Product: Kommuter 26x2
Publication: Cycling Plus
Issue: 206
Date: Febuary 2008
Award/Verdict: " 9 "
http://www.bikeradar.co.uk

With the lower rolling resistance of modern rubber compounds there is a new breed of wide profile, free running tyres. While the best known of these is perhaps the Schwalbe’s Big Apple (actually a third of an inch wider than the Kommuters), Kenda’s offering in the ‘big brutal but fast’ world of tyres impressed us just as much as the Big apples that we’ve tried.
They slipped on the rims nice and easy and felt smooth and fast to ride, given their large proportions (they felt right at about 60psi front and 70psi rear, though rated up to 85psi). If your commuting or touring bike needs to be able to soak up the bumps that bit more, Kommuters would certainly be worth considering if you want to go down the wide profile route. They also feature a side wall ‘dynamo tread’.
The tyres have a relatively low 60 treads per inch; although lower TPI ratings generally mean more rolling resistance, they should also mean a tougher, harder wearing tyre as the treads used underneath the rubber are thicker. I managed over 2000km of touring on a fully loaded electric bike without a single puncture and little visible wear to either tread or sidewalls!
A ‘cleanout’ inspection showed the tyre had absorbed several smallish splinters of glass but none had visible penetrated the nylon threads underneath the rubber. While this kind of evidence is always subjective (ill-luck invariably playing a part5 with getting a puncture in any tyre, no matter how tough), it’s still an impressive feat. It left me wondering who needs the extra weight and drag of more expensive Kevlar Belts.
Cycling Plus Verdict: "Good Value, long life tyres for extra touring and commuting comfort".

Product: KNarly 2.1in
Publication: MBR
Issue: The MUD issue
Date: Febuary 2008
http://www.mountainbikerider.co.uk

It's pretty obvious why this tyre is called the Knarly-it has the tallest side knobs on test, has easily the most aggressive tread pattern, and at 720g, with a Kevlar bead, its is by far the heaviest tyre here.
Drag is the obvious drawback with the Knarly but it is not actually as slow as you'd think. Nor is itas sketchy as it looks because the tall side knobs are well supported and dont tuck under or wash out unexpectedly on hard packed trails you may need to be careful on wet tarmac though.
The thicker sidewalls do allow you to run lower pressures without too much risk of pinch flatting, but unfortunately this compound the drag issue.
Ultimately, if you've got a bigger-travel bike and want to ride steep, technical muddy trails then the Kenda Knarly is a good choice-just dont take it on a woodland hack.

Product: Nevegal DTC 2.35in
Publication: MBUK
Issue: No 221
Date: Febuary 2008
http://www.mbuk.com

The bigger sizes of the Nevegal have impressed us in the past, with their thick casing and soft rubber, but we've previously turned a bit of a blind eye to its lighter weight(615g) XC-based carcass.
It was only when we rode this tyre on the Marin Attack Trail recently that we realised just how good its is as an all round XC and general thrashing tyre.
The paddle-like centre row of trad hooks up well - and clears all but the claggiest of gloop, whilethe intermediate shoulder knobs are fairly prominent, offering great control in off-camber situations.
The shoulder knobs are adequate for most cornering but come unstuck a little on the irritating clay that we suffer from round here. That said, theyve been great everwhere else.
Our only reservation is that the casing is fairly thin, although to date we havent had any punctures.
MBUK Verdict: "A great all-round tyre, available in lightweight XC through to rock munching DH variants.

Product: Telonix DTC 2.4in
Publication: MBUK
Issue: No 218
Date: November 2007
Award/Verdict: " 7 "
http://www.mbuk.com

A new one from Kenda, designed for the local Laguna Beach DH race of trials/extreme ride legend Hans Rey as part of their Signature Series.
Despite being designed for digging deep into California, it translates into a decent all-rounder over here too.
The broad split paddle tread scoops its way through deep bog and sludge in a tenacious fashion. The closely spaced edge lugs can really be leant on through turns too, although there's a noticeable shoulder slip as you transition.
The stiff Iron Cap top ply and paddle tread does tend to slide on wet wood and rocks. The Iron Cap give it impressive impact edge protection though, and it rolls better than we expected, making it a useful year-long all-rounder.
MBUK Verdict: "Slightly nervous in wet woods but otherwise a well armoured all-rounder".

