[Upgrayedd]

60 mile hard riding on the Diablo Rosso tires today. Good surface, hot temps. 22 cold 25 hot on the tire.

This is a cruising tire. Excellent shape and feel to the tire, not performance oriented grip. This tire should last a long time but I was sliding around on it.

Kenda K-1 up next.

I guess the tradeoff is simple. Want grip, pay for short tire life.

The only tires that I had slide on me like this at this point in the test have been power pures and the diablo rosso. The surface of both those tires feel similar and slick compared to the Mitas and Dunlop.

Nice save! I think you are going much faster in your videos than I even realized.

 

[Pard]

120/80 -12 rear Mitas MC-35 S-Racer 2.0 Street Hard has arrived.
8 lbs 2 ounces

In second place for lightest tire in the test.

Fast and free shipping from motorace.com

Mitas MC-35 S-Racer 2.0 Scooter Tires - Motorace

Mitas MC-35 S-Racer 2.0 Scooter Tire from Motorace maximizes contact patch at extreme lean angles and ensures great stability.

www.motorace.com

I like the feel of the rubber in my fingers. Feels very sticky, similar to the excellent medium and soft tires from Mitas.

REAR

Kenda K-1 120/80 -12 Rear :
9lbs 7 ounces (new)

Diablo Rosso 130/70 -12 Rear:
8 Lbs. 9 ounces (new)

Dunlop TT93 120/80-12 Rear:
8lbs 8 ounces (worn)

Mitas MC-35 S-Racer 2.0 Street Hard 120/80 -12 rear:
8 lbs 2 ounces (new)

Mitas MC35 medium 120/80-12 rear
7lbs 10 ounces (worn)

 

[Pard]

Mounted the Kenda K-1 rear on the oem wheel for a test this weekend.

Once I find a winner, the new and almost new tires that were runner ups, will be for sale for a really really good price in case anyone else wants to do some testing.

After this I will test the Mitas hard tire and decide which one will be the winner for my purposes.

Going to stay with the Mitas MC-35 Soft for the front. That is perfect for me in terms of grip and wear.

Only the rear is up for consideration.

 

[Pard]

Hey, somebody send me my Kenda fan club membership card!

60 spirited miles this morning on the Kenda K-1 120/80 rear tire mounted on a OEM rim.

Very nice tire. In terms of performance, I have nothing but praise!

The tire feels great to ride on, handles as well as any out there, and it GRIPS! I tried to get it to exceed limits but it hung in there and stuck. I am both very pleased and surprised. The grip is just as good as the Mitas medium and TT93 in my tests.

Interestingly as well, despite it being a heavy tire in comparison, and I had it on a heavy OEM rim instead of the carbon BST, there was no discernable loss of performance.

Now I am intrigued and will have to test a Kenda up front as well.

Next up for the rear is the Mitas hard tire.

 

[shush319]

Hey, somebody send me my Kenda fan club membership card!

60 spirited miles this morning on the Kenda K-1 120/80 rear tire mounted on a OEM rim.

Very nice tire. In terms of performance, I have nothing but praise!

The tire feels great to ride on, handles as well as any out there, and it GRIPS! I tried to get it to exceed limits but it hung in there and stuck. I am both very pleased and surprised. The grip is just as good as the Mitas medium and TT93 in my tests.

Interestingly as well, despite it being a heavy tire in comparison, and I had it on a heavy OEM rim instead of the carbon BST, there was no discernable loss of performance.

Now I am intrigued and will have to test a Kenda up front as well.

Next up for the rear is the Mitas hard tire.

KD2 is even better grip wise, it's basically a slick with tiny sipes so they can call it a "DOT" IMO..... But it's also softer, so it may not last as long.

 

[Pard]

KD2 is even better grip wise, it's basically a slick with tiny sipes so they can call it a "DOT" IMO..... But it's also softer, so it may not last as long.

