Kenda Kontender

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Bow Cycle

Favorite Ride:
Cervelo

Summary:
Horrible tires. Purchased two Kontenders to use for indoor training. The first tire separated from the bead in the first training session.

The second faired only marginally better and leaves horrific resin on the fluid trainers.

Back to continentals for indoors and vittoria for outdoors for me.

Strengths:
None

Weaknesses:
Durability... prone to blow outs. can't use on a trainer due to the amount of rubber left on the trainer.

Similar Products Used:
continentals indoor trainer.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
Moto. Sprint

Summary:
Came with my Moto "Sprint"

Strengths:
Holding up very well

Weaknesses:
I only ride when it is dry out so I don't know all tere is to know about them.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
Giant OCR3

Bike Setup:
Specialized Avatar seat, Shimano PD-R540 Pedals, Cateye V2 cyclocomputer, SRAM Chainring, rest is stock.

Summary:
Tires wore fairly well, I put over 1100 miles on them already and I imagine they would have probably lasted at least another 1100 if I hadn't ridden over a very sharp rock. It put a 5mm gash in the tire. Surprisingly it didn't pop. I was on a ride away from home and a bike shop in the area told me that a little super glue would work, unfortunately I've gone through 2 tubes since then so I have some Michelin Krylions coming my way.

Strengths:
Wear nicely
Stiff ride

Weaknesses:
Poor puncture resistance.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Came with bike

Favorite Ride:
City Commuting

Bike Setup:
07 Motobecane Vent Noir, Deore XT rear der, SRAM PC-991 chain, ST-5600 105 shifters.

Summary:
I used these for 800+ miles @ 225 PSI, for 3 months, I'm 210 lbs.

Within this time I had 1 blow out due to over inflation, 3 flats, 1 slow sleaking. 1 slow leaking flat on the front caused me to lockup front and enter a slide as I was taking a fast corner. I recovered without problems.

Front tire had plenty of thread left, and does not show any evidence of wear. Rear tire went from a U shape to square shape, still can be used thought. I noticed that after about 600 miles I began to slow down, perhaps this is due to changed shape of the contact patch in the rear.

Eventually I had to replace these tires in favor of Michelin Pro Race 2, which was a night and day, next time I'm going with something even more lighter!

These tires are suceptable to cuts, and flats, but overall they are good. Of course the ride is harsh.

Strengths:
EASY to mount

Weaknesses:
Slow
Heavy
Harsh ride

Similar Products Used:
Michelin Pro Race 2

Price Paid:  $0.00 at OEM came with bike

Favorite Ride:
Yigo

Bike Setup:
Bone stock Motobecane Mirage Pro

Summary:
This review is for the 700x23 Wire bead. These tire came on my bike and I was impreesed by the 125psi max pressure, especially for an econo tire like this. I wasn't riding the bike much, only logged 370 mile in a year, ya I know I'm a slug. Theses tire performed well in all conditions. I only experianced one small cut in the tread. Decided to try out some thing new and ordered some Maxxis Detonantors and while waiting for my new banana skins to arive I hit a pothole and had a double blow out. The front tire was unhurt but the back tire had torn through next to the bead and is now unusable. I kept the front for a spare. These tire ride harsh compared to the Maxxis detonators. I weigh in at 180lbs and tread wear was non-existant so I think these tire would have lasted many more miles than I had a cahnce to put on them. The aren't available anymore but came be found on sale for ten bucks a piece at the Kenda web site. Due to the low price and decent durability and no hype saying that this is a great tire I have to say this is a good tire if you are on a tight budget. Three Chilis!!!

Strengths:
Tough tire, took a large pothole to kill them. 125 max psi

Weaknesses:
Harsh ride. Wire bead, seem heavy compared to kevlar beaded tires.

Similar Products Used:
Maxxis Detonators