Product: Knarly 2.1in
Publication: MBUK
Issue: No 218
Date: November 2007
Award/Verdict: " 9 "
http://www.mbuk.com

Kenda's huge range of tyres means they can get really specific with designs. This soggy slalom specialist is unbeatable if it's wet grass between the gates.
The standard carcass keeps it lightweight for a good launch out of the start gate. The deep spike tread, with massive butressed edge spikes and huge gaps between, is a grippy as a football boot on wet grass and mud.
You need to keep pressures high (40psi-plus) to keep the spikes stable, but if it's soft enough to bite it'll rip corners.
Hardcompound, high spike tread makes it lethally skittery on roack and roots, so its restricted in terms of trail verstility.
Pricing is great though, so if you take your slalom seriously then get a pair in your arsenal.
MBUK Verdict: "Lightweight, insane traction, slalom tyre but not happy in mixed terrain".

Product: Kinetics
Publication: What Mountain Bike
Issue: No 76
Date: November 2007
Award/Verdict: " 8 "
http://www.whatmtb.com

Kenda Kinetics is a big old school-style tread thats's not a winter specialist but a tough trail-ready all year rounder that's well worth looking out for.
The front and rear designs are a bit pointier on the front for steering and a bit more paddley on the back for propulsion. Butressed side knobs take care of the cornering and off-camber work and it has a to ba really sticky to get them clogged up enough to cause problems.
Sticky compound rubber offsets the fact that the tops of the knobs can sometimes slip on rocks, although they do still tend to smear and slide if its a really wet.
They're achingly slow considering they're a softie though, but they do wear fast if the trails start to dry out.
Weight is reasonable for their size and grip levels too although they do need more pressure than many large tyres to stop them from pinch puncturing. The generous tread wards off pointy punctures well however and they're a good price.
WMB Verdict: "Tough, year round technical performer at a pretty good price, too".

Product: Kinetics Extreme
Publication: What Mountain Bike
Issue: No 65
Date: January 2007
Award/Verdict: " 8 "
http://www.whatmtb.com

Kenda produce a huge range of tyres these days, but the Kinetics Extreme is an old favourite design refreshed with the latest tyre technology.
The Kinetics uses a classic chunky all rounder block style with a vague inline arrow arrangement. They paddle okay through the softer stuff and got through "Slurrey Alley" eventually, but they slip easily if you push too hard.
The Stick-E compound really helped through "Rocky Horror" though as did the cushioning of the fat 2.35in carcass. It was also okay through the cleaner sections of "Wet Wood" too, and it leans and tackles off cambers in a nice predictable way, sliding rather than spitting suddenly when it does go.
It tends to clog easily on the loamy, leafy sections and once bunged up it doesnt clear well. Kendas are more prone to pinch punctures than most brands, but the broad tread top and close spacing means they roll well, and you can leave them on all year.
Price is good for a soft compound tyre, which offsets rapid wear.
WMB Verdict: "Well priced, grippy all year rounder that does okay in winter too".

Product: Small Block 8
Publication: MBUK
Issue: 206
Date: December 2006
Award/Verdict: " 8 "
http://www.mbuk.com

Weighing in at 555g almost 100g less than advertised the John Tomac Signature Series Small Block Eight is a supperbly grippy, fast rolling tyre so long as you're not riding along claggy mud.
If you are, the tiny gaps between the very small knobs block quickly and you end up with mud-filled slick.
The tyre is is fairly good in wetter mud and its as good as it gets in dry conditions.
The Dual Compound tread grips tenaciously to almost anything solid and we really liked the fast rolling, comfy ride of our 2.35in test tyres. 2.1 and 1.95in models are available too.
In theory their foldable beads makes them potentially problematic for a Stans No-Tubes set up, but we bunged in some liquid latex with Stans rim tapes and they were fine.
Overall a tyre best suited todry, hardpack trails but which rails along at warp factor nine.
Verdict: "Fast rolling and tenaciously grippy in the dry but it blocks badly in sticky mud".

