Ride impression of Kenda washougal sticky front n rear tires

[wamxp1mp]

Yesterday I got to finally try out the new Kenda washougal sticky tires on my '06 YZ 250 both the front n rear 90/100 21 110/90 19 rear. Yup I got to try them at washougal for opening practice yesterday expect a change in the track lay out possibly no more chuck sun some other changes, what I don't know they didn't say anyhow.

Now my fav tires have been for a while now the dunlop 756's front n rears even had an RR on the rear of the 250 before swapping them. I also used to like michelin S 12's but hate thier wear qualities.

First practice session I took out my YZ 144 that has the 756's on it, now yesterday the track was in great condition it wasn't overly muddy in fact it was clear blue skies and 70 they had to water the track later in the day.

They ran us all the way up to the very top of the up hill and there is this hard pack base with some loose soil lil bit of rocks. The 756's here I can feel them want to push if you get to far leaned over. Nothing scary but it made ya think alittle more there's a couple of other sections like that on the track.

The area before the ski jump with alittle slick cause it's under tree's so it was hard base with slick mud on top some loose loam in other places. The kenda washougal like the 756's is more of an indermediate / soft terrain all around style tire.

I took out the 250 I must admit my expectations where rather low I was expecting sub par performance out of these tires over the 756's or S 12's. plus I haven't ridden my '06 YZ 250 in awhile I thought I was gonna be all over the track in crazy power slides etc.

I took it out and rode 5 solid laps and then right after took out the 144 for a comparision. My best ride of the day was on the 250 I was blown away by these kenda's they hooked up!! I was finding traction with the kenda's that the 756's felt like they wanted to spin or push.

The upper hill section that had the off camber corner I couldn't even hit the inside line on the 144 I was railing it on the 250 lap after lap the sections that were hard pack with some mud from like watering no problems these tires rocked I had instant confidence in them. When I took out the 144 right afterwards it took me like 3 laps to get comfortable again on the bikes cause the tires felt like they was bald at first!

So far my initial impression of the kenda's in awesome I like them glad I got them so far they so little wear more time on them will definetly be in order now but even after I rode my friends CR 139 with NEW 756's on it the kenda's still were favoring as better in my mind. I normally don't like to talk up tires to much cause they are such a personal opinion but you should really consider these ones don't let the fact that they are made in taiwan detur you cause that's where the new michilen's are made now!!

The rear tire looks like a 756 rear in tread design with some big mean looking knob's and the front is more of a 756 in the middle / M 12 side knobs design.