My mountain bike needed new tires, the old ones were dry and cracked, and one had blown out through the sidewall. I decided that since I seldom ride in mud or on very loose surfaces, a smoother tread would allow me to ride along with lower effort and/or greater speed. Smooth tires on urban bicycles are nothing new, the Tioga City Slicker has been around for years, and probably serves as an inspiration for many other similar tires. I ordered the Kenda K838 based on the favorable reviews, and am very pleased. I ordered four tires, to upgrade two bicycles. They came in a box which was probably twice as large as it needed to be. As everyone else has mentioned, they are blackwall, not gumwalls as illustrated. Mounting the tires was no problem at all. I used a plastic tire lever to remove the old tires from the rims, and just popped the Kenda's on with my fingers, no tools needed. I inflated them and went for a ride. Note that while the tires can hold 60 psi, because of the larger volume of air contained, they work well at lower pressures, 35 to 40 psi for me, and provide a superior ride.The tread design and profile are based on combined features from successful motorcycle tires. The tread pattern is very similar to that seen on the Bridgestone Spitfire, with directional grooves to channel water to the outside edge of the tread surface. This gives low rolling resistance and complete silence....no humming or howling knobs on pavement. Constant pedaling is not necessary, as the low rolling resistance means one can pedal a bit, then coast or glide a long distance.
They don't accelerate quite as easily as some narrower, lighter tires, say 700 x 28, but they do very well for a tire nearly 2 inches wide, and offer vastly better load capability, rim protection, flat resistance and a superior ride over irregularities. Bumps feel considerably "dampened", and the tires "float" undeflected over gravel patches instead of knifing in or skating around as a narrow tire might.Their triangular profile is based on designs used on Dunlop TT100 motorcycle tires and others. This means that when viewed from the front, the tire doesn't look "circular" round, but has a "rounded triangle" shape. When riding straight, the narrow "point" of the triangle contacts the road, giving a lower resistance. As the bike banks over for turns, the broad "flank" of the triangle gradually spreads across the road, giving a broader contact area and better grip.Owners of mountain bikes which are used more often on pavement and hard-packed dirt or gravel will probably enjoy these. They seem to be very well made and a good choice for their intended purpose. Kenda K838 Slick Wire Bead Bicycle Tire, Blackwall, 26-Inch x 1.95-Inch
First of all, this is a really good tire, you won't be disappointed. Note that it is black wall, not skin wall as shown in the picture, so the tire is all black - which I like better anyway. I use the bike for commuting, but where I live the roads aren't all that great so the size and capability of this tire works very well. The only issue I had was getting the tires on my wheel, they're extremely snug, so make sure you let ALL the air out of your tubes and be careful not to pinch the tube while getting the tire on. Also, I hope in the future the shipping company is more environmentally (and cost effectively) concious because I purchased two tires on the same day, they came in two huge, and separate boxes. I could have fit a filing cabinet in each on of the boxes - I thought that it was a waste of shipping material.
.......when compared to my original knobby MTB tires. They corner nicely and seem very smooth. A good economical choice for converting a Mountain Bike to asphalt surfaces and increase rolling efficiency.
I recently acquired a clean Bridgestone MB-5 that was in great shape, but looked like it had original rubber on it. Not wanting to put $40-$50 worth of rubber on a $60 bike, I splurged $25 for a pair of the Kenda K838s to turn this fender equipped bike into a commuter. After days of cold rain, today was perfect weather. I am happy to say that these tires are quiet riding, smooth running, and feel great on asphalt. They definitely feel like they roll more freely, even though the width is only a smidge less and the air pressure is a wee bit more than standard MTB knobbies.
I could not of spent my hard-earned cash any better. Switching from some terribly knobby mtb tires to these K838s transformed my bike into a concrete chomping machine. Insane comfort, insane grip. Took hardly any effort to install. Amazing tires from Kenda!!
Well after having these tires on for a month, I am very pleased. They are WAY smoother than the knobby tires that originally came on my bike and are incredibly much much faster. I instantly noticed a speed difference and these things are like riding on smooth glass. Keep the tire pressure high and you wont be disappointed. A great commuter tire for the money, no complaints what so ever. I'd give them a 5-star rating if I had owned them longer. So far so good!
I bought these to use on an indoor trainer. They are much quieter than my mountain bike tires obviously but also quieter than other road tires I had to the point I can watch TV and ride. It is an acceptable alternative to buying specialist trainer tires and I wont rip up my good rubber.
I have had the Kenda K838 Slick wire bead tires on my Marin Palisades trail mountain bike for a little over two weeks now. I have to say I love them. I switched to these tires because I commute to school and work on my bike and was primarily riding on sidewalks and roads which my old knobby tires were slowing me down on. These tires are straight black and are up to mountain bike tire standards. They have a little lip that flares outward on both ends of the tire for grip and to help protect the rim. These tires are non directional and can be used as front or rear tires.
PROS:
-Smoother Ride
-Quieter Ride
-More responsive then my old knobby tires
-Grips corners like glue
-MAX 65psi
-less rolling friction
-Motorcycle tread pattern Pushes water outwards
-Still good in the rain
-Good price
-Can reach higher speeds and still have control
CONS:
-Less grip in loose surfaces (Mud, Gravel) obviously - Bike Tire - Bike Tires - Heavy Duty - Cycling'
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