Product: Small Block 8
Publication: Singletrack
Issue: 31
Date: October 2006
Award/Verdict: Recomended
http://www.singletrackworld.com

Any new tyre from Kenda is met with huge interest and anticipation from the Singletracks Rubberholics Anonoymous. The new Small Block 8 was met with more than one confused expression.
The Small Block 8 is based on the popular 'ramped-middle and blocky side knobs' Nevegal design but has eight rows of tread (as opposed to six) and the tyre carcass profile is more rounded. The knobs on each of these eight rows is much, much dinkier (and shorter) than a normal Nevegal.
Needless to say this made for a very, very fast rolling tyre. We could feel the cumulative eefect of reduced drag even on short rides were we felt much less knackered than usual. On firm hardpack dirt or stony ground (including short wet grass - usually the semi slicks nemesis) the cornering and brakingtraction and handling chracjteristics were incredibly good - almost as impressive as our personal favourite the Kenda Blue Groove tyre.
We raced these tyres at this years rather damp(!) Merida trans Wales and they helped save us a huge amount of energy on the miles of fireroad and tarmac. They also behaved impeccably on the sharp, wet rock of Coed-Y-Brenin after.
While we wouldnt use these tyres over the winter as they (unsurprisingly) dont cope that well with hard braking or cornering in proper mud we are more than happy to be a bit careful with them during the wet patches of spring/summer/autumn in exchange for their vast benefits elsewhere.
These tyres mean you can ride-or 'race' if you were that way inclined - your bike faster and further withiut the traditional trade of in sketchy performance. We sense (and hope) that these may kickstart a new generation of semi-slick style tyres from other tyre companies.
Verdict: Singletrack Recomended "Finally a fast rolling, high performance tyre that can cope with nine out of 12 months of British weather.

Product: Knarly 2.1
Publication: MBUK
Issue: 205
Date: October 2006
Award/Verdict: 8/10
http://www.mbuk.com

Kenda dont do a full downhill mud tyre but this is a grat 4X option.
The spiked tread is the most dramatic here, with ranks of 4mm high hexagonol shoulder knobs, then just a handful down the centre line. This means it bites very deep in slop, nails wet grass and hangs on crazily in off camber or "cranked right over" situations. It also clears heavy mud fast for a spiked tyre and the tall knobs, and nearer 2.3 than 2.1in carcass, provide reasonable pinch flat protection for the mid range weight.
The tyre really lurches onto the outer edge though, which takes some getting use to, and the lack of centre tread means it slides or spins very easily when upright on wet rocks or roots. Cant fault the price though.
Verdict: Sketchy on hard stuff but a great mid-weight grass/slop 4X tyre at a great price.

Product: Short Tracker 2.5 Stick E
Publication: MBUK
Issue: 196
Date: May 2006
Award/Verdict: 8/10
http://www.mbuk.com

Semi-slicks can look totally unsuited to off-road use but you might be amazed how well they grip and how fast they roll.
Kenda's DH semi-slick design also appears in lighter, narrower, XC versions and, instantly adding several gears' worth of speed and a 'rear end drifts first' character, it's perfect for back wheel use in summer or even both ends on smooth, groomed 4X courses or street. THe file tread gives maximum contact for the soft-compound Stick E rubber to work with for masses of shearing/smearing grip on hard surfaces. Occasional paddle bars give a ledge for braking/driving traction in damp/loose conditions, and well supported side knobs give you something to lean on in corners. Push too hard though and they'll let go dramatically, so this tyre is best suited to skilled, smooth riders.
The DH versions use complete Stick E rubber and a reinforced, high stability, puncture-resistant casing that handles serious concrete abuse, and the freeride/XC versions use a fater rolling, longer lasting dual-compound tread and a single ply sidewall. Pricing is good on all versions Verdict: Super tough, fast rolling downhill semi-slick for summer/urban speed.

Product: Short Tracker 2.35
Publication: Singletrack Magazine
Issue: 24
Date: 12th October 2005
http://www.singletrackworld.com

Looking at it you think it will be fast and comfy (and it is) but lacking traction - but it grips like crazy in anything but real mud and doesn't even skid particularly easily.

Product: Short Tracker
Publication: MBR
Issue: 19
Date: August 2005
Award/Verdict: 9/10
http://www.mountainbikerider.co.uk

...At the opposite end of the spectrum (to the Nokian XXX), Kenda's new Short Tracker treads are light and offer more in the way of pure off-road compatibility. At true 2.35in width, the ST lookds beefy as hell in the stays and makes you want to throw a leg over and ride. This folder has speed in spades thanks to the central file tread pattern which is made from what Kenda calls its L3R Pro design for low rolling resistance and long wear.
Unlike the smooth Nokian, the Kenda has a ladder tread which allows for some reasonable braking and grip. Some rider input is necessary to avoid the dreaded rear-wheel spinout when climbing steep stuff out of the saddle.
The John Tomac signature tyre (which is what it is...yeah!) has Stick-E rubber compound on the edge treads for added grip when concerning.

