August 13, 2007 by Don Vogel
Posted in
Approx. 1 year ago I put a brand new set of Kenda Kwest 700 x 28C tires on a rarely ridden road tandem.
On my first ride earlier this year, I noticed the back tire, where the bike was leaning on the garage wall, was permanently deformed. So I replaced the back tire at almost zero miles.
More recently I noticed what looked like a warped rim up front, only to find out that the front tire had suffered the same fate. Simply from supporting the weight of the bike, all the while fully inflated, the front tire deformed. In addition, the tire actually started separating in the grooves in the tread.
Very poor, unsafe tires to say the least!
I was of the mind that Kenda
I was of the mind that Kenda made quality tires. I suppose I was wrong. Anybody else had an issue with Kenda?
I don't know about not
I don't know about not making quality, but I do know that on the tires that I have used, the comparable version from another brand was better.
I used to race bmx. They have the K-Rad tire that is almost the same thing as the Maxxis Holly Roller. The K-rad was not too bad as long as the dirt was not too hard and you tried to turn too sharp.
The rubber was not as soft or flexible to really bite the way they should. After my sponsorship with Kenda was done, I switched to the Maxxis and had a more predictable tire that lasted longer.
Not sure about all models, but this is my perception of all the models that I have dealt with.
Don, those tires must have
Don, those tires must have been made of some really cruddy rubber to obliterate themselves that quickly while sitting still....
Since this thread is about a tire discussion I'd like to chime in about tire prices, tire quality, profit that some bicycle tire companies have to make and tire hype. There are bicycle tires that cost as much as car tires yet wear out after just a week or three. For what is paid (overpaid) the durability/tire life sure is lame at times. Wonder how much a $45 bicycle tire costs to manufacture in a total kind of way???? I'd bet $5 or less per tire. I find it nuts how some hype will sell a piece of trash tire. Take some well known tire brand, have an accomplished rider endorse a tire name, design a tread that looks cool, market it, retail it for $45 and people buy it in mass quantities. Once the hype mode switch is turned on with some riders it doesn't matter if the tire is overpriced like most hyped bicycle tires, rides like junk and lasts a week....
kenda does make some lower
kenda does make some lower quality stuff but its usually wrapped in a serfas package. The tires still say kenda on them but its the low quality stuff, they don't even highlight there name its all black walled with just raised lettering.