Kenda Tyres

[MalMember]

About a month ago I was chatting to 1inarow about tyres, what I liked and didn’t like about certain brands I’ve used over the years and he told he can get Kenda tyres. 1inarow is in the tyre industry. So he asks me if I’d like to test a set and write an review for him.

I chose a set of Washougals to test, 90/100/21 front and 110/100/18 rear. The tyres are fitted to my 300 2 stroke. Some people say that a 110 is too small for the 300 but this is the second tyre of that size I’ve used and I’m finding it good so far. I’ll try a 120 next for comparison.

Both tyres were new for the last Murphsberg ride at the Watagns. Anyone that has done a Murphsberg knows there are all types of terrain on these rides. There’s hard packed black greasy soil deep in the valley to sandstone rock steps hills to nice flowing singles. I have also had a few rides at Sunny Corner, 1 at Newnes and raced a Pony Express at Wattle Flat last weekend.

I found the back to hook up really well on all types of terrain. I got traction on hills when I didn’t think I would and the front would launch in the air unexpectedly. On some faster corners where I would expect the back to step out, it would just drive which was surprising. Over all I’m happy with the rear tyre and it seems to be handling the Sunny Corner loam ok. The tyres have done around 500km so far and still have a few hundred left in the rear.

The front I didn’t get much feel for at the Murphsberg ride as the pace is slow and technical and it rarely touches the ground on the hills he makes us ride. So after riding at Sunny Corner and the Pony Express I can say I have confidence in the front tyre now. I like the tread pattern of the front, small square knobs with lots of sharp edges. I’ve never found a front tyre that I like, probably due to my riding ability more than anything. But this seems to grip really well and that gives you confidence to push a bit harder in corners when you need to.

I’m Just an average trail rider that has tried a few different tyres over the years and these Kendas are on my recommend list now. If you want to try them at a good price send 1inarow a pm and he’ll hook you up. By the way I paid for my set of tyres too. This is not a cash for comments review.

A couple of pics.

As they are today. I forgot to take pics when they were new. Next I hope.

Rear

Front

[RoyMember]

Thanks for the review Mal. Wish I had of known earlier. Tekniks was selling these at the 12 hour in the $65-$85 range. Can’t remember exactly but there wasn’t much there over $85 that I can remember. Didn’t buy them because they only had kenda and I’d only heard bad things in the past. Maybe they’ve changed or maybe I’ve been misinformed but one thing is for sure. Sounds like I just let a bargain slip by. Do they call the washougal an intermediate tyre or soft.

No sign of knob disintegration at all in the photos which is good. Those rocks of murphs on his hills would round off any rear knobs I’d reckon.

[Gareth Morgan-ThomasMember]

Bundyroy wrote:

Thanks for the review Mal. Wish I had of known earlier. Tekniks was selling these at the 12 hour in the $65-$85 range. Can’t remember exactly but there wasn’t much there over $85 that I can remember. Didn’t buy them because they only had kenda and I’d only heard bad things in the past. Maybe they’ve changed or maybe I’ve been misinformed but one thing is for sure. Sounds like I just let a bargain slip by. Do they call the washougal an intermediate tyre or soft.

No sign of knob disintegration at all in the photos which is good. Those rocks of murphs on his hills would round off any rear knobs I’d reckon.

Bundyroy,

Gee, at that price would surely be the old Kenda Trackmaster type tyres. The old style ones would be that kind of price but note these are the “new” style Kendas as used in GNCC by paul Whibley!!

Pm me if you would like a price on Kenda’s

Gareth

[Adrian GaleMember]

I was lucky enough to ride with Mal on the weekend and managed to keep him in sight. He was hooked up like there was no tomorrow.
Great drive and he could steer it wherever he wanted. He even cross rutted in front of me and went down to see how the Kendas performed.
We covered a mix of terrain with sand, mud, loamy pine soil and snotty rocky hills. No once did I see Mal struggle for traction.

I will be giving the Kendas a run after my new tyres in the shed have run their course.
Pm to be sent 1inarow

Galey

[Adrian SnowdenMember]

Ok first point Im not even near the class of rider that Mal is and have enough problems keeping upright that I have tended to buy whatever tyre was cheapest rather than what was supposed to be quality. Here in Tamvegas that always seemed to be the Kenda Washougals, but what stands out for me after running the Michelin m12’s I got from Suttos at the Coffs ride is how the Washougals were good when new, but they seemed to go to shit once they had a few rides on them 9particularly the front) whereas the Michelins seem to be good all the way to the case.

In saying that remember I ride by braille most of the time so the Michelins may just drive better of the trail side trees than the kendas .

[Steve WyethMember]

Bundyroy wrote:

Thanks for the review Mal. Wish I had of known earlier.

Search back on here about 3 years (no really, I mean literally 3 years ago 😆 ) and I was saying exactly the same thing.

They are a good thing but hard to find around these here parts!

[jamieMember]

Good review Mal was looking at that front also,as the M12 front’s i like are hard to get at times.
If the rears still hooking up on a 2T should be better on the heavy 4T. Dunno about m12 rears though will be interesting to see if Galey throws it quick once its lost its edge.

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