kenda tire reviews

[Chums]

If anyone has reviews please add.

I run tubliss

I recently picked up a full set of washougals sticky tires the 80/100 21 front and 120/100 18 rear (went on aus.husky fe350) and a set of millville 2 in the same flavors.

The washougals were better in almost every way than the stock Dunlop mx51's. Tried front and rear in inter., hard, and sand conditions. Started off with low psi like 5psi rear hooked really well but was sketchy on cornering. Front felt weird kinda push but kinda tuck..weird. Went to 11psi front and it stuck everywhere handled sand better than expected after some rebound adjustment. Went with 9psi in rear and it also hooked predictably and cornered much better.
The millville 2 front was a pleasure to ride as I favor the more mid soft type tires. It worked great on everything handled like a dream in sand but if its hard and dry this is still good but not the best. Tested at 10psi. Hoping to test rear this week in soft to muddy conditions and report on that.
Just a reference my favorite past tires have been pirelli xcms front, and the IRC m5b rear but obviously haven't tried them all... Ride in real dirt with almost zero rocks.

 

[Kyle Tarry]

I really like the Washougal on the front of my WR for soft and intermediate conditions, sand, loam, dirt, roots, etc. I have not been as happy with it when pushing hard in very rocky conditions (central PA). I switched to a Bridgestone M59 for the last race and it seems better so far.

I will keep the Washougal for when we go back to soft terrain later in the season, or for my 610.

 

[Motosportz]

I switched to a Bridgestone M59 for the last race and it seems better so far.

Great all around tire.

 

[Wolf]

We have been running Kenda's here on the East coast for the last couple of years and various bikes. Our terrain is rocky, and I mean rocky! Tires do not last here. We have had excellent results with the Kendas.

Washougal - sticky coumpound: Awesome tire all around. By far our favorite front. It tracks well, hooks up great in mud and works well on rocks. It handles low tire pressure well, therefore providing a very confident feel. We have learned to run more tire pressure the older the tire gets and were surprised at how well they still work after 5 or 6 rides. The rear Washougal 120 seems to be awesome in the rocks, but we prefer the 110 anywhere else - cornering and steering is much improved.

Triple - sticky: Most durable rock tire ever aside from a trials tire and still pretty light. The front seems a little loose to us...that may be because of the extra row of knobs (we now run the Washougal on the front exclusively), the rear hooks up great in most everything but deep mud. Interestingly enough we like the 120 rear better than the 110. I would recommend the triple for anything but sand and mud...though it still works. A worn down triple still provides good tract, though it eventually tends to chunk.

Milville & Milville 2 - we have only tried the rear and it is awesome, but in our conditions it just does not last. 2 rides/races...after that its done...and I mean done. It is just not made for these conditions.

FYI, we have run these tires on 250 2 strokes and 250 4 strokes. Tire pressure typically around the 9 to 13 # range depending on conditions. If we use an older tire (practice) we run 14 to 15 pounds - I know...scary...but try it...you'll find that it will behave like a fresh tire with 10 pounds. We run Ultra Heavy duty tubes most of the time, sometimes a Bibs.

We have experimented with the Washougal and a knobby knife...every 3rd center knob on the rear tire is solid and spans the center of the carcass. I have run the knobby knife right down the middle, essentially splitting the knob in 1/2. This changed the contact patch touching the ground to a more rounded foot print which in turn allowed for better turning and a little more "flex" on the rocks. To me personally this really had no impact, but my son now cuts all of his tires and we didn't seem to give up durability.

 

[Chums]

I've heard guys having success with the parker desert tires and tubliss running like 3-5psi was told they act like a trials tire on rocks with benefit of knobs for stopping and cornering?? Might try this next time I do the Off road cup or a southern rocky ride??

 

[ray_ray]

I've heard guys having success with the parker desert tires and tubliss running like 3-5psi was told they act like a trials tire on rocks with benefit of knobs for stopping and cornering?? Might try this next time I do the Off road cup or a southern rocky ride??

Now that you mention side knobs, I'm thinking the K270 tire might fall into the same bucket ... I've ran those tires in the states and over here and it works really good here in the rocks and hard stuff. Just as good or better than a knobby in most places and lots better when it get wet on the rocks and creek stuff. Had some other non-knobby tire that lacked those knobs and I actually let the bike slide out on a HS corner due to that ...

