Kenda Alluvium Gravel Tire Review
by Jason Judy
The last time I was on Kenda tires I ended up with a broken collarbone. And although that was from a mountain bike crash, I still wasn’t exactly jumping at the opportunity to try another pair. That being said, Kenda has released some attractive-looking gravel tires in recent years, so I was curious enough to try the Alluvium Pro in 700 x 40c.
Kenda Aluuvium Pro Gravel Tire Review 700 x 40c, seen here on a Donnelly Gravel Bike. PC: Jason Judy
The Alluvium Pro is a semi-slick tire featuring tightly packed hexagonal-shaped center knobs and a directional side lug tread pattern for cornering stability. The initial unpacking and feel of the tires left me with the impression that they were well-built, with what felt like very stiff sidewalls. Setting the tires up on my ENVE G23’s was a breeze and only took minimal effort to get the beads on by hand. Using my Lezyne gravel pump, with the valve cores removed, the tires seated on the first try and with no soapy water or sealant to coax the tires into place. I set the tires up with my standard 28 front and 32 psi rear with a fair bit of Orange Seal sealant for my 162 lbs body. The tires looked a bit wider than the 40c listed with my 23mm internal rims...not that I’m complaining.
My initial feelings were a bit mixed. The tires felt quite supple straight away, proving that even though the sidewalls appeared stiff, these tires had the right amount of feel to them due to their 120 TPI casing. While not the highest TPI tire out there, they offered a good blend of comfort and durability. The hexagonal nubs that make up the central tread section rolled quite well and as fast as other semi-slick tires I’ve tried. The nubs act like siping that you would find on car tires, allowing each hexagon to flex/grip independently with the terrain rather than just roll along it as most file-tread patterns do.
The first time that I went to slow down on a very fast descent heading into a corner I was shocked at the amount of straight-line braking traction I had. Anyone that has ridden file tread tires knows that while you gain straight line speed from lack of rolling resistance you always give up braking traction. While it isn’t the same as a full knobby tire, it was a welcome surprise to not have to check up my speed as early as I have had to do in the past with other tires.
The biggest question mark for me was the cornering feel, and I honestly never completely figured it out. The Alluvium Pros felt vague in corners, and at speed I was never 100% confident if the side lugs were going to hold or let go. That being said, when the tires did drift, it was very easy to adjust my trajectory and regain control. If you're not hurling yourself down descents and corners at 25+ mph this might not be a problem, just a warning.
I rode the Kenda Alluviums in every Southern California terrain possible including tarmac, baked hardpack, loose over hard, sand/silt, snow, high mountain post snow loam, singletrack, seldom maintained forest road descents, and full blown rock gardens. Really the only terrain that these tires had issues with was snow and mud, but that isn’t was these tires are designed for. The Alluviums are without question at home on hardpack and sand. Kenda’s gravel-specific GCT casing proved its worth as I suffered zero punctures or sidewall cuts. After three months and close to 1700 miles, the rear tire is finally starting to look worse for wear and is at the point where it needs to be replaced, while the front tires still has some life left. Overall ride quality and durability of the Alluvium won me over and could become my go-to “race” tire. The flexible hexagon-shaped center tread was a huge plus for traction, straight line braking confidence, and low rolling resistance. And while the cornering characteristics left me scratching my head more often than not, it was manageable when the tires would let go and I never took a dirt nap because of it.
All in all, I would without question recommend the Alluviums for someone looking for a fast rolling semi-slick type tire or someone who just wants a superb riding tire for normal gravel roads. These tires would without question be at home at events like Rock Cobbler, Unbound, SBT GRVL, or Gravel Mob to name a few. In fact, they survived Rock Cobbler and LA Tourist race for me.
The Kenda Alluvium Pro CGT 700x40c tires cost $64.95 and are available in black or coffee sidewall. Learn more at KendaTire.com.
