Semi-metallic brake pads are the default recommendation at every parts counter in America, and for most enthusiasts, they're the wrong choice. Unless you're tracking your car in 100°F heat or towing heavy loads downhill, semi-metallics are doing more harm than good — especially if you care about how your wheels look. Here's what we broke down in this one: → The brake dust problem is real — semi-metallics shed metallic particles that bake into your wheel finish and become almost impossible to remove → That cold-start squeal isn't a break-in issue, it's just how they operate → They're significantly harder on rotors, which means you're replacing expensive parts sooner than you need to → Most street-driven cars don't generate enough heat to justify the trade-offs → Ceramic pads handle 95% of street driving with less dust, less noise, and longer rotor life We see it constantly — someone drops serious money on a set of wheels and then watches them turn black after two drives because they...