Tires are one of the parts that really make a difference in the way you ride your bike. I was using the Michelin Speedium, which was a good tire, but it felt a little slow. They were pretty tough, but I wanted something faster. I swapped my current tires for the Kenda C2C (700×23) road tires. These are one of Kenda’s premium road racing tires with a 120 tpi carcass and dual compound rubber.

They were designed by Tinker Juarez for her participation in Race Across America. The weight of the Kenda C2C is 215 grams so they are quite light. They have a layer of armored material under the tread to increase puncture resistance.

The Kendas were 120 grams lighter each than the tires I’d been riding, which I noticed right away when it came to acceleration. The high density of the tread made the ride really flexible. When inflated to 120 psi, they still felt soft. A stiffer carcass at this pressure is a tough ride, but that’s not the case with high-end tires. When they go straight they really do roll fast, which is good. I need all the help I can get. The rubber compound makes a noticeable difference in the speed of a tire. The grip is good on steep climbs even in the wet.

When it comes to cornering, this is where I found the tire really shone. The softer rubber on the sides and the fine tread pattern allow me to curl the corners. As long as there was no gravel, I felt confident taking turns at full speed and putting the bike on the ground. The flexible shell conformed to the ground without moving.

After 1500 km, the rear tire shows a little wear, but it still has a lot of kilometers left. The front looks new. In that time I have not had flats. I can’t tell if it’s the puncture resistant belt or just good luck, but my last tires had 5 punctures over that distance. The tire that I would say is the closest in ride quality is the Michelin Pro Race. The Pro Race is a very fast but fragile tire. Unlike the Michelin, the Kenda C2C has no minor tread cuts at this driving distance.

If the gold cornering tread works with your color scheme then you should give these tires a try. I find them as good as other premium racing tire companies, but at half the cost. If you run or ride a lot, you will go through tires. Getting double the price is a huge savings. Kenda doesn’t get the credit it deserves for the quality of its road tires, known for their off-road tires, but the C2C really gets the job done.