Product: Knarly Stick-E 2.1
Publication: Singletrack Magazine
Issue: 24
Date: 12th October 2005
http://www.singletrackworld.com

One of the best higher volume mud tyres, particularly great off-camber and on wet grass. Not too scary on firm ground or draggy or tarmac either.

Product: Knarly
Publication: Singletrack Magazine
Issue: 19
Date: 3rd February 2005
Author: Ben Haworth
Award/Verdict: Singletrack Recommended
http://www.singletrackworld.com

When we pulled this pair of tyres out of (yet another) box full of black rubber a couple of us in the office found ourselves saying "ooh... look at those!" in semi-awe of the spikiest tread design we have seen for quite some time (seriously these will have someone's eye out before long). Kenda market this tyre as being for slalom and 'extreme riding'. Unfortunately I didn't quite manage to find any slalom races to try them out on but I have put them through several; extremely muddy and off-camber rides over the past few horrible weeks. In common with all the best tyres, the tread design is simple: lots of stiff and tall knobs on the sides to hold on in off-camber situations, widely spaced centre knobs to dig through slop to find traction and clear mud easily. No matter how gloopy or tacky the mud got these babies never spun out. I lost count of the amount of time other riders were slipping and sliding around whereas these tyres just held their line without complaint every time. Off-camber performance was laugh-out-loud ridiculously brilliant, to the point where I found myself deliberately looking for greasy slopes to ride across! These tyres are not all-rounders though (and don't claim to be so), they are for (very) wet conditions only. They have to be run at fairly high pressures (40+ psi) to prevent undue squirming and therefore can be uncomfortable over the rough tuff on a hardtail and they are a bit draggy on tarmac (although not so bad as you might think when you look at them). Very much the right tool for the right job. Another Kenda klassik.

Product: Knarly
Publication: MBR
Award/Verdict: 7/10
http://www.mountainbikerider.co.uk

This is the Schwalbe Black Shark on steroids, with the added weight that goes with it. The Knarly is really a slalom mud tyre but would be a great choice for aggressive, heavy riders in radical terrain. The tall outside edge blocks are buttressed so they penetrate deep in the corners without folding over. Slow but sure.

Product: Kinetics Tubeless
Publication: Singletrack Magazine
Issue: 17
Date: December 2004
Author: Chipps
http://www.singletrackworld.com

I'm not normally that big a fan of bigger tyres, I'm happy enough with regular 2.1s, but I thought I'd try these Kenda Kinetics 2.35s on our epic trip round the Lakes, and I've kept them on ever since. The 2.35in tyre has a basic pattern of big, chunky, square knobs - they come in thinner and fatter versions too, but the unifying factor is the Stick-E rubber, which as you'd expect is a sticky, soft compound designed for better grip.
Most tyres, when they're new are great, a bit like most bikes, when new work wonderfully, the real test is after a few weeks, when the corner knobs have worn a little and the tyre's started scuffing up a bit. The Kinetics were great on their first ride and continue to be good, meaty, grippy tyres. They survived 130 hard miles in the Lakes and were still grippy enough to impress other testers who specifically praised the Kinetics' ability to grip. And they're still showing little signs of wear, which is great for a tyre that feels soft, both to the touch and in ride-feel. I think I may be a convert to the bigger, chunkier world of Stick-E...

Product: Kinetics Tubeless
Publication: MBR
Date: November 2004
Award/Verdict: 8/10
http://www.mountainbikerider.co.uk

The Kinetics is the largest and widest UST tubeless in the Kenda line and, despite the 2.2in sticker, it's the biggest tyre tested here. Unsurprisingly, this combo is designed for freeride and hard trail riding and while some folk might say it's unfair to test it alongside specific trail tyres, it's just at the other end of the spectrum.
Kinetics are front and rear specific, meaning the front has a little more pronounced arrow shape for directional control and the rear extra cross-bars for braking stability. The predominantly square tread pattern clears mud well and digs deep into soft and loamy trails. The rubber compound is also reasonably tacky but hard wearing so should last a few months of rock riding.
Compared to the Michelins, the Kendas are slow tyres and heavy too, but they offer stacks of protection and cushioning. They also don't leak and are easier to mount and seat than their fleet-footed brethren if you are after a thick, durable tubeless tyre for hard riding then the Kinetics are premium value.

