WHAT IS K-SERIES?
K-Series is Kenda’s new nomenclature for their top-tier high performance bicycle tires. Sitting atop the pyramid in the refreshed Kenda product lines, K-Series is the tire lineup targeted at riders seeking the ultimate in performance, with products developed in collaboration with some of the world’s top athletes. You now have the Kenda Preferred in the mid-tier, and the Kenda Standard lineup for entry-level cyclists and OE spec.
Simplified Lineup, Better Performance
With the K-Series lineup, Kenda wanted not only to ensure they could provide high levels of performance but also simplify the lineup and naming structure. Kenda will be offering one rubber compound for each casing. With this, they want to reduce the number of products a shop needs to stock, and ensure consumers are provided with a suitable combination to suit their needs.
To begin, K-Series is launching with the Double Black mountain bike tire and the Crusher gravel tire. Soon, Kenda will be releasing K-Series versions of all their high-performance tires, from the Helldiver through the Pinner to the Hellkat mountain bike tires. We may even see some exciting new patterns down the trail.
For the new Double Black – an aggressive do-it-all mountain bike tire – there is a choice of four models. Beginning with Trail, you get the lightest casing and fastest rolling rubber. As you move through All Mountain and Enduro to Downhill, you get progressively more durable tire casings combined with increasingly soft and grippy rubber.
Kenda concedes that while this approach may not benefit every single rider, it should keep most of each style of rider happy and provide a suitable offering while simplifying the buying process drastically.
THE K-SERIES PROMISE
With Kenda’s new K-Series tire lineup, they’re confident that their team of engineers with 60+ years of experience will hit the mark. Each casing is matched with a compound that is tuned to the discipline and should offer an optimized mix of characteristics. By removing the choice, they claim to have removed the guesswork, delivering the ultimate mix of grip, speed, wear and damping to give maximum traction, control and efficiency for each riding style.
THE K-SERIES DOUBLE BLACK
Kenda’s K-Series Double Black is a new tread pattern targeted at loose to Intermediate and firmer conditions. Using a 3-2 pattern, there’s no channel to minimize the float that can be present on other tires. Developed with world cup athletes, the Double Black hopes to be a versatile all-round tire for mixed conditions.
The center knobs are mid-height to balance performance in loose conditions and on hardpack. The rows of two broader knobs are given alternating siping, between vertical and horizontal, balancing braking traction with traction during cornering transitions. The outer two of the row of three smaller knobs have horizontal sipes to boost braking traction when leant over slightly. Tall and well-supported cornering knobs run around the outside for aggressive turning, with vertical siping to increase traction in corners.
The Trail model of K-Series Double Black is the fastest and lightest on offer. Using a 60 TPI casing with High Strength Nylon sidewall protection to give strong and sporty protection, they roll quickly due to the fast yet predictable dual compound. The 29x2.4” size Kenda K-Series Double Black Trail tire is claimed to be 1050g.
The All-Mountain Double Black is targeted to attack technical terrain on an aggressive trail bike. A 120 TPI casing is given a high strength nylon protection strip under the tread, with a progressive nylon sidewall protection to balance speed and support. The only tire in the Double Black lineup to use a Triple Compound; the All-Mountain tire sits in the middle of the spectrum on all factors. The 29x2.4” size Kenda K-Series Double Black All Mountain tire is claimed to be 1020g.
The Double Black Enduro tire packs increased protection with a balance of rolling speed and traction. Taking a 60 TPI casing and adding the high strength nylon tread protection; a lightweight aramid sidewall protection and a 20mm apex for bead protection, you’re left with a durable yet still relatively supple tire. The dual layer rubber compound is claimed to be long wearing and fast yet offer traction for steep and technical terrain. The 29x2.4” size Kenda K-Series Double Black Enduro tire is claimed to be 1265g.
The K-Series Double Black Downhill tire is unashamedly durable and high on traction. Using a max strength aramid layer around the whole tire to ensure it’s bulletproof yet still reactive, with the 20mm apex used in the enduro tire, the downhill tire is seriously tough. A rubber compound selected for maximum grip and damping ensures traction across the spectrum of trail conditions. The 29x2.4” size Kenda K-Series Double Black Downhill tire is claimed to be 1420g.
THE WOLF’S FIRST IMPRESSION
Kenda named this tire after the Double Black trail in Chuckanut, Washington, so it was no surprise that intermediate dirt with exposed roots was the terrain where the Double Black shone in our initial testing. With the Double Black Enduro tires fitted front and rear to our long-term Ari Nebo Peak lightweight eMTB, so far, we have enjoyed the performance that these K-Series tires have offered.
We haven’t locked in the perfect tire pressures yet. We’ll be experimenting for our long-term review, but the initial 28.5 psi on each end was on the hard end of the right ballpark for Drew’s 190lbs. Based on the feeling of durability the tires provided, we imagine a slight drop in pressure will yield increased braking traction without issue.
To best characterize the feeling of this tire, it feels like it sits right between a Maxxis Assegai and Dissector, in the true do-it-all zone. A happy place to be! The K-Series Double Black Enduro tire rolled fast, yet the shoulder knobs offered good levels of traction when pushing hard. There’s a nice transitional zone, with no real float to give good composure as you tip it in.
Perhaps a pressure-related issue, we had some instances where the tire would skid on top of the trail when braking, rather than biting in. This was on sandy over hard, desert trails that were dry in nature. We'll be monitoring this over further test time to get to the bottom of the K-Series Double Black tire performance, but for now our initial impressions are very promising.
We're going to be giving away a set of these tires via our member's area. In addition to industry discounts and regular giveaways, The Loam Wolf membership offers early access and sneak peeks. So please consider supporting us and getting your name in the hat to win these new and exciting K-Series tires!
To learn more, visit kendatires.com