November 24, 2025 - Kenda Rubber started making bicycles tires in Yuanlin, Taiwan back in 1962. Over the years, the company grew to include full lines of tires for motorcycles, scooters, garden machines and automobiles.
During this time, Kenda expanded internationally and also grew their R&D division which helped them to become more competitive at offering a value product that was also performance driven.
Kenda produces a full line of bicycles tires for all market segments including mountain bikes, e-bikes, road, BMX and for the fast-growing gravel cycling sector.
The company currently offers five models of gravel tires, with the Crusher being hailed as the fastest.
Available in two versions there are five width options including 35c, 40c, 45c and 50c. Their 60 TPI model is built for durability and geared for everyday adventure riding. The Crusher 120 TPI performance driver model is lighter, more supple and designed for speed, making this a great choice for gravel racing.
My Crusher test tires arrived and I went with the 120 TPI model at a 35c width. I purposely bucked the current trend of wider tires by choosing the narrowest tire in their line-up. This allowed me to ride these tires on my current “all-road” bike, which claims it will accept gravel tires up to 35c, and also run them on narrower, old-school, gravel, non-tubeless rims. In both cases the tires were a very easy set-up.
Out on the road, the Crusher tires rolled smooth and fast. Thanks to the uniform, center-rib layout they were firm and quiet. The tires confidently transitioned to packed gravel and nicely managed smaller rocks and roots as well. Larger hits were absorbed compliments of its more compliant sidewall.
The Crusher’s larger outer knobs held firm on loose gravel corners, and provided solid grip on steep, loose gravel climbs. I was even more impressed at how they bit into the large, damp, slick maple leaves which covered parts of the trail allowing me to continue riding at speed.
Living on B.C.’s “wet” coast, deep mud is a common feature on our trail systems. Although the Crushers are more hard-packed oriented, they could easily get by on some less extreme mud sections.
Overall, I was extremely pleased with Kenda’s Crusher gravel tires that would be a great all-rounder for most adventure riders and gravel racers.
Not only did they perform nicely on a variety of terrain, but they fit like a charm on my “all-road” bike and breathed new life into my old-school gravel bike.
With winter now on our doorstep, I plan to leave the Crushers on my “all-road” bike to enhance my adventure possibilities.
The SRP starts at $105 CAD/$73.95 US per tire and for more information please visit here.
