Product Spotlight: 4 of the Best from Kenda
Founded in 1962 and now with offices in Europe, America and Taiwan, Kenda is one of the giant’s of the tyre industry.
Their cycling lineup includes over 75 tyres extending from the niches of BMX through to the mainstream of road. Researching and developing happens alongside some of the fastest bike riders in the world with names like Marco Fontana, Aaron Gwin and Andrew Neethling all involved at one stage or another. Kenda is also involved with some of the biggest mountain bike events in the world, like the recent Darkfest freeride contest, where further product development occurs. We scoured their catalogue and picked four of what we think are the best tyres for the majority of South African riding conditions.
Kenda Booster
XC racing
Most of our XC riding and racing in South Africa is on hardpack surfaces with occasional loose rocks and rooty sections. In these conditions, a tyre with a low-profile tread pattern, strong casing and race-orientated compound is your best bet. The Kenda Booster is such a tyre. It features an aggressive shoulder tread with two rows of ‘transitional tread’ to improve traction in corners and off-cambers. The center knoblies are shaped for speed and siped for climbing grip. In the interest of maximizing tyre life the Booster is made from a single-compound rubber. With weights as low as 589 grams, the Booster is one of the lightest XC race tyres on the market. Sizing includes a 2.2, 2.4, or 2.6-inch with two casing options to chose from.
Kenda Rush
When speed is all you need
Endurance and ultra-endurance events are a dime a dozen in South Africa. When choosing tyres for this category of racing, efficiency and rolling speed are of utmost importance. The Rush is Kenda’s fastest-rolling XC tyre, period. It has a very low profile center tread with knoblies spaced a little further apart meaning it holds rolling speed well and will bite into the terrain providing grip when needed. The Kenda Rush is available in two casings, in a 2.2 or 2.4-inch width.
Kenda Pinner
For all the shredders
eMTB, Trail and Enduro riding in South Africa are on the up and up – in a big way. In these riding segments, one of the most important equipment choices riders face is with tyres. Insufficient grip reduces confidence and flimsy casings will riddle riding time with flats. Designed with input from Aaron Gwin, a primary focus when designing the Kenda Pinner was cornering predictability. Aaron wanted a tyre that gripped at all lean angles, in almost all conditions, hence the aggressive shoulder tread and easy transition. Another focus point was around casings. The lighter ATC casing is designed for smoother trails whilst a more robust AGC casing covers the gnarlier side of things. Available in a variety of sizes, the Kenda Pinner is a tyre suited to a wide variety of gravity style riding.
Kenda Flintridge
At home on the pavement or hardpack
Gravel riding can be anything you want it to be. Hundreds of miles of district road in the middle of Nothingville, a commuting loop that avoids congestion or exploring the countryside are all very much ‘gravel’. When it comes to tyres for this kind of riding, speed, grip and durability are must-haves. The new Kenda Flintridge is your answer for rocks, mud, pavements or hardpack surfaces and is available in 35c, 40c and 45c. Its low profile center tread transitions into a beefier shoulder tread to offer top-level rolling speed, with grip when it’s needed. The sidewalls are reinforced to improve flat resistance. Oh, yea, a 650B x 45c version is also available.