Kenda Excavator 2.35”

• Folding Bead
• DTC: 50/60 durometer
• Claimed Weight: 729 +/- 38 grams
• Actual Weight: 730g on Ultimate Support Alpine Digital Bicycle Scale

What does Kenda say about the Excavator?

From Kendausa.com:

The Excavator is part of Kenda’s signature series. Eric Carter, who holds 10 NORBA National titles and 2 World Cup Championships, the most recent of which are the 2004 UCI World Cup 4 Cross Championship and the 2005 and 2006 NORBA Men’s Pro 4 Cross National Championships, is the brain behind the Excavator tread pattern. EC built upon his vast product development experience to construct a tire that is adaptable to riders of all skill levels. Each knob has been carefully crafted by Eric to achieve a specific purpose. Cornering bite, straight line speed and predictability were among the important factors taken into account by EC when designing the Excavator. You don’t have to be blasting a berm at 30 mph in France to appreciate what this tire can do. Cross country racers, freeriders and downhillers rejoice. EC has delivered you a tire that you all can use.

• Downhill (DH) wire bead versions with Stick-E Compound and 2-Ply construction
• Cross Country (XC) folding bead sizes with Dual Tread Compound (DTC) for longer tread life and single ply construction for lighter weight
• Fast rolling tire with cross paddle design
• Front or rear use

Chad Oliver’s Review of the Excavator 2.35

Kenda’s Excavator to me looks like a Nevegal tread pattern made out of Legos. It has a similar knob configuration of double-wide center knobs, a single knob mid-tread and aggressive side tread lugs. The individual treads take on a blockier look. Center knobs have defined edges, mid-tread knobs have a square hole in the middle and the outer lugs have the same square hole as well as a defined “ [ “ shape on their inside perimeter creating an abundance of edges. Also noticeable compared to other Kenda tires such as the Telonix and Nevegal, the Excavator’s knobs seem to be stiffer and less flexy.

So far, I have used the Excavator as a front tire, complementing a Nevegal or a Telonix in the rear. I find it to be a very solid front tire suitable for a wide range of terrain. It seems to roll faster/have less rolling resistance due to the broader center tread and knob stiffness. The tire rails quite well having all those edges with stiff knobs backing them up. Spacing is generous between the knobs really allowing them to bite down. Broader center knobs can potentially affect gripping performance in steep terrain which is mitigated by yet another ‘ [ ‘ shaped braking edge.

Overall, I’d consider the Excavator a stiffer, edgier tire for railing hard, fast turns and keeping some good momentum rolling. I have enjoyed it on the front wheel and like its edging power a bit more than that of the Nevegal’s. Soon I will throw it on the back wheel and see how it does. Another solid tire offering from Kenda.

The Good:

• Edges galore
• Stiff knobs like to dig in and not mush-over

The Bad:

• NA

Where can I buy the Kenda Excavator?

KENDA CARTER EXCAVATOR TIRES

• Folding Bead
• Iron Clad
• DTC: 50/60 durometer
• Claimed Weight: 1002 +/- 52 grams

Kenda Telonix First Impressions

The first thing you notice about the Telonix is its aggressive tread. Knobs are not this large and pronounced on most mountain bike tires. Right away I knew that this wouldn’t be the fastest rolling tire on the trail but the gnarliness of the tread fired me up. Telonix’s center knobs consist of two tread shapes: 1 1/8” wide paddle-like blocks and twin spikes placed in an intermittent pattern. Spikes are used again in the mid-portion of the tire on the way across to the side tread. The side knobs are quite pronounced and form a squared “H” shape. Two rubber compound durometers are used in the tire, Dual Tread Compound: 60 in the middle and 50 on the sides.

Another thing I immediately noticed was the stiffness and thickness of the Telonix’s folding bead side wall. A 2.35” folding bead Kenda Nevegal that I have is not as thick and stiff as the Telonix. Personally I was pleased with the sidewall construction which makes the Telonix a sort of hybrid between a dual ply wire bead and a floppy single ply.
Once mounted and inflated the Telonix tread pattern really comes to life; a sharp edged square profile with aggressive center and side tread that have traction written all over them. The center paddles are ramped on the drive side and have two sipes on the top. The spikes are pretty tall with angled sides.

Climbing on the Kenda Telonix

Hands down, the Telonix is a freaking tractor tire. I’ve been wearing out 26” mountain bike tires for a long time now and have yet to use a tire with this much climbing grip. The paddles and spikes really do their job of digging deep into the soil and not slipping. I would imagine that a “mud-specific” tire could match the climbing prowess of the Telonix but the Telonix is not a mud specific tire. It rolls faster than that.

Descending on the Kenda Telonix

Side knobs on the Telonix are pretty darn pronounced, stick out a good ways and have a squared off “H” shape to them. Loose dirt, wet corners and plush mountain soil are where the Telonix corners best. The side knobs are almost too tall and mushy to provide a solid edge on hard packed dirt. They certainly grip but tend to have a gummy feel on the fast, hard packed corners. The Telonix is all about ripping the backwoods terrain though. Under the canopy and in the dirt. Roots, rocks, moss, etc. I really enjoyed seeing how hard I could push the Telonix in a corner being surprised each time it hooked up with out a drift. The same can be said for the off-camber terrain.

An important element of descending is braking traction. Here I found another aspect of the Telonix that really shined; its ability to slow down fast and deliberately. Those wide center-paddles are ramped on the drive-side for speed but remain a sharp-edged 90 degrees on the braking side. Scrubbing speed in the steep, rock-slab and root infested terrain is easier with all those sharp edged paddles working for you.

Just Riding Along

There is no such thing as a tire that will perform flawlessly in all conditions. All that gnarly grip on the Telonix comes at a price, rolling resistance. Now, the rolling resistance is not that bad but becomes noticeable on those hard packed gravel connector climbs or approaches. Otherwise, on the trail, the added grip is a welcomed feeling. When the going gets muddy, the Telonix are not afraid to grip but they do carry a little mud along with them on the way. Fortunately the angled sides on the spikes help shed mud for the most part. The more you learn to trust the tire, the more you realize what is possible to grip. The thicker than usual sidewall of the folding bead Telonix allows you to run slightly lower pressure than you would with the usual folding bead tire providing that extra grip and of course the sticky rubber side tread helps as well.

Conclusion

If you ride in the woods and your main concern is a solid grip on the trail both up and down hill, the Telonix is an excellent choice. If you mainly ride on hard packed trail or are concerned about rolling resistance, steer clear of the Telonix.

Good:

• Remarkable traction both up and down hill
• Dual tread compound
• Side wall thickness a good middle-ground between a cross country tire and a dh tire

Bad:

• Rolling resistance

Where to buy the Kenda Telonix

KENDA HANS REY TELONIX TIRES