliper.
Interestingly, the change in caliper color doesn’t always indicate a significant difference in brake performance across models. For instance, both the base 718 Cayman and the 718 Cayman S share the same 4-piston front and rear calipers, as well as identical 330mm front and 300mm rear brake rotors. Similarly, GTS-branded Macan and Cayenne models use red calipers but are constructed the same as the silver calipers found on the S models. To determine whether a specific S model includes larger brakes, refer to the model’s specification sheet.
Acid Green: Usually hybrids
Green brake calipers are predominantly found on Porsche hybrid models, including the 918 Hypercar. However, in this case, the color doesn’t always indicate a specific disc brake system. It typically signifies that the vehicle has regenerative braking, although there are exceptions. For example, while all Taycan electric models feature regenerative braking, they do not use the Acid Green calipers.
The only exception to the green caliper rule so far is the 997 Turbo S Edition 918 Hybrid. This special model was offered as an additional option for 918 Hybrid buyers and was designed to match the 918. As a result, it features Acid Green calipers but does not include a hybrid system.
Yellow: Porsche Carbon Ceramic Brakes (PCCB)
These are the top-performing brakes in Porsche’s lineup. First introduced on the 996 GT2 road car in 2001, Porsche’s Carbon Ceramic discs can endure much higher temperatures than traditional grey iron brakes. These brakes are constructed using ceramic material bonded with carbon fiber, where the ceramic offers heat resistance and the carbon filament provides strength.
Carbon ceramic brakes are available across nearly all Porsche models, from the base Boxster to the top-tier 911s, Panamera, and Cayenne. Besides their ability to dissipate heat more effectively, they also weigh up to 50% less than standard brake rotors. This weight reduction lowers unsprung mass, enhancing cornering precision and ride quality.
Despite being a costly option, these brakes provide superior fade resistance and a longer lifespan compared to iron counterparts.
White: Porsche Surface Coated Brakes (PSCB)
Introduced in 2019, Porsche’s white calipers provide excellent braking performance while minimizing brake dust and reducing wear. Positioned as a more affordable alternative to carbon ceramic brakes, they offer a versatile option. The process begins with a standard galvanized grey-iron brake rotor, which is then coated using a technique Porsche has employed on cylinder walls since the 991.2 generation. In this process, technicians shoot tungsten carbide particles at supersonic speeds onto the rotor’s surface, followed by a laser that superheats the particles to fuse them to the rotor. As a result, the Porsche Surface Coated Brake (PSCB) rotors are 10% harder, last 30% longer, and produce 90% less brake dust. The white caliper color highlights how clean and dust-free these brakes remain.
