I've always used semi-metallic brake pads. Ceramic pads don't conduct heat as well as semi-metallic and they will indeed cause the rotors to get hotter because the heat has to go somewhere.

If you click on info on those Powerstop performance rotors on rockauto, you will find that they start with an OE rotor and drill and slot them. Drilling a rotor tends to cause it to crack.

My truck is braking smoothly now so I was bad mouthing the new rear Wagner "severe duty" rear rotors and pads unjustly it seems. The rear was bouncing up and down a little when braking but it must have been caused by the front brakes? The front rotors were original equipment with a pad change just before I bought the truck 10 years ago at 69k miles. And the sticking caliper was causing the front passenger tire to cup. So, maybe those Firestone tires are okay. Anyway, the truck drives and brakes like a new truck now!

 

hopefully, those tires aren't firestone radial atx!

 

Firestone Destination A/T tires. I bought them because I was looking for an upsize from stock 265/70x17 for better flotation on the beach sand. 285/70x17 The reviews said that they were quiet and had a good ride which has been true. So far they have been fine but they do wear a little peculiar. The face of the tread seems to be sunken a bit in the center, weird, even though they are mounted on the stock 7 1/2" wide rims which is the narrowest rim recommended for this size.

 

if you are running 32-35 psi you will run out the centers......think you will find 26-28 psi runs them flat.

Way i was shown (some 40 yr ago) when using BIG tires on ... minimal rims... we used baby powder on the shop floor to determine psi .
With tires aired up around 38 psi...roll thru the baby powder dust on a slick floor... it will show you how much contact patch you have.....once you get the outside lugs to contact...-2 more psi.. pick up truck rear is usually 4-6 psi LESS than front. Haven't had an issue using this backyard science on any of my WAY OVERSIZED truck tires yet.

 

The Firestone Destination A/T tires have a 44 psi max rating as I remember. On the trip out west I pumped them up to about 41 psi for less rolling resistance. The center of the tread still appeared to be depressed a little. My speedometer agreed with my Garmin. The tach showed 2100 rpm at 80 mph. Usually I keep them at 35 psi.

My truck brakes so smoothly now. I was indeed wrongfully badmouthing those Wagner severe duty rear rotors.

 

So total thread jack, but a few weeks ago, I drove my truck like 3.5 hours straight. With the round trip, probably about 500 miles with no issues in 1 day. That has been the furthest I have ever taken my truck. Still pulls like a beast. And with no exhaust howls like a banshee :-) NO ISSUES @ ALL!