Kenda was on hand at Crankworx Whistler this year, with a slew of new tire sizes that will soon be on store shelves. At the booth we got detailed info on why the new Regolith Pro’s tread pattern should make it a great all-around tire, and saw several new size options for the Booster Pro, Hellkat and Nevegal 2 tires.
Regolith Pro:
The Regolith Pro is Kenda’s new do-it-all MTB tire that we recently spied at Eurobike. This new model is all about versatility, and with three different casing options it can be suitable for everything from racing XC to riding your e-bike.
Kenda’s goal was to make a tire that’s lightweight and fast rolling, but has substantial side knobs for solid cornering and braking in any conditions. A dual tread compound helps the tire achieve it’s all around abilities – Firmer center knobs make the Regolith Pro at least 26% faster than Kenda’s previous MTB tires, and a softer compound in the side knobs allows for optimal cornering traction.
One special feature of the Regolith Pro is the tie bars that connect the transition knobs to the side knobs. These bars increase stiffness in both the transition and softer side knobs, which promotes predictable handling through corners. The shoulder knobs are also shaped with large drafts on the outside edges to keep the soft rubber well supported.
The Regolith Pro’s center and shoulder knobs are siped to enhance braking and overall traction, and the shoulder knobs have staggered edges to help bite into berms. The tire’s paired center knobs are drafted on their leading edges for reduced rolling resistance.
The Regolith Pro is tubeless ready and comes in three casings- The TR type is the lightest ‘race’ version of the tire, with a 29×2.2” weighing a claimed 680g. SCT is the trail version, which has twice the sidewall cut resistance of the TR with a minimal weight penalty; a Regolith Pro SCT 29×2.2” weighs in at 776g.
The E-bike specific EMC tire is the most puncture-resistant version that’s nearly twice as tough as the TR. The Regolith Pro’s are built with an updated EMC casing (since the Nevegal X-Pro and HB DH tires) which is lighter and not as stiff, yet still boasts 120tpi construction and CAP3 tread breaker/sidewall inserts. Weights are not yet available.
The Regolith Pro is available in 27.5” and 29” diameters, with the choice of 2.2/2.4/2.6” widths.
New Booster, Hellkat & Nevegal II Sizes:
We also checked out the Booster Pro at Eurobike, which is an update on Kenda’s highly popular Small Block 8 tire. There we saw a 29×2.2” version, but we’ve now heard this tire will come in a full range of 27.5” and 29” diameters, with 2.2/2.4/2.6” widths for MTB riders. For gravel grinders, they’re also making the Booster Pro in 700c x 33/40/45mm and 650b x 45mm sizes too.
Kenda’s Hellkat (left) size options have expanded to include 27.5×2.6” (with 2.8’s also on the way) and 29×2.4” and 2.6”. With ‘grom’ or ‘junior’ sized bikes in mind, Kenda is also producing the Hellkat and Nevegal II (right) in 26×2.4” and 24×2.4”.
All of Kenda’s new tires should be available in 1-2 months.
