Kenda tyre, what's the word on the street?

[Graeme M]

http://www.kenda.com.au/products.asp?rsCategoryID=6

Claims to be designed for dirt track. But...

http://www.kendausa.com/en/home/motorcycle/mx/k335.aspx

Claims to be designed for Ice Racing.

Hmmm....

[Curly3]

I'm using one Graeme, as I've only recently ridden 3 meetings in 30 years I'm definitely not an expert.
My first impression was that it was a good tyre, as my race pace has built up I'm not so sure, mind you the last meeting a few weeks ago it was slowly going flat and I was all over the shop in my last couple of rides.
The word is that the tubeless Michelin is the go but I'm going to turn mine around before the next meeting and see how it goes.
Which brings up another point, they have a Vee groove pattern and I've seen them used both ways, not sure which is correct, I did have mine fitted at a dealer but suspect it is on backwards.
Don't forget the Mitas is now available, there's a thread on here somewhere.
Steve

[oldyzman]

Ive been using that Kenda (diamond pattern) on my YZ400 dirttrack. I got it cause the michy was not available, its not bad but i like the michi better which is on my 250. Maybe phcycological though. I know the mail order trials tyres for $40 plus postage are crap for dirttrack. The Kenda square block pattern for around $100 are also crap.
Brett

[Graeme M]

Interesting. I ask for a mate. I spent the $600 and sprung for a complete spare wheel so I can swap from DT to MX quickly. But my friend, young Twistandshout, doesn't want that expense. I gave him a few laps on the YZ125 last weekend and he reckoned it was good fun and wants to have a go. But he has the same problem I did - 19" rear wheel.

If the Kenda is OK, then he has an affordable option to try some DT without the big dollars spend.

[Curly3]

19" = Mitas.

[JohnnyO]

You can also use a speedway rear tyre if you run a 19" rear wheel.
The hot ticket for dirt track is the Michelin 18" radial trials tyre, i can't imagine the Kenda would be near as good but you get what you pay for.

[Graeme M]

Mitas? What 19" do they have? The only ones I know of are the speedway tyres which I've been told don't work on the MX bikes.

[Curly3]

Well there you go, that proves how out of date I am, the penny still hasn't dropped that moderns have a 19 on the rear.
In that case then, it's still the Michi.
But don't quote me on that.

[Graeme M]

I think there's a fair range of 18s, just not 19s. Michy, Mitas, Pirelli, Dunlop all do 18s. But the 19s are all for speedway.

I do think that Kenda may be worth a try tho.

[JAP 454]

Graeme
I have a couple of usable 19" Kenda Speedway tyres , you are welcome to have one of them to suss out as the other is a spare for the TT slider, I'll have a look at them tomorrow , and if I reckon one of them is any good to you I'll bring one to Fairbairn on the 10th and you can give it a try. Will let you know.
Foss

[Graeme M]

Thanks Foss. Like I said, it's for Twistandshout to try on his '05 RM250. He really enjoyed his short squirt last weekend and he'd like to try a little flat track action on his own bike. So I'll pass on your offer, I reckon he'd be keen to test one.

[colmoody]

Graeme, did the guy/s that told you that Mitas 19 inch Speedway rear dont work on on the rear of Moto X bikes tell you what does. If they have an opinion on what does not work my guess is they would/should have an opinion on what does. I would imagine that a lot of guys (me included) would love to know.

[JohnnyO]

All the regular dirt track guys run an 18" rear wheel on their motocross bikes, the choice of tyres is much better than 19".

[Graeme M]

I don't know Col, it was just the comments on the last thread we had about this:

http://ozvmx.com/community/index.php?topic=16125.0

As JohnnyO says, no-one with an MX framed bike runs the speedway tyres, and there must be a reason for that. Still, it may be worth trying one to see what it's like. Perhaps for an average Joe just having a go it'd be OK...

I do know that the Michelin on my YZ125 was just perfect last weekend! I have tried common old garden variety trials tyres in the past and they are rubbish compared to the Michelin. I think the Michelin and the Mitas 18" trials are the hot setup, but there must be another option for the weekend warrior who doesn't want to have to spring for an 18" rim or spare wheel.

[colmoody]

Johnny O is dead right in there is a much bigger/better choice in 18 inch trials universals but I reckon there is maybe a reasonable percentage of guys on moderns that would like to give Dirt Track a go without the expense of lacing up n 18 inch rim.