Product Overview
What Kenda Says:
Voted #1 tread pattern 2 years in a row by MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION Magazine! The deep aggressive knobs on the Kenda Tomac Nevegal Kevlar Tire provide great wet condition control. The new Stick-E slow rebound compound grips like flypaper! The CAP PLY casing of the Kenda Tomac Nevegal Kevlar Tire allows you to run these tires at an ultra low pressure without the fear of pinch flats. Tall knobs are designed to penetrate and hold on loose terrain.
Versions
- Downhill wire bead version has 2 ply construction and STICK-E Compound for better grip
- Cross Country folding bead version is single ply with STICK-E Compound or DTC (Dual Tread Compound)
- FREERIDE wire bead version is single ply, Stick-E and added Butyl insert for extra strength and durability
Optional Features
Stick-E Rubber: Excellent grip on rocks...even when they're wet
Dual Tread Compound (DTC): Faster rolling with great cornering. Harder rubber knobs in the center and Stick-E rubber on the outside knobs.
Side Wall Shield (SWS): Helps prevent sidewall cuts and punctures. SWS is a thin external protective tape that is adhered to the sidewall of the tire.
John Tomac is often referred to as the "greatest mountain bike that ever lived" by many cycling magazines and by his race colleagues and competitors. From 1985 until 2000 John competed in numerous titles in Cross County, Dual Slalom and Downhill events. Additionally, he competed and won in Road racing and BMX events. His versatility as a professional racer helped make him famous and a crowd pleaser wherever he competed.
Specifics
There are many options with this tire!
My Opinion
Being relatively new to mountain biking at a serious level, I didn't think that anyone could actually tell a difference from one tire to the other. My bike came with Hutchison Bulldog tires and I thought they were great. Then when they wore out I did some research on what was supposed to be a good tire (still thinking I wouldn't feel a difference). I bought the Kenda Tomac Nevegal DTC tires and now stand corrected...I could absolutely tell a difference in the tires!!Pros:
The grip is amazing. Cornering is a dream...I had no idea that you could ride corners without sliding out! Excellent in almost all conditions; loose terrain, wet rocks, mud...anything. Fat enough to provide a smooth ride even on hard tails. Precise line holding...and can be a life saver if you choose a poor line.
Cons:
The only downfall to this tire is that even with the DTC and the harder rubber in the center of the tread, you still get some rolling resistance. BUT chances are if you're riding these tires, you're probably in terrain where a little added rolling resistance is the least of your worries.
Kenda Customer Service
Just an added note on Keda's Customer service. They are stellar! I rode in a race in Boise, Idaho and about .1 mile into the race I had a rear tire blow out...I'm 99% sure it was a tube failure, not the tire's fault. I really had no proof of where the fault of the blow out originated from, but I thought I'd give Kenda a call anyway.I spoke with one of their warranty guys and he asked me e-mail a couple pictures of the tire which had been mangled after it came off the rim while I was trying to stop without causing a major pile-up.
He looked at the pictures and said that even though there was obviously no reason to think that the blow out was the fault of the tire, he was going to go ahead and replace the tire anyway. A week later, I received a brand new tire in the mail and was back on the trail without a penny out of my already empty pockets!
There's not a lot of companies that will stand behind thier products like that anymore!
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