Product: Kinetics Stick-E 2.35
Publication: Singletrack Magazine
Issue: 24
Date: 12th October 2005
http://www.singletrackworld.com

The 'railing' adhesion of the front gives you enormous confidence and the traction coming from the rear is amazing. The only downside is the rear's tendency to breakout sideways.

Product: Kinetics
Publication: MBR
Date: July 2004
Award/Verdict: 8/10
http://www.mountainbikerider.co.uk

Regardless of the compound, 2.35in tyres are going to feel slow on the road. For that reason alone we ran the Kinetics at a higher than normal pressure. Off-road the Stick-E rubber lets you get away with it, so while normal compound tyres would feel skitty, the Stick-E rubber still offers plenty of traction and the high pressure reduces the risk of pinch flats.
For a soft-compound tyre the Kinetics have done well to maintain a square edge. The round casing profile is predictable and although the side knobs are soft, they don't give way or fold under, making the Kinetics very well behaved. You'll be amazed by the size of the footprint that these babies make. They're the closest thing you'll get to a moto-x tyre without actually needing an engine to drive them. Slow on bash roads, but as essential as a passport when travelling.

Product: Kollosal
Publication: MBUK
Issue: 176
Date: August 2004
Author: Doddy
Award/Verdict: 9/10
http://www.mbuk.com

Over the last year or so, Kenda has developed some excellent tyres for a wide range of purposes. The new Kollosal tyre features heavy-duty Cap Ply casing and the trademark Kenda Stick-E rubber, which is almost as soft as a pencil eraser. The Kollosal is an all-round DH tyre that competes directly with the Maxxis High Roller and the renowned Michelin Comp 16. The tread is similar to that of the High Roller with the fairly open shovel-like pattern and good square shoulders to cut into the corners. However, the rounder profile makes the Kollosal more predictable, and the slightly more open tread mates well with sticky clay and mud. The Stick-E compound really comes into its own in hot, dry conditions, so this is a great choice for summer-time riding.

Product: Nevegal 2.35 Stick E Folding
Publication: MBUK
Issue: 196
Date: May 2006
Award/Verdict: 9/10
http://www.mbuk.com

Kenda's Nevegal tyre has a bunch of awards under it belt. Designed by DH/XC legend John Tomac, it combines a relatively fast-rolling, ramp-fronted, mid-height tread with Stick E soft-compund shoulder tread. The result us a great dry/intermediate tyre that glues itself to rock or root with equal tenacity, and paddles its way through muck OK too. The deep carcass adds impressive float and drop cushioning, and a rounded profile means it rolls into corners quickly and smoothly.
Edging grip and 'rail around' confidence isn't quite as good as some though. The relatively shallow tread and harder compund centre also start to slip and slide earlier than other tyres in typical UK conditions outside of summer. We'd definitely pair it with the more directional Kenda Blue Groove up front to combat sideways slither under braking once it gets wet.
The pricing is super keen though and there's a huge range of compund, sidewall and stickiness options to suit all types of riding.
Verdict: Great value and protection; decent speed and impressive grip in most conditions.

Product: Nevegal DTC 2.1
Publication: Singletrack Magazine
Issue: 24
Date: 12th October 2005
Award/Verdict: Recommended - All Rounder Combo (with BLue Groove DTC 2.1)
http://www.singletrackworld.com

This has all the plus points of the Kinetics rear tyre when it comes to grabbing traction but doesn't 'step out' suddenly when cornering and it clears mud a bit better as well.

Product: Tomac Nevegal Stick-E
Publication: MBR
Date: October 2005
Award/Verdict: 9/10
http://www.mountainbikerider.co.uk

Kenda has been making the most of its association with the great mountain bike icon that is Jonny T. A full range of signature tyres are the company's top treads and the Nevegal we tsted comes from this stable.
Weighing in at less than 700 grams, the tyre comes with a folding bead. It is very svelte for such a large carcass and features Kenda's soft compound Stick-E rubber compound. Rather than use the compound for the whole tread, it has chosen to use it only on the outside knobs for increased cornering traction without sacrificing longevity on the more regularly used central sections.
The cuts in the tops of the knobs allow the blocks to grip the ground better than a flat-topped one and every block is supported by at least one other with ridges.
In use the tyre feels very conidence-inspiring, with a suprisingly large volume. While not the widest on test it was on of the deepest, and this extra volume really separates the rider from the trail vibration felt on smaller tyres. The harder compound central tread section allows the tyre to roll fairly fast for such a blocky tread patter - no doubt the chamfered leading edge helps. Large, well-supported side knobs dig well without squirming under harsh cornering loads. And all this combined makes for an excellent all-round tyre that has a ride that belies its low weight.

