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review

Kenda C2C 700x23c tyre

7
£26.99

VERDICT:

7
10
A different option for the mile eaters out there
Weight: 
210g
Contact: 
www.todayscyclist.co.uk

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Kenda's C2C is a proven performer over long distances, scoring a third place in the Race Across America (RAAM), and it's a good performer over here too, though it fares best on smoother tarmac

The name of MTB legend Tinker Juarez isn't one you might expect to find on a road bike tyre but the man's as much of a machine on the tarmac as he is on the singletrack, and designed the C2C in conjunction with Kenda for his 2006 RAAM ride. The general idea is that the slightly raised centre strip lowers rolling resistance while the basket-weave tread offers extra grip in the corners. It's fairly light at 210g, and the casing is pretty supple. The C2C isn't designed to be hardy at the expense of weight but there's been no flats during testing, so the 'Iron Cloak' construction seems to be working. It's available in all black or a gold/black/gold stripe.

The ride is smooth and quiet on the flats and straights. The C2C is rated to 125psi but we ran a more rear-friendly 100psi and they rolled very well on the harder compound central strip. It's difficult to say whether the basket-weave tread improves cornering grip but there's plenty of it on offer, and the tyres are pretty well behaved on most surfaces, through they're better the smoother the surface which is probably explained by their highway-mile-eating origins.

Verdict

A different option for the mile eaters out there

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Kenda C2C 700x23c tyre

Size tested: 700x23c

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Did you enjoy using the product? yes

Would you consider buying the product? yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? yes

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 36  Height: 190cm  Weight: 100kg

I usually ride: Schwinn Moab, urbanised with 700cs  My best bike is: Trek 1.5 with upgrades

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

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