Vented Vs. Non-Vented Brake Rotors

Your vehicle's braking system involves a fairly complex arrangement of parts. One of the most important of those parts is the brake rotor. This can be either vented or non-vented.

Brake Rotor
The rotor is the main stopping mechanism of the disc brake, which is the type of brake used in most modern cars. When the brake pedal is pushed down, the brake pads press against the rotors to stop the vehicle. The amount of stopping force applied to the rotors is proportional to the amount of pressure applied to the brake pedal.
Vented Brake Rotors
Vented brake rotors have holes and grooves drilled through them all around the perimeter of the brake. This allows for faster dissipation of heat that builds up when the brake pads act on the rotor. Vented brake rotors are most often used in large or high-speed vehicles. They are also often made out of ceramic or other strong synthetic materials.
Non-Vented Brake Rotors
Non-vented brake rotors are most commonly made of solid iron. They are better suited for smaller, slower commuter vehicles (small cars, light trucks, small vans). Non-vented brake rotors also tend to last longer than vented ones.