Product: Nevegal
Publication: MBA
Date: September 2005
Award/Verdict: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th Places
http://www.mbaction.com

We had plenty of tires (sic) that claimed to be 2.2s, 2.25s and 2.3s. But out of 59 tires, only ten actually measure 2.2 or larger. When you check the GMS sizing, you'll also find that most all of the big tires have a casing that isn't any bigger than the large volume 2.1 or 2.0 tires that swept the top ten. These tires have the same resiliency and cushion as the 2.2 and fatter tires, but with tread that pedals closer to a cross-country race knobby. A common trait of the big tires was that they bogged down in soft dirt. While the big treads flounder, the large volume tires take off and roost. Two tire companies dominate the top ten. That is not suprising, and please don't accuse the wrecking crew of favoritism (sic). The tires that dominate the top ten deserve it. They have hit upon the best mix of design, materials, manufacturing and, of course, performance.

1st Place - Notubes Kenda Nevegal Stick-E

Pedaling efficiency: 5 Stars
Climbing Bite: 5 Stars
Braking Bite: 5 Stars
Cornering Grip: 5 Stars
Loose Dirt Performance: 5 Stars

Comments: It took us 45 minutes and $57 to Stan's-convert two standard wheels and Nevegal tires to tubeless. IT saved one pound over a UST Nevegal and Mavic wheelset. The Notubes Nevegal eats up humps and has the best traction-to-speed ratio. NoTubes sealant makes the Nevegal virtually flat-proof.

Recommended for: Trail and all-mountain riding on all types of dirt.

2nd Place - Kenda Nevegal Stick-E

Pedaling efficiency: 4 Stars
Climbing Bite: 5 Stars
Braking Bite: 5 Stars
Cornering Grip: 5 Stars
Loose Dirt Performance: 5 Stars

Comments: An incredible tire that has improved from last year. Although ramped, the Nevegal's open, paddle-like tread eats up loose dirt and tough climbs. It falls naturally into turns, and the soft rubber has incredible grip. The ramped knobs grip harder when putting force into pedals.

Recommended for: Trail and all-mountain riding on all types of dirt.

3rd Place - Kenda Nevegal Lite DTC

Pedaling efficiency: 5 Stars
Climbing Bite: 5 Stars
Braking Bite: 4 Stars
Cornering Grip: 5 Stars
Loose Dirt Performance: 4 Stars

Comments: Last year's Ultimate Traction Tire winner has lost a good 1/16 inch of casing and tread width. The narrower profile cost it points in loose dirt and braking bite. Climbing bite and acceleration are still exceptional. The Nevegal digs in and grabs where many wider tires stay on the surface and spin.

Recommended for: All-condition trail riding and racing.

5th Place - Kenda Nevegal UST

Pedaling efficiency: 4 Stars
Climbing Bite: 5 Stars
Braking Bite: 5 Stars
Cornering Grip: 4 Stars
Loose Dirt Performance: 5 Stars

Comments: The Nevegal UST's standard compound does not turn as hard on blue groove as the Stick-E tube version. Although a pair of UST's weighs 8.6 ounces more than the Stick-E, the tubeless pedaling ease made up for it. It was one of only eight other tires that didn't have a weight difference between the pair.

Recommended for: All-condition trail riding and racing.

7th Place - Kenda Nevegal DTC 2.1

Pedaling efficiency: 3 Stars
Climbing Bite: 5 Stars
Braking Bite: 5 Stars
Cornering Grip: 5 Stars
Loose Dirt Performance: 5 Stars

Comments: Kenda's Nevegal is an amazinf tread design. The Dual Tread Compound (DTC) version is heavier and slightly rougher pedaling than the Stick-E model. The sides have a good coat of rubber, and the wide shoulder tread pushes sharp debris away from the side-walls.

Recommended for: Trail and all-mountain riding on all types of dirt

Product: Tomac Nevegal Lite
Publication: MBA
Date: September 2004
Award/Verdict: 1st Place
http://www.mbaction.com

The Kenda Nevegal pedals like the best pair of running shoes. The dual-compound rubber has "spring" to it, and climbing grab is incredible on both compact and intermediate dirt. The large volume casing floats over loose soil, but it's not so big that it can't dig down and grab. The unique tread is great for railing corners. Racing or trail riding, the Kenda Nevegal has it all. Take care in thorny terrain, as we suffered a pinhole puncture. (It took hours to go flat).

