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The Pinner is Kenda’s newest dry condition gravity tire. Developed in cooperation with World Cup riders, the Pinner loves to be let loose on dry and dusty tracks. It shines with excellent cornering predictability and particularly high puncture protection. Available with AGC or ATC casing, the Pinner is a great choice for gravity racers and trail riders alike. Point it down, let it go fast, and know exactly where the limits are.
Highlights
- Excellent predictability - A consistent contact patch when the bike is leaned over creates a super predictable feel - no sudden wash-outs!
- Optimized for hard pack - The tread pattern is done to work best on hardpack, rocky/rooty, and loose over hard conditions.
- AGC or ATC - Available with the sturdy AGC (Advanced Gravity Casing) or the lighter ATC option (Advanced Trail Casing)
- Best-in-class puncture protection - 40% higher puncture protection than comparable DH tires.
- Fast-rolling
- Tubeless ready
- Topo Design - Unique and stand-out topographic design pattern over the sidewalls and tread.
Compound
This tire features a similar compound design found in other Kenda gravity tires. The Pinner uses a dual-layer set up, with a firmer rubber serving as the base and supporting the knobs, and a soft compound laid on top to maximize grip. The ATC version is a dual tread construction with a soft shoulder and firmer center tread.
Q&A with Kenda engineer Tony Yandek
The Pinner is the new tire in Kenda‘s gravity line-up – what were the goals for this project?
TY: While our athletes really loved the Hellkat, they felt that a tire specifically made for dry hard pack tracks would yield a benefit in racing. So we got to work – we wanted a tire for hard and loose over hard conditions, with a premium on rolling resistance, ultimate cornering/braking traction and predictability.
How did you achieve them?
First, we look at the most important competitors. What are they doing well? And what could we improve on? Then it‘s time to design the tread pattern, where we benefited from our athletes' longtime experience in racing. We tested three times with riders at three different locations in Southern California. They suggested slight alterations to the pattern in the process, which we worked in. The result is the Pinner as we have it now.
One stand-out feature is the Pinner‘s predictability. What makes the handling so predictable?
The predictability is mostly an attribute from the tread pattern, where we created a nice consistent contact patch throughout the lean angle.
With the Hellkat, Kenda has a great all-round gravity tire. When would you choose the Pinner over the Hellkat?
The Hellkat really shines in loose conditions. While the the Hellkat is made to penetrate the ground, the Pinner is made to be stable, confident and planted over hardpack, rocks and roots. The Pinner is a much quicker tire as well, so if there’s no need to penetrate the soil, you should pick up the Pinner.
