Tires are confusing
03-16-09, 09:16 PM
#1
Senior Member
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Tires are confusing
So, I bought my first pair of 27" tires today. If I wasn't confused about the brands of 27" tires before I certainly am now.
Although the tag on the tires said Sunlite, the side of the tire said Kenda. Strange.
Although the tag on the tires said Sunlite, the side of the tire said Kenda. Strange.
03-16-09, 09:37 PM
#2
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Kenda probably makes more bicycle tires than any other company now. They make them under a couple different brands. Chen Shin is another one of theirs. All things considered, they're respectably good, budget priced tires.
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03-16-09, 09:49 PM
#3
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Not to sound over contentious, but who makes a worse tire than Kenda?
jim
p.s., WTF, your a mod now? I believe that is the 4th sign.
jim
p.s., WTF, your a mod now? I believe that is the 4th sign.
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03-16-09, 10:27 PM
#4
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I wasn't real impressed with Nashbar tires but then I don't know who makes them. I've never had any problems with Kendas. They are an inexpensive budget tire but they work. I have Cheng Shins on my commuter and Kenda cross tires on the Peugeot. No complaints. I can remember back in the early 80's people using Cheng Shin motorcycle tires on their MX bikes in place of Metzlers (cuz they were like half the price) and using a razor blade to cut the little groove in them like the Metzlers had (I wasn't anywhere near that anal. 
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03-16-09, 10:40 PM
#5
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I did not mean to suggest that Kenda's are bad. But I did mean to contend they are generally the worst available. I have used several types of Nashbar/Perfomance/Forte tires and thought they were decent, I would at least as good as the equivalent Kendas I have had.
jim
p.s., Kenda Nevegal MTB tires are excellent.
jim
p.s., Kenda Nevegal MTB tires are excellent.
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Cross Check Nexus7, IRO Mark V, Trek 620 Nexus7, Karate Monkey half fat, IRO Model 19 fixed, Amp Research B3, Surly 1x1 half fat fixed, and more...
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Cross Check Nexus7, IRO Mark V, Trek 620 Nexus7, Karate Monkey half fat, IRO Model 19 fixed, Amp Research B3, Surly 1x1 half fat fixed, and more...
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SB forever
03-16-09, 11:09 PM
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03-16-09, 11:31 PM
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When I bought my Gitane Sprint last fall the shop threw on some Kenda 700 X 25 tires. The bike was going on the trainer for the winter so I didn't really care and was planning on replacing them this spring. The one originally on the rear warped in several places within a month so I swapped the tires and the bad one is on the front. So, far the past three months have been good with the other tire on the rear - but I check it before every ride to make sure there aren't any structural problems.
My son has some Kenda 27 X 1 1/4's on his Raleigh and they're holding up well.
My son has some Kenda 27 X 1 1/4's on his Raleigh and they're holding up well.
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03-16-09, 11:44 PM
#10
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I put the round kendas on bought wheels, but when I orient the egg-shaped ones properly on self built wheels, they ride smooth again. Terribly cheap tires ftw..
03-17-09, 12:13 AM
#11
Senior Member
Kenda makes some of the best mountain bike tires on the market, under their own brand as well as others (specialized and intense tires are made by Kenda I think...). I actually keep 4 different Kenda's in my (about 8 tire) mountain bike tire arsenal and I've always got at least one Kenda on. Right now it's a Nevegal on the front. 2.0 small block 8's go on the back sometimes in the summer, 2.0 Karma's come on and off throughout the year depending on conditions, 2.2 Karma's on the front in the summer and the rear in the winter, depending on conditions...
A buddy of mine runs Small block 8's on his cross bike and they're excellent fast-rolling tires that can perform well off-road.
They also make some of the crappiest tires out there as well.
They're a big company, and they've come a long way from just the mid-nineties when all their stuff was crap/cheap.
A buddy of mine runs Small block 8's on his cross bike and they're excellent fast-rolling tires that can perform well off-road.
They also make some of the crappiest tires out there as well.
They're a big company, and they've come a long way from just the mid-nineties when all their stuff was crap/cheap.
Last edited by tashi; 03-17-09 at 12:24 AM.
03-17-09, 05:58 AM
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Kenda makes a very wide range of tires. You just have to be able select the correct tire for your application. Unfortunately, 700C has pretty much eliminated 27" from the modern picture. The bulk of the market for 27" is pretty much restricted to vintage, entry level bicycles. Consequently, the tire manufacturers are not going to offer a wide range of 27" tires. The volume manufacturers, like Kenda, will target the biggest slice that pie, someone who wants a durable but inexpensive tire. If you want a more performance oriented 27" tire, they are still out there, from brands like Continental, Michelin and Panaracer, but you may have to buy them though a specialty shop and they will probably cost you more than the garage sale bicycle you intend them for.
I haven't heard of LHC. I know IRC makes an inexpensive (i.e. $5.00) 27" tire.
I haven't heard of LHC. I know IRC makes an inexpensive (i.e. $5.00) 27" tire.
03-17-09, 07:36 AM
#13
aka: Mike J.
You can also check out Serfas for 27" tires as another option.
I swore off Chen Chin motorcycle street tires years ago, don't know if they've improved over the years and don't care.
I swore off Chen Chin motorcycle street tires years ago, don't know if they've improved over the years and don't care.
03-17-09, 07:38 AM
#14
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I for one am glad Kenda tires are out there. Without them, several of the vintage gas pipe bikes I have worked on would be in the landfill right now.
03-17-09, 07:56 AM
#15
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I thought I had read somewhere that Peformance Forte brand tires may in fact be made by Panaracer? Anyone else able to confirm or deny that?
03-17-09, 09:51 AM
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Kinda broke so ya know all I gots five, I got five
Unless you pull out the fat, crispy five dollar bill for the tire before its history...
I got five on it, grab ya kenda, lets go ride.
Unless you pull out the fat, crispy five dollar bill for the tire before its history...
I got five on it, grab ya kenda, lets go ride.
03-17-09, 09:57 AM
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Kenda and Cheng Shin are probably the most indestructible tires on the planet. I have recycled more OEM Kenda/Cheng Shin tires on flipper bikes than I can remember.
They don't have that snappy feeling of a higher quality tire but they seem to be resist cuts quite well. Enjoy the wonderful world of budget tires. They are the perfect grocery getter tire.
They don't have that snappy feeling of a higher quality tire but they seem to be resist cuts quite well. Enjoy the wonderful world of budget tires. They are the perfect grocery getter tire.
03-17-09, 01:01 PM
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I did not mean to suggest that Kenda's are bad. But I did mean to contend they are generally the worst available. I have used several types of Nashbar/Perfomance/Forte tires and thought they were decent, I would at least as good as the equivalent Kendas I have had.
jim
p.s., Kenda Nevegal MTB tires are excellent.
jim
p.s., Kenda Nevegal MTB tires are excellent.
The Nashbar and other housebrand tires are made by Kenda.
03-17-09, 01:46 PM
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Well, I've got a 700X38C Kenda (doesn't have a model name on it) and an IRC Grip Glide on the rear of my commuter. I like the Kenda a lot, but the rubber is really soft - after about 2500 miles, it's mostly bald in the middle.
{img]https://sultanofschwag.com/images/bikes0309/P3160029.jpg[/img]
That's a grip glide...weird design. ETA: since that one is on the rear, the bike tends to squirm a bit under heavy cornering - even with 90 psi!
{img]https://sultanofschwag.com/images/bikes0309/P3160029.jpg[/img]
That's a grip glide...weird design. ETA: since that one is on the rear, the bike tends to squirm a bit under heavy cornering - even with 90 psi!
