I have been using these exact tires for two decades. As you can see here in the photos, the markings are totally different, the font is different, the amount of black on the tire is different, and I can't fit them on my rims. I don't think that Kenda would have changed their design this drastically. I have contacted The Bikesmiths and am waiting to hear back. Really disappointed. Didn't even know fakes existed. At this time, I cannot recommend that merchant. They show up first on Google when I googled these tires and they also sell on eBay. They seemed reputable. Even the tubes I got from them feel really cheap. Am I wrong? Do they look like fakes to you? They have the same numbers but are totally different. Any thoughts would be helpful. Super bummed because I waited to put these on and I'm at the 31 day mark so not sure It they'll accept a return.. but it they are fake and because they aren't like the photo they advertise i probably can dispute the charge… but still bummer!
by thelastgen
6 Comments
Those are either knockoffs or rejects. Send them back.
There is a possibility that they picked the wrong tires for you. That happens, people make mistakes.
Tread on bike tires is for sales and aesthetics until you get into the high end realm, rubber is all that matters… they are going to work just as well as any other 27×1 1/4 tire.
I can’t read it in these pics, but aren’t your old ones k35? The new say k34?
Image 2 of 5 shows a Kenda K-35. Image 4 shows a sidewall markings (size and model) with model being K-34. They aren’t fake Kenda tires they are just different models. Check your invoice, it looks like they may have shipped you the wrong tires.
Edit: Looking at the Bikesmiths website they advertise both the K-35 and the K-34, so most likely an ordering or fulfillment mistake.
https://www.thebikesmiths.com/products/kenda-k35?variant=222033051666
https://www.thebikesmiths.com/products/kenda-k34-27?variant=37391874556064
Nobody is knocking off Kenda. 27×1 1/4 is an outdated size that has overstayed its welcome by about 40 years. These are $20 tires. Move on. If you want a tire that doesn’t suck in that size, ask your shop to special order you conti gatorskins or schwalbe marathons.