Yes, want to try them, but they are out of stock in the places I have looked. Have a link to a place where they are in stock?

 

[shush319]

Yes, want to try them, but they are out of stock in the places I have looked. Have a link to a place where they are in stock?

Have not looked recently, last time I bought them was from chapmoto.com

 

[Pard]

Found a K-2 front on ebay. Ordered for a test.

KENDA Kwick Kd2 Scooter Tires 100/90-12 Front for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for KENDA Kwick Kd2 Scooter Tires 100/90-12 Front at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[Upgrayedd]

Hey, somebody send me my Kenda fan club membership card!

60 spirited miles this morning on the Kenda K-1 120/80 rear tire mounted on a OEM rim.

Very nice tire. In terms of performance, I have nothing but praise!

The tire feels great to ride on, handles as well as any out there, and it GRIPS! I tried to get it to exceed limits but it hung in there and stuck. I am both very pleased and surprised. The grip is just as good as the Mitas medium and TT93 in my tests.

Interestingly as well, despite it being a heavy tire in comparison, and I had it on a heavy OEM rim instead of the carbon BST, there was no discernable loss of performance.

Now I am intrigued and will have to test a Kenda up front as well.

Next up for the rear is the Mitas hard tire.

That’s great to hear, Pard! It doesn’t sound like I’m missing anything from the other brands. From the first ride on the KD1s, I felt like they were very sure footed. They inspire confidence. I too, thought they were great to ride on. I’m not sure how to really describe that feeling. The stock IRC tires felt harsh or something by comparison.

I’ve been running 26psi in the Kendas. I’m not sure what air pressure is best with them. I haven’t had time to experiment with different air pressures.

They are the perfect tire for me to work on my cornering skills. I think someone once said the Kendas give a bit of warning, before letting go, as where some tires just let go, all at once. If that’s true, I’ve got a ways to go before pushing them to their limits.

I followed the link you posted to the Mitas tires. Wow, those things are expensive. As I mentioned previously, you can find some crazy good deals on the Kendas. If you end up liking the Kenda on the front too, you could probably buy 2, or in some cases 3 of the Kendas, for the price of one Mitas. That is why I’m not very worried about how long they last. It will be interesting to see how many miles you get out of a set.

If you ever mount them on your carbon wheels, that will certainly offset some of their additional weight, but it sounds like that really isn’t a big deal anyway. Can’t wait to hear about the KD2.

I’ll admit I’m curious about how the more narrow sizes feel and handle. Maybe I’ll try those sizes one day.

 

[Pard]

Tested the Kenda K-1 front.

Decent tire, but a step below the Mitas MC35 soft or even Mitas MC35 medium front.

Feels heavier under maneuvering and acceleration, because it is heavier. The tire is also not as compliant with road imperfections compared to the Mitas. Tougher carcass. Should last.
Grip is solid enough for spirited street riding, but I was able to get the tire to slide under load which is not desirable.

K-2 front on the way for a test.

 

[Upgrayedd]

Yeah, a KD2 front, KD1 rear might be the combination for you.

 

[Pard]

Kenda K-2 front arrived.

Heavy tire at 7 lbs 9 ounces. Same weight as the K-1.

So far in my testing, a one pound difference in tire weight up front makes a significant difference in acceleration and handling for spirited riding. Even if it grips well, the heavier tire will not be as desirable as the lighter one with similar grip.

For cruising, the difference in weight is irrelevant.

REAR
Kenda K-1 120/80 -12 rear :
9lbs 7 ounces (new)
Diablo Rosso 130/70 -12 Rear:
8 Lbs. 9 ounces (new)
Dunlop TT93 120/80-12 Rear (worn) weight:
8lbs 8 ounces
Mitas MC35 medium 120/80-12 rear
7lbs 10 ounces (worn)


FRONT
Kenda K-1 100/90 -12 front :
7 lbs 9 ounces (new)

Kenda K-2 100/90 -12 front
7 lbs 9 ounces

Power Pure 120/70-12 front:
6 lbs 11 ounces (almost new)
Mitas MC35 soft 100/90-12 front :
6 lbs 7 ounces (worn)

 

[xorbe]

At this point, we need a little summary chart ...

