The Kenda Kwests - 1,000+km Later
If you research any affordably priced Kenda road bike tire, chances are that you'll come across many complaints regarding the apparently weak sidewall and the infuriatingly low puncture resistance.
I won my used Devinci road bike in a silent auction and it came equipped with two Kwests front and back. Both rather worn down, but not enough to prompt immediate replacement. Last summer, I decided to replace one of them as the sidewall started to deteriorate quite fast, though this hadn't been enough to warrant a judgement on the tire brand - who knows how the bike had been stored (and how long it had been stored for) in a police station before auction.
And so I had been left with a rather neat comparative test: an old Kwest on the back and a new Kwest on the front. Time and mileage would tell how long they'd hold up and if the poor reviews that I took in would hold true.
Since owning the bike, my non-committal commutes haven't had the misfortune of a blowout or flat of any kind. In fact, I've noticed more pro's than con's when it comes to these Kenda's - considering their price, I'm pleasantly surprised.
The mighty aged tire on the back is still holding strong and, in the spirit of curiosity, I'm seeing how far I can push things amidst the ever-expanding green strip that pleads for a replacement. By my inept calculations, I ought to have put well over 1000km on the rear tire by this point, and it's still holding strong. The front tire, less than a year old, stays true atop a modest mileage of over 300km.
The tires absorb bumps nicely and feel unnervingly soft on the ground. They grip well in dry and dusty, as well as wet and slick, conditions and offer a certain trustworthiness to taking not-so-tight turns at higher speeds. Generally, tight corners are a little skiddish but such is generally the norm for lower end road rubber. Acceleration is great and stoppage ability so-so.
Specs:
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Rounded tread pattern & wider water dispersion grooves
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Ideal for both country trails and paved streets
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700 x 32c
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Ideal PSI: 50 - 85
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Weight: 515 - 615 grams