Product Test: Kenda Slant Six Tires
Kenda makes the Small Block Eight tire for cross-country racers and the Nevegal for trail riding. The all-new Slant Six falls between these two popular offerings. Prices range from $48 to $55, depending on the size and rubber compound.
Tech features: Our test tire was sized for 26-inch wheels and came in a 2.1-inch width (this tire goes up to a 2.5-inch width). Our tire’s DTC rubber compound uses a harder durometer rubber for the center knobs and Kenda’s softer Stick-E durometer for the side knobs. Kenda offers 10 versions of the Slant Six, including 29-inch models, tubeless certified and Stick-E rubber compound versions. Each of our tires weighed 1 pound, 7 ounces.
After the thrashing: Don’t think of the Slant Six as a compromise tire. Kenda needed this tire to fill the gap between the Small Block Eight’s smokin’ fast rolling performance with limited cornering bite and the Nevegal’s bite-any-trail performance with somewhat sticky rolling resistance. The Slant Six comes close to the fast rolling performance of the Small Block Eights with lots more cornering grip.
A neat trick for cross-country racers would be to run the Slant Six on the front wheel and the Small Block Eight on the rear. You’d get improved cornering performance without any noticeable hit to rolling performance. Trail riders can do the opposite. Throw the Slant Six on the rear (go for a wider Slant Six than our 2.1-inch) and run the Nevegal up front.
A trail rider who rides hard-packed trails can get away with running the Slant Six front and rear (again, go for the wider version), and a cross-country racer on a more technical course can do the same.
Thank your lucky stars that Kenda doesn’t sell tires in pairs. By using common sense, you can purchase the perfect tires that stick and roll just the way you want them to.
You can contact Kenda at (866) 536-3287.