 

[Pard]

Ready for a test...

 

[Pard]

Reviewing tires is subjective, dependent on how the tire is used, on what surfaces, with what suspension, and what riding style.

I run the ohlins suspension front and rear. I can adjust preload, rebound and compression on the rear. Up front, the ohlins are not adjustable.

Tires and suspension work like hand in glove and the suspension needs to be tuned for the tire behavior, riding style and the road surface conditions. Since that is not an option on my ohlins up front, I need to find the tire that works best with what I got.

The KD-2 felt heavy and stiff. The tire does not feel compliant over small surface irregularities, and I cannot tune that out with my current suspension. Tried to play with tire pressure adjustments, but they did not change the performance much in my test.

I had a lack of confidence in the Kenda KD-2 front. Leaned over, too much chatter over imperfect surfaces, and it gives sour tastes of grip loss as a result.

I can see it being a good tire on a very smooth track. Very nimble in transitions from side to side.


Sticking with the Mitas. So far they are the best I have tried in a street legal tire.

 

[Pard]

If anyone wants to try out 3 slightly used tires, make me an offer plus shipping .

Diablo Rosso 130/70 -12 Rear:
Power Pure 120/70-12 front:
Kenda KD-2 100/90 -12 front

 

[shush319]

Reviewing tires is subjective, dependent on how the tire is used, on what surfaces, with what suspension, and what riding style.

I run the ohlins suspension front and rear. I can adjust preload, rebound and compression on the rear. Up front, the ohlins are not adjustable.

Tires and suspension work like hand in glove and the suspension needs to be tuned for the tire behavior, riding style and the road surface conditions. Since that is not an option on my ohlins up front, I need to find the tire that works best with what I got.

The KD-2 felt heavy and stiff. The tire does not feel compliant over small surface irregularities, and I cannot tune that out with my current suspension. Tried to play with tire pressure adjustments, but they did not change the performance much in my test.

I had a lack of confidence in the Kenda KD-2 front. Leaned over, too much chatter over imperfect surfaces, and it gives sour tastes of grip loss as a result.

I can see it being a good tire on a very smooth track. Very nimble in transitions from side to side.


Sticking with the Mitas. So far they are the best I have tried in a street legal tire.

I was going to say I had a different experience with the K2's but just remembered I still have a 3 year old TT93 on the front, so I have only tested the rear myself and I am a fan, but was not until I got the pressure where I feel it sticking the way I want. And you are on point with suspension and adjustments being subjective. I have my bike set up pretty tall, using a +10mm rear YSS shock, and Ohlins 111's up front with the top of the caps flush with the triple tree. Gets a little wiggly on long fast straights, but sticks like glue in the corners, and flicks faster than any Grom I've ridden. Everybody's feelings are different with what feels good to them for sure, most would probably not like how mine is set up, and that's fine with me. I love it, because it gives me the feelings of a bigger bike and suits my riding style better. Great work and feedback on all the tires you've tested, I am sure this help will educate people to some extent

 

[Oskar_Z28]

The new KD2 is the best track tire out, that's not a full slick, and capable of street use as well....

Does anyone know how KD2 compound compares to KD1? In hot weather recently, my front tire gets shredded. Based on the wear pattern it seems to get overloaded / overheated? I need to figure out how to load up the front a little less, however with non adjustable ohlins front that may be difficult. Or try more durable tire (any suggestions?).

Grip is fine all the time, but it just lasts 4 days at the track. The rear is fine.

I may just order KD2 and try it out to compare against KD1 and will post up results - can't beat them for the price.

 

[CDN Grom]

Just picked up my KD2s today. Won't be riding for a few months now that winter has finally arrived and the snow isn't melting...