It is no secret that tire brands are always working on new compounds or treads, and it seems that Kenda is hard at work on a new gravel offering. Cycling tire technology has evolved fairly rapidly over the last few years with tubeless research, hookless rim specifications, and an overall understanding of air volume, air pressure, speed, and efficiency. This has led to some pretty amazing new tire offerings across all brands, most notably the ones willing to implement change quickly.
While road tubeless is still highly debated among the traditional road cyclist, the gravel segment has adopted the tech without objection. While a lot has changed since tubeless hit the cycling market on mountain bikes nearly 25 years ago, the drop bar segments seem to be coming around.
At a recent event, we spotted a tire getting mounted to a rim, but it had no name, just a handwritten marking. The brand was clear, Kenda, but no model and the tread looked unfamiliar. When we reached out to Kenda, they assured us that the gravel segment of their business is looking to expand after so much success with the Flintridge, Alluvium Pro, and Booster Pro tires.
To me, the tire looks fast. The raised center means more rubber between the air and the ground for added puncture protection. Then the small lugs on each side conform to the shape of the casing for what I’m guessing is a consistent feel no matter how you lean into a turn. The tire reminds […]
Continue reading the original article at: www.cyclingtips.com