Product: Blue Groove DTC 2.1
Publication: Singletrack Magazine
Issue: 24
Date: 12th October 2005
Award/Verdict: Recommended - All Rounder Combo (with Nevegal DTC 2.1)
http://www.singletrackworld.com

This has all the plus points of the Kinetics front tyre when it comes to cornering but seems to last a bit longer and is less draggy as well. Very predictable and confidence inspiring.

Product: Tomac Blue Groove & Nevegal
Publication: NSMB.e Magazine
Date: 14th March 2005
Author: Corey Anderson
Award/Verdict: 4.5/5
http://www.nsmb.com/gear/kenda.php

After what seemed like a never-ending summer here in B.C., fall has finally shown its face. The days of dry trails and woodwork will be forgotten for the next six months, and the roots and rocks on the Shore will transform into their famous slippery selves. Traction is critical around here and the Shore will respect good tyres, but it will also spit you onto your ass if you step up with sub-par rubber. Kenda is offering some new tyres for 2004, two of which are the "Tomac Signature Series" Nevegal and Blue Groove. Developed and tested by the Norco Factory Team riders (), the Blue Groove and Nevegal have already been proven successful by the team racers. But do they live up to people's expectations for solid Wet Coast performance?

PINCH THIS
One of the highlights of these tyres (DH Cap-Ply, as tested) is the heavy side-wall with a unique pinch-flat protection system. There is an insert right above the bead of the tyre that cannot be compressed. The tyre will collapse enough to wrap around the forest floor, but will stop short of pinching your tube between the tyre and rim on all but the worst hits. This means you can run at a lower pressure, translating into better traction and fewer flat tyres.

RUBBER SIDE DOWN
Both models use Kenda's Stick-E compound, and the aggressive tread is soft and pliable; digging a fingernail in reveals their gum-like feel and the slow rebounding tread. There is no numbered durometer on the sidewall, however, which makes it difficult to compare them to your other tyre favourites.
The Blue Groove features a block-like tread patter with recessed centres on each tread, each with a small slit in it (like siped car tyres) to improve performance in wet conditions. Large side lugs offer grip when laying it out in corners. The Nevegal has a more paddle-like pattern, with a second row of tread added to prevent it from sliding out in hard cornering situations. Again, each block features a slit for wet-weather performance.

LET'S GET DIRTY
I put a 2.5" Blue Groove up front and a 2.5" Nevegal on the rear, as recommended by the manufacturer, but the Nevegal can be run on both front and rear. Mounting them was pretty simple with the help of some solid tyre levers and a little spilled coffee (it was at 6:45 am on a Saturday morning before leaving for Whistler). The Kenda rubber performed admirably during my first tour of the new trails on the Garbonzo Chair at Whistler, where the tyres got to do their thing on some wet, rooty, and rocky trails.
I set them up at 28 psi in the back and 25 psi in the front, and while the Norco Factory Team was racing with them set as low as 20 psi, I wanted to get more confidence in the sidewall first. At the higher pressure, they held their ground well but I did find I was skidding on some of the wet rock faces. Dropping things down to 20 psi front and rear was like hitting an "On" switch for these tyres: The difference was that impressive.
The 2.5" Kenda Nevegal The Nevegal and Blue Groove tyres are great in dry conditions. They eat up the high-speed berms on A-Line, the rock lines on 5th Horseman, and all the scaries on Sex Girl (just a few of my favourite trails). When things get a little wetter, they offer very consistent grip and allow you to feel confident in your stopping and steering abilities.

Lower pressure provides good traction on slick rock faces and roots, and the aggressive tread pattern cuts through mud beautifully and clears easily, leaving you ready to dig into the next corner.

THE VERDICT
The Blue Groove and Nevegal far exceeded my expectations and are in a whole different league than any other Kenda tyre I have used in the past. I am really pleased with how well these tyres are holding up after having logged a handful of Whistler days with them (wet and dry), and a solid month-and-a-half of Shore rides. The tread still looks almost new and for a sticky compound tyre, that's pretty damn good. The sidewalls are also sufficiently burly - I have yet to flat out, even at only 20 psi. If you are looking for some confidence in the wet and an excellent all-around grip, the Kendas are definitely worth checking out. They are available in a variety of sizes and the MSRP of CDN$95 seems to be at par with the other tyres of their calibre.