Kenda has always been my tire if possible.

 

[Zomby woof]

I ran the K270 on the back of my KLX250s for a few years, and really liked it on hard pack, and mixed dirt/clay single track. Because of good reviews, I tried a Trakmaster, but preferred the K270, so I switched back. On the front I used a Millville sticky. I was using them on my motocross bike, so I decided to try it, and was surprised at how really good it was as a dual sport tire.

 

[Motosportz]

I'm running the 270 on the rear of my CR250 and TE511 for a summer tire. Like them. Not the ultimate tire but does not do anything stupid and works well. Should last forever.

 

[Chums]

We have been running Kenda's here on the East coast for the last couple of years and various bikes. Our terrain is rocky, and I mean rocky! Tires do not last here. We have had excellent results with the Kendas.

Washougal - sticky coumpound: Awesome tire all around. By far our favorite front. It tracks well, hooks up great in mud and works well on rocks. It handles low tire pressure well, therefore providing a very confident feel. We have learned to run more tire pressure the older the tire gets and were surprised at how well they still work after 5 or 6 rides. The rear Washougal 120 seems to be awesome in the rocks, but we prefer the 110 anywhere else - cornering and steering is much improved.

Triple - sticky: Most durable rock tire ever aside from a trials tire and still pretty light. The front seems a little loose to us...that may be because of the extra row of knobs (we now run the Washougal on the front exclusively), the rear hooks up great in most everything but deep mud. Interestingly enough we like the 120 rear better than the 110. I would recommend the triple for anything but sand and mud...though it still works. A worn down triple still provides good tract, though it eventually tends to chunk.

Milville & Milville 2 - we have only tried the rear and it is awesome, but in our conditions it just does not last. 2 rides/races...after that its done...and I mean done. It is just not made for these conditions.

FYI, we have run these tires on 250 2 strokes and 250 4 strokes. Tire pressure typically around the 9 to 13 # range depending on conditions. If we use an older tire (practice) we run 14 to 15 pounds - I know...scary...but try it...you'll find that it will behave like a fresh tire with 10 pounds. We run Ultra Heavy duty tubes most of the time, sometimes a Bibs.

We have experimented with the Washougal and a knobby knife...every 3rd center knob on the rear tire is solid and spans the center of the carcass. I have run the knobby knife right down the middle, essentially splitting the knob in 1/2. This changed the contact patch touching the ground to a more rounded foot print which in turn allowed for better turning and a little more "flex" on the rocks. To me personally this really had no impact, but my son now cuts all of his tires and we didn't seem to give up durability.

What kind of psi did you find the Washougal front liked in mud? I'm experimenting with my tubliss and it seams anything under 9-10 and the front doesn't work as well.

I also had a chance to try the millville 2 rear and was very happy with it in damp conditions. It had rained the night before but not enough for full on mud. It seemed to have very good breaking and was predictable. I tried 10psi,9,&8 and nothing funny just felt like it hooked better the lower I went. Cornered nice and overall felt better everywhere than the pirelli xcms rear I had just tried especially in the braking department.

 

[Kyle Tarry]

I haven't tried the 270 yet, but I probably will at some point. Right now I think that the Trakmaster (760) is the greatest dual sport rear tire ever. I have one on my 610 and I ran one on my DRZ on a cross-country (TAT) ride. I run a "race" rear tire on the WR, but for general use the 760 is really hard to beat. I think it's similar to a Maxxis Desert IT but cheaper and easier to mount. I don't run the 760 front, I'm sure it's not bad but I have other preferences there.

Wolf, I am intrigued by your statement that the Washougal works well in rocks. In central PA we have endless nasty rock gardens, sort of like the stuff you find at a place like Pachaug in CT. My bikes was deflection city with the Washougal on the front, I think that the side knobs were grabbing everything that they touched. The Bridgestone M59 "seems" better, but it could just be me.

