By Frank Stacy
Kenda Tire Design/Testing Consultant

 

Kenda rider Justin Waters

Everyone dreams of having the perfect tire that simply works in any type of terrain or course condition, but the reality is that single tire does not exist. 

Each tread pattern is designed for certain applications and Kenda, like other tire manufactures, do their best to build into each design as broad of a range of applications as possible. But it is still important to know which tire best fits your needs and why. I hope this information will be helpful.


First, the engineers must decide what the application is being designed for... Motocross, Cross Country, or Utility 4x4.

For instance, motocross tires use lower knob depths with each knob spaced close together to allow for a larger tread contact patch along with a light weight 4 PR casing and very sticky rubber compound. there are many jumps so the light weight tire helps the handling as well as reducing rotating wheel weight.

Cross Country (GNCC) tires generally are raced over longer periods of time and over a wide variety of terrain including rocks, tree roots, creek crossing, long up hills and down hills etc... so the tread is designed to have slightly taller knobs so they dig in deeper, more support at the knobs base to improve durability along with a 6 PR casing to protect against punctures and reduce tire roll over on off camber turns or rutted terrain.

 

The Utility 4x4 tire fits into it's own category of design. The tread pattern must provide a good balance between excellent traction for dry to muddy conditions, and smooth ride quality. These vehicles are generally loaded down with equipment for hunting or farming and they also encounter short runs on the pavement which can really wear the tread down in a hurry. Casing is 6 PR and very durable to resist punctures as the last thing anyone wants is a flat tire in the middle of nowhere.

The Utility 4X4 tire uses a rounder inflated profile or crown radius to allow for lighter steering, quicker handling and reduced rolling resistance as this vehicles are heavy compared to 2 wheel drive ATV's.

The latest tire technology for ATV racing and 4x4 Utility is the Radial casing, which features smooth ride quality, great handling, larger contact patch and improved mileage. The Radial casing helps smooth out even the roughest rocky terrain, reduces tire bounce on the bumpiest trails and provides more tire on the ground for extra traction on even the slickest surfaces. I do not think you will be disappointed!
 

Kenda offers 2 rubber compounds for our MX race tires... Sticky and standard. The standard is designed as a good balance between traction and slow wear but if you are looking for more performance and do not mind giving up some of the wear rate the Sticky rubber is a good choice.


 


Exactly how critical is inflation pressure?

In order to achieve the best performance under any terrain you need to start by setting your tire pressures before each outing.

ATV sport tires (2 wheel drive) in dry condition generally run pressures of 8-10 psi but it also depends on how aggressive you are on the quad so you may have to adjust up or down slightly to achieve top performance. If the condition becomes muddy try reducing the inflation pressure to 6-8 psi.

The 4X4 Utility vehicles generally use inflation pressure of 5-7 psi front and rear in dry or muddy condition. These are usually ridden at a slower pace and the low tire pressure provides a good balance between ride quality and traction.



Kenda rider Justin Trevis

Kenda offers many choices for the 2 wheel drive sport quads on the market these days. Depending on how and where you ride your tire selection can make a difference so choose carefully. The most frequently asked question at the 2006 Dealer Expo in Indianapolis, IN. was: 

"What is the difference between each tire in Kenda's ATV Motocross/Cross Country (GNCC) tire line?"

ANSWER for MX: Kenda offers 3 different rear tread patterns and 1 front which pairs up great with any of the rears. They all share the same 4 PR "STICKY LITE" casing specification which is designed to reduce un-sprung weight and provide super high traction using a very "STICKY" rubber compound.

ANSWER for XC: Kenda offers 2 different rear tread patterns and 1 front that pairs up great with any of the rears. They all share the same 6 PR casing.
 

MX TIRES FRONT

K532F Klaw
If you are looking for that one front tire that works in all types of terrain look no further... the K532F Klaw is rated one of the best all around front tires on the market for racing or just plan fun riding. This tire provides excellent cornering and braking traction plus the inflated profile makes for exceptional light steering reducing your arm fatigue on long rides. Offered in standard or sticky rubber compounds and pairs up great with any of the Kenda rears K533, K577 and K535 tires.
 



 


K577 SX
Growing in popularity is the New K577 SX tire. Designed as a Supercross race tire, this tread pattern has numerous small knobs to increase the biting edges and provide very predictable cornering performance. Straight line traction is improved on the K577 SX by designing a 10% larger footprint to the ground. More rubber on the ground means more traction all around!

