11-16-06 // Gear Review: Kenda Small Block Eight

$53 614-866-9803; kendausa.com

John Tomac and Kenda’s designers probably hadn’t considered lizards’ feet when engineering the new Small Block Eight, but the tire works on the same concept. Granted, in place of millions of microscopic hairs, the Small Block runs about 600 square-ish knobs. But in both cases, all those edges increase traction. The Small Block’s inner tread is ramped and every single knob is slightly siped, producing more working edges than on any tire I’ve seen.

The Small Block covers the whole range of cross-country usage with three sizes: 1.95-, 2.10- and 2.35-inch (tested here). Kenda is reportedly introducing UST tubeless and 700x32c cyclocross versions soon. Each of these tires uses Kenda’s dual-compound tread, with side knobs comprised of super-tacky rubber and more efficient, longer-lasting, denser centerline treads. And Kenda’s 120-tpi single-ply casing keeps weight comparable with some of the lightest XC race tires.

In the few short months that it has been available, the Small Block is eclipsing its predecessor, the Nevegal, in popularity and performance (and that’s a big statement: the Nevegal has been a standout tire for years). On sandy and hard-packed surfaces, the Small Block’s plentiful edges tracked remarkably well and the soft-rubber knobs stuck to loose shale and sandstone. The tire’s round profile reacted predictably when leaning the bike over in sweeping bends. Since the knobs are both small and tightly spaced, they held firm when cornered on hard-pack and asphalt. The tight spacing also made the Small Block roll screamingly fast. And at just 590 grams, it accelerated quickly and held speed like a race tire should.

Obviously, those benefits came with compromise; no tire offers exceptional performance in all conditions. The same lightweight sidewalls that made the Small Block so damn fast were a liability in gnarly terrain. Even with the wide 2.35s, it was hard to avoid pinch flats when the tire was inflated below 35psi. Although these tires escaped without any significant sidewall damage, I’ve had trouble with the Nevegals in the past, and they use the same casing. The low-profile side knobs could also benefit from more meat. The superb overall traction encouraged aggressive riding, but when really leaning into turns, the knobs bit less than other full-bodied trail tires. And in case you’re wondering, this is no all-weather tread pattern—the tight spacing made the tires pretty worthless in mud.

The Small Block Eights are some of the best performing dry-conditions tires going. Eric Carter used them to edge out Brian Lopes in the mountain-cross National Championships and they’ve become a staple on the XC circuit. But these are much more than race tires, and will likely be popular all-around trail tires for years.

–D.Z.