Brake Pad checking type-?-

[Elvis 3.0]

May be a dumb question but is there a way to check what type of brake pads you are using without pulling both the tire off and then the pad itself off? Also, even if I do above will I definitely be able to tell which pad it is ( are all pads marked or designated with the brand?)

The reason why I ask is i recently got back into an X3 after driving an X5 for years and taking a year off with a 528. My pads on the X3 give off virtually no dust (literally) and bite well, no issues, etc.. Now I have to change my wife's 335 pads and those currently give off a fair amount of dust. Would like to switch over to the type I have and reap the obvious benefits. Just wondering if there was a short cut to pulling the tire. If so I would obviously save the time from pulling my tire an pad and just ordering what I need to .

Thanks