"Your saying the tires lock up and in return lock up the brakes." No, I'm not saying that, you're saying that.
Re-read the post guys. I said IF the current brake will hold the tire on the limit of adhesion (that's the definition of threshold braking - not lockup - it's the edge of being locked up), then a bigger brake won't stop you any shorter for the first stop. Now, if that same set up starts to fade on the second or third stop, then the bigger brakes help - they'll disapate more heat - pushing the fade limit out. Get 'em big enough, and you can go road racing with no fade for the whole race - depending on length of course. It's fact - there's no way around it. The tire stops the car - it's the only part of the car that's in contact with something that's not moving - the road. The brake stops the rotor - which is attached to the car. It's pretty elementary.
On the other hand, if your current brake WILL NOT hold your current tire on the limit of adhesion, or your current brakes are already fading on the first stop, then bigger brakes will stop you shorter.
From Car & Driver's big-brake test ---- "Our objective here was primarily to test brake fade, not stopping distances. Assuming a brake system is properly balanced, strong enough to lock a wheel, and not yet hot enough to fade, the stopping distance is largely a function of tire traction, not brakes. Think of it this way: All brake systems, stock and aftermarket, are able to activate the ABS, so how could a stronger brake shorten a stop? Eric Dahl, a brake engineer from
Brembo, put it this way: "Don't expect the brake kits to stop you sooner, but expect the 20th lap to feel like the first."
Don't read stuff into it that's not there. No one is saying that bigger brakes won't help your car. What I'm saying is know your braking system before you start modifying it. If you have abs, and your car is capable of activating the abs for the whole stop, bigger brakes won't stop you shorter. In that case, stickier tires will stop you shorter - IF - big if - your brakes will hold the stickier tire on it's higher adhesion limit. Most of the foxes don't have abs -- but, see what you've got already before you changing things to be certain you're not gonna be disappointed with the result.
As for the other magazine's testing protocol - I read stuff all the time that amazes me. Current issues of MM&FF and 5.0 will still have references in articles about not using a cam bigger than "Y" lift to avoid p to v clearance. The fact is that many magazines out there have EXTREMELY weak technical staffs -- they are more about marketing and advertising than they are fact, and scientific testing. I've been reading them for lots of years, and there are a handful that really know what they're doing when it comes to testing things. You have to be really careful who you quote.