 

[Chums]

At the 9hr race tons of people were running washougals front and rear, must be at least a little something good about them because that race was 90% rocks ( large 3" road stone up to rocky river bed chunks. I don't think you could go wrong with a set of these for an all around tire for the money ($130+/- a set online)

 

[Norman Foley]

I haven't tried the 270 yet, but I probably will at some point. Right now I think that the Trakmaster (760) is the greatest dual sport rear tire ever. I have one on my 610 and I ran one on my DRZ on a cross-country (TAT) ride. I run a "race" rear tire on the WR, but for general use the 760 is really hard to beat. I think it's similar to a Maxxis Desert IT but cheaper and easier to mount. I don't run the 760 front, I'm sure it's not bad but I have other preferences there.

Wolf, I am intrigued by your statement that the Washougal works well in rocks. In central PA we have endless nasty rock gardens, sort of like the stuff you find at a place like Pachaug in CT. My bikes was deflection city with the Washougal on the front, I think that the side knobs were grabbing everything that they touched. The Bridgestone M59 "seems" better, but it could just be me.

I run a Washougal sticky, as my go to front tire. It works as well as M59 to me, in everything from PA rocks to South Jersey sand and our standard slick clay and shale in CNY. I have run straight up Millville II's front and rear in South Jersey sand with good results, but Washougal's work just as well and Millville II's suck everywhere else. I do prefer the Triple rear for rocks and it does more than okay in mud.

Kenda made some K335 Ice Tires, in a soft compound and gave them to some racers to try, as an alternative to a trials tire. I'm not sure how the results were ( I guess not great) and the tire wasn't released to the public.
I was a Michelin guy for years, but really like Kenda tires.

 

[Wolf]

I run the Washougal at 10 or more psi. Love it in the rocks....and everywhere else. Must say I am hooked on a trials tire too....under the right conditions it is unbelievable

 

[Chums]

I was talking to Jason Raines at a local race not to long ago and he was saying Kenda is planning the release of a "Washougal 2" for next season. He had done some testing and thought it was going to be a great tire.......

 

[Kyle Tarry]

Thanks for the tips guys, I will give my Washougal another shot! The M59 is working really well for me right now, so I'll stick with that in the meantime. Interesting news about the Washougal 2! Will have to keep an eye on that.

For what it's worth, I loved the Washougal on the front in everything but nasty rock gardens. Worked great in the NJ sand enduros, loam, loose rock, etc.

How does the Washougal rear work, compared to say an AT81? I have been very happy with the Dunlop thus far, and it looks to be cheaper, but I am always up for another option.

I really like a rear trials tire for a run that is pure rock, like the Hancock NY dual sport, and some of the PA enduros (like Michaux). I have been running a knobby all season this year, though.

 

[Norman Foley]

I was talking to Jason Raines at a local race not to long ago and he was saying Kenda is planning the release of a "Washougal 2" for next season. He had done some testing and thought it was going to be a great tire.......

Nick Fahringer was doing some testing, on some of the new prototype tires too.

 

[Motosportz]

I have a Kenda 270 on my te511 now. Took it for a rip late yesterday and really liked it on that bike. Is good on my 250 but better on my 511. I think it works better with heavier bike and maybe 4 strokes too although I do like it on my 250.

 

[rabskyline]

Looks like it would be a smooth riding road/DS tyre.
Doesn't look like it would cope with sloppy stuff and be more suited to dry stuff.

 

[reveille]

Hard pack and sandy gravel they shine. They clog with mud and don't clear very good from my experience. Great dual sport tire overall. I plan to install one on my 501 for the ADV rally this August which is wet sandy, roots and some forest roads mixed with pavement to connect trails. Reasonable prices if you find them on sale.

 

[ray_ray]

Kenda tires a few yrs back were usually lower priced that all the top name brands ... We we buying the 120\100 19" Carlsbad for $50 delivered to the doorstep(free shipping from RockyMountain) ...

If you have never tried something other than a knobby on the rear, you should try one of these or a trials or some other non-knobby ... These tires really opened my eyes in their domain ... And side knobs are on these 270s... The Metzeler sahara was a good tire for me also but lacked the HS corning ability on open flat dirt roads I thought.

Every so often when that 270 bit just right on some dry uphills, it would sound like a car tire squalling back there when spinning . You knew you had a lot of rubber on the ground when that would happen. And no hole-digging as a knobby would do and stick ya ..

--
My good friend Dave sent me a worn Carlsbad 775 ... I'll be putting an edge back on it with my knobby knife and running it shortly ... Been about 5 yrs since I ran one and it will be a little riding with an old friend again