 


 

K533 IT Klaw
One of the most sought after rear race tire on the market is the K533 IT Klaw, which features a dual rotation tread pattern, Since the K533 IT is a true all condition race tire we designed its tread pattern with larger, more durable knobs and knob spacing to provide maximum tread cleaning, even in the softest of course conditions. All you have to do is simply reverse the rear wheels and you have a totally different tread pattern. This allows you to fine tune for any course condition. The K533 IT is available in 4 PR and 6PR casing.
 


 


K535 ST Knarly
ST means "Soft Terrain" and that is where the K535 ST Knarly performs so very well. It uses small knobs with large gaps between the rows of knobs to continuously clean the tread pattern. this allows the tire to keep biting down in the dirt to find the traction to keep you out front. Most riders use the 20 x 10.50-8 size when the course condition is extremely muddy and rutted to allow for more clearance under the ATV and keep from dragging which slows you down.





K532FA Klaw
Not to be confused with the K532F, the K532FA Klaw was designed specifically for the demands of GNCC and desert racing. Offers a new tread profile with taller center knobs for precise steering and reduces "rut climbing" which is a common problem in muddy conditions. New 6 ply rated extra tough casing to reduce punctures and the 2 rubber compound options makes this tire a sure winner. Available in 22x7-10 and 23x7-10 sizes and pairs up great with the K535 Knarly HT and K535A Knarly XC.
 




 

K535A Knarly
Here is the tire everyone is taking about at the GNCC events this season... NEW K535A Knarly tread designed for improved durability and excellent traction in a wide range of terrain plus a new 6 ply rated casing to reduce punctures and 2 rubber compound choices... No wonder why this tire has taken a number of first place finishes in aken a number of first place finishes in aken a number of first place finishes in GNCC and desert event around the USA. Available in 21x11-9 and 22x11-9 sizes and pairs up great with the K532FA front.


K535 HT Knarly
If your choice of riding includes desert style terrain then have a look at Kenda's race proven Baja 1000 rear tire K535 HT Knarly. The tread pattern is designed for long range durability, combined with a 6pr casing to resistant punctures and high mileage rubber compound this tire is ready for any desert terrain. Pairs up great with the K532FA front.



Kenda offers a number of new items for the ATV 4X4 and Utility side by side vehicles on the market today. Here are some good examples to choose from.



 

K537 Bounty Hunter SBS-HD Radial
If you own a side by side vehicle and are looking for a tire to meet the demands of high load carrying capacity look no further... the K537 SBS-HD designed with it's very unique 6 PR heavy duty radial casing structure offers 225% higher load carrying capacity than the conventional utility tire on the market today. Combined with Radial technology this tire has exceptional handling performance and a smooth ride quality added with a tread pattern designed for all types of terrain.. makes this tire the only choice for your side by side machine. Available in 12" and 14" sizes, and in standard 6 PR casing.

 

K538 Executioner
Just rated as one of the most versatile tires on the market by Mud magazine the K538 Executioner offers tall knobs for extreme muddy conditions combined with a cross over tread pattern design to improve mud clearing and ride quality in the areas that are not so muddy. The casing structure is 6 ply rated and the new rubber compound was designed to reduce punctures as well as provide excellent traction in the muddiest terrain. So if you are looking for that mud tire that will provide a good compromise between deep mud and normal riding terrain the K538 Executioner is it.

   


K573F/K573 Bear Claw EX
Many of you ATV 4 x 4 riders have either heard about the K299 Bear Claw or have them on your machine now... the K299 is known to be one of the best all around ATV tires on the market. Kenda engineers went to work on a new tire having improved performance over the K299 which was no easy task. After 2 years of testing and development the K573F/K573 Bear Claw EX (EX for Extreme) hit the market. Unique tread pattern designed as a front and rear specific to allow for better handling, better mud cleaning and improved ride comfort. Add to this a new 6 ply rated casing and improved durable rubber compound makes the new Bear Claw EX a top choice for any ATV 4x4 vehicle on the market.

K573F FRONT

K573 REAR

 

So, when you're ready to make that new tire purchase be sure to take into consideration the terrain you will ride or race on and to use the recommended tire pressure. All of this will increase your tires performance and improve the life cycle of your tires. Happy Trails!