I put new tyres last summer (Goodyear) so no need to check. Brake discs and rear cylinders plus shoes new not so long ago, so ok there too. The pads might need a check, you're right...Find a "list of items" to check and go through them one by one. Meaure brake pads, measure brake discs, measure tyre depth, that kind of thing. If you were to do that methodically you'd likely find an item that was near to failing.