kenda Tyres

[Pete]

I have Kenda tyres on my new bike and but for reading some negative comments on this forum a little while ago wouldn't have any doubts about them.
I think the issues were bursting side walls and puncture resistance. Was it ever bottomed, was it a bad batch, or are they just rubbish tyres that should be binned?
If the latter has anyone any suggestions apart from the Marathons which everyone seems to think are the bee's knee's. The Kenda tyre looks about right for my road cycling, having a reasonably deep tread pattern.
For off road someone gave me a set of nearly new knobblies - they are WTB Primal Raptor which sounds more like a game for the Nintendo, anyone have a view on these?
My main requirement is grip not speed.

Pete

 

[flecc]

I've twice used Kendas on new bikes for well over a year with each, suffering no problems and not even a puncture. Therefore I'd say get your moneysworth from them, only changing to Marathon Plus if you want maximum protection against punctures.
.

 

[Mussels]

I don't think there is anything wrong with the Kenda puncture protection (still expect punctures though) and your tyre may not be affected by the beading problem. Keep an eye out where the bead meets the sidewall on the rear tyre, I found that I could see when it was going to fail as the fibres start to break and show through the rubber.
It usually took about 200 miles for me to break a tyre.

 

[CeeGee]

Stick with the Kendas and see how they last - why chuck out new tyres until you have a problem.
I had problems with mine after a 15 mile ride off-road in the Watership Downs area of Hampshire with punctures in quick succession and switched to Marathons. Before the punctures they had been fine for ride and grip - I just don't like repairing punctures.

Continental do a good range of tyres and are worth considering if you do replace the Kendas

Colin

 

[z0mb13e]

I had a kenda sidewall failure after about 200 miles but the one on the front is still going strong after 1200 miles.

The Marathon plus that replaced it is also still going strong...

So no point in replacing them until they need it.

 

[Mussels]

I had a kenda sidewall failure after about 200 miles but the one on the front is still going strong after 1200 miles.

The Marathon plus that replaced it is also still going strong...

So no point in replacing them until they need it.

I had one on the front that had done loads of miles but a week after I put it on the back it went, I think they just couldn't take the strain.

 

[flecc]

I had one on the front that had done loads of miles but a week after I put it on the back it went, I think they just couldn't take the strain.

Can't help thinking there was a bad batch involved.

I had them front and rear on the Torq 1 for 1500 miles and front and rear on the Quando for 800 miles, before changing to the MPs. They hadn't punctured or given any problems and came off looking perfect. These bikes were used with large pannier loads and in the Quando case, with my very large trailer and heavy loads, and both had the same very high power motor. I can't imagine anyone stressing road tyres any more than I did with those loads.
.

 

[Straylight]

I've done 2200 miles on mine, and have only changed them due to the recent turn in the weather, like Flecc's mine came off looking as good as new, and I intend to swap back when my winter tyres become impractical. Like the others say, keep going on them and see what happens. Oh, and I haven't had a single puncture on them btw .

 

[Pete]

OK, thanks everybody, lots of good personal experience there which is really saying no problems with them. A few bad experiences will be suffered by any tyre sold in numbers, and as Flecc says maybe a bad batch involved, as he certainly punished them! A good thread because it balances the view on earlier threads which sounded a bit negative. They can stay.
Pete

 

[CeeGee]

OK, thanks everybody... They can stay.
Pete

I hope you realise that you are now 99% certain to have a puncture the next time you get on the bike.

Colin

 

[Pete]

I hope you realise that you are now 99% certain to have a puncture the next time you get on the bike.

Thanks for making it a stone cold certainty by putting it in print!

Pete