Product: Tomac Blue Groove & Nevegal
Publication: What MTB?
Issue: 38
Date: Christmas 2004
Award/Verdict: Performance 8, Value 7
http://www.whatmtb.com

The Blue Groove is actually meant to be a hard-pack tyre, but it makes a thoroughly decent front partner to the more paddle-treaded Nevegal out back. They aren't pointy enough to stick it to wet grass or deep slop, but if you crank these John Tomac designed Kenda tyres over they'll dig traction out of a wide variety of wet or dry conditions, making them a workable year round option. The L3R super soft compound rubber versions also stick like glue to anything hard they can get hold of although wear life is very short as a result. The versions we have here are cap ply reinforced super heavy duty DH versions but the tyres also come in narrower and much lighter and more supple XC options.

Product: Tomac Blue Groove & Nevegal
Publication: What MTB?
Issue: 33
Date: July 2004
Award/Verdict: Performance 9, Value 8
http://www.whatmtb.com

We wouldn't recommend everything the MTB legend John Tomac has tried (least of all drop handlebars or carbon string disc wheels) but these Kenda collaboration tyres are phenomenal. The Blue Groove has a flatter tread with directional centre knobs designed for hardpack, while the Nevegal (pictured) is a more aggressive paddle style tread for looser conditions, but they actually work wonderfully as a front rear setup in all but he filthiest conditions.
What really makes them standout though is the Stick-E soft compound rubber. This sucks onto rock and dry surfaces with astonishing tenacity, allowing you to pull off the most impossibly sharp turns, off-camber lines and transitional tyre placements.
At nearly 700g they are heavier than many 2.1in XC tyres we're seeing now and they don't roll that fast, but they're nice an stable at low pressures and the carcass shrugs off scuffs and scratches without problem. We've also had some time on the 2.35in and 2.5in versions which offer extra cush and even more comical levels of dry conditions adhesion. They last better than most soft compound rubber too, with lifespan measured in weeks rather than days.

Product: Cortez DTC 2.2
Publication: Singletrack Magazine
Issue: 24
Date: 12th October 2005
Award/Verdict: Recommended - Hardpack
http://www.singletrackworld.com

Really nippy but with oodles of traction when required (especially on rock and hardpack). Very predictable in all conditions and is a pretty capable mud performer as well.

Product: Tomac Cortez
Publication: MBR
Date: October 2004
Award/Verdict: 8/10
http://www.mountainbikerider.co.uk

JT has teamed up with Kenda to make a range of 'signature' tyres. The Cortez is a large volume, low-profile tyre with a one/two knob pattern and big, square side knobs. It's a hard tyre to get up to speed on the flat because it's a full 2.4in size, plus there's less of a central ridge that others tested. We also found the rubber compound much softer than the other tyres tested. Oddly, Tomac calls this L3R Pro compound 'low rolling resistance' rubber.
The Cortez is intended as a dry-condition tyre and on hard-pack and rocky trails it really sparkles. There's a bit of a gap between the central tread and the side knobs, but they're joined with a spine of rubber that helps stabilise the edge lugs. Cornering is predictable and sure-footed, but this is definitely a tyre we'd only use in the summer months.
The Cortez is a quality tyre and at 700g is one of the lightest on test. It's also good value, but a bit too low profile to cut it in the winter or the wet.

Product: Tomac Cortez
Publication: MBUK
Issue: 175
Date: July 2004
Author: Fin
Award/Verdict: 9/10
http://www.mbuk.com

Kenda's Cortez, designed with the help of pro's pro John Tomac, is one of the new breed of really light tyres out there with a large carcass and a super sticky rubber compound.
The Cortez is intended for dry conditions but we've found the classic layout of the tread hooks up well in the soft stuff too and is perfectly suited to the current crop of freeride rigs. The large 2.4in air chamber gobbles up the rocks without saying grace, and we've yet to suffer the usual pinch punctures when slamming up flights of steps on the street.
Kenda claims that its latest L3r Pro rubber compound offers long life and excellent grip. We believe the promise. And fitting a set of these tyres is a breeze thanks to the flexible folding bead.

Product: Karma L3Pro 2.0
Publication: Singletrack Magazine
Issue: 24
Date: 12th October 2005
http://www.singletrackworld.com

A slimmed-down version of the Kenda Cortez tyre. Which is a good thing if you want an even faster tyre and are prepared to sacrifice a bit of comfort and traction.