--- product_id: 251605 title: "Kenda K838 Slick Wire Bead Bicycle Tire, Blackwall, 26-Inch x 1.95-Inch" brand: "kenda" price: "R6416" currency: ZAR in_stock: true reviews_count: 12 category: "Kenda" url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/251605-kenda-k838-slick-wire-bead-bicycle-tire-blackwall-26-inch store_origin: ZA region: South Africa --- # Directional grooves for wet grip Wire bead boosts durability Moto-inspired low rolling resistance Kenda K838 Slick Wire Bead Bicycle Tire, Blackwall, 26-Inch x 1.95-Inch **Brand:** kenda **Price:** R6416 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 🚴‍♂️ Glide Fast, Grip Firm — Own Every Mile ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Kenda K838 Slick Wire Bead Bicycle Tire, Blackwall, 26-Inch x 1.95-Inch by kenda - **How much does it cost?** R6416 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/251605-kenda-k838-slick-wire-bead-bicycle-tire-blackwall-26-inch) ## Best For - kenda enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted kenda brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Built to Last:** Wire bead construction ensures rugged durability without the weight penalty. - • **All-Weather Confidence:** Directional grooves channel water away, locking in traction when the roads turn slick. - • **Smooth Speed, Zero Drag:** Moto-tech tread slashes rolling resistance for effortless acceleration on pavement and packed trails. - • **Lightweight Blackwall Design:** Sleek blackwall sides trim excess weight, enhancing your bike’s agility and responsiveness. - • **Versatile Trail-Ready Profile:** Wider 1.95-inch width balances fast road rolling with reliable grip on dirt and gravel. ## Overview The Kenda K838 Slick Wire Bead Bicycle Tire is a 26x1.95-inch clincher designed for mountain and hybrid bikes seeking a smooth, fast ride on paved and hard-packed surfaces. Inspired by motorcycle tire technology, it features a low rolling resistance slick tread with directional grooves that channel water for superior wet traction. Its wire bead construction enhances durability, while blackwall sides reduce weight. Ideal for riders who want speed and efficiency on roads without sacrificing trail readiness. ## Description desertcart.com Patterned after motorcycle tires, the Kenda K838 Slick Wire Bead Bicycle tires offer increased speed and reduced rolling resistance for MTB and hybrid bikes--without sacrificing traction. Unlike a typical MTB knobby tire, the K838 Slick provides a smooth and consistent rolling surface that allows the tire to gain and maintain speed on paved and hard packed surfaces. Meanwhile the tire's wider, 1.95-inch profile and directional grooves provide the traction demanded by all terrain riding. The grooves also effectively channel water to the outer edge of the tire so that you can maintain a grip on wet roads, through puddles, and on wet trails. The blackwall sides reduce the overall weight profile of the tire and the wire bead pattern increases the tire's strength and durability. While not meant for serious off road riding, the Kenda K838 is a good choice for riders who want a smooth and fast experience on the road, but who also want to keep their MTB or hybrid trail ready.Specifications:Wheel Size: 26 by 1.95 inches Weight: 737 grams Maximum recommended PSI: 65 pounds Minimum recommended PSI: 40 pounds Product Description Kenda K838 Slick Wire Bead Bicycle Tire, Blackwall, 26-Inch x 1.95-Inch comes highly respected аnԁ іѕ always a regular сhοісе amongst many people. Thіѕ product contains blackwall, wire bead аnԁ ехсеƖƖеnt tire. Review: Easy rolling tire based on motorcycle technology - My mountain bike needed new tires, the old ones were dry and cracked, and one had blown out through the sidewall. I decided that since I seldom ride in mud or on very loose surfaces, a smoother tread would allow me to ride along with lower effort and/or greater speed. Smooth tires on urban bicycles are nothing new, the Tioga City Slicker has been around for years, and probably serves as an inspiration for many other similar tires. I ordered the Kenda K838 based on the favorable reviews, and am very pleased. I ordered four tires, to upgrade two bicycles. They came in a box which was probably twice as large as it needed to be. As everyone else has mentioned, they are blackwall, not gumwalls as illustrated. Mounting the tires was no problem at all. I used a plastic tire lever to remove the old tires from the rims, and just popped the Kenda's on with my fingers, no tools needed. I inflated them and went for a ride. Note that while the tires can hold 60 psi, because of the larger volume of air contained, they work well at lower pressures, 35 to 40 psi for me, and provide a superior ride. The tread design and profile are based on combined features from successful motorcycle tires. The tread pattern is very similar to that seen on the Bridgestone Spitfire, with directional grooves to channel water to the outside edge of the tread surface. This gives low rolling resistance and complete silence....no humming or howling knobs on pavement. Constant pedaling is not necessary, as the low rolling resistance means one can pedal a bit, then coast or glide a long distance. They don't accelerate quite as easily as some narrower, lighter tires, say 700 x 28, but they do very well for a tire nearly 2 inches wide, and offer vastly better load capability, rim protection, flat resistance and a superior ride over irregularities. Bumps feel considerably "dampened", and the tires "float" undeflected over gravel patches instead of knifing in or skating around as a narrow tire might. Their triangular profile is based on designs used on Dunlop TT100 motorcycle tires and others. This means that when viewed from the front, the tire doesn't look "circular" round, but has a "rounded triangle" shape. When riding straight, the narrow "point" of the triangle contacts the road, giving a lower resistance. As the bike banks over for turns, the broad "flank" of the triangle gradually spreads across the road, giving a broader contact area and better grip. Owners of mountain bikes which are used more often on pavement and hard-packed dirt or gravel will probably enjoy these. They seem to be very well made and a good choice for their intended purpose. Review: Well Worth The Investment! - I was skeptical getting these wheels since I wanted to see if they made a difference. I love the linear, smooth feel of road bikes, but I hate the riding position and I have a soft spot for mountain bikes. But the knobby tires were wearing me out way to quick and all that effort led to little progress, even downhill. So I decided to take the dive and bought these tires since I was already replacing inner tubes. VERY surprised the difference it made. Friction is MUCH lower compared to knobby tires and it's like riding on a cloud. These tires have flared edges that I thought was interesting, but it lends itself to keep the tire in constant contact with the road through turns, keeping grip on the street at a max. I inflated both wheels to 40 ft.lbs. (I have no psi gauge yet...) and went about on my way. First thing I noticed, is that the extra air needed to firm up the tires leads to a heavier bike when carried, but this works to your advantage. Since the friction is considerably lower, pedal effort is reduced. And the extra air (weight) in a rotational mass (tires/inner tubes/air) keeps the wheel rolling longer. Sorry, just a little science to help explain the extra weight to other reviewers/potential buyers. It balances itself out so the weight doesn't weigh you down and the pedal effort is considerably easier compared to knobby tires. I would've expected to have paid at least $30-40 each tire for how good these are! NOTE: From what I saw, these tires, although not labelled directional or marked that way, might be more efficient when rain comes if one mounts it so the treads that go to the edge are pointing back and away. So it will look like |/ \|, with the slashes representing the grooves if you were to look down at the front tire from the bicyclist's point-of-view. Make sure the back is mounted the same way as the front! You'll be glad when the rain comes around that you did so! PROS: - SMOOTH ride. - Reduced pedal effort. - Fast rolling tire. - Perfectly capable for gravel, dirt, etc. Although don't push it too much. - EXCELLENT price, you will get your money's worth and then some. - Quiet. And I mean QUIET. CONS: - How quiet it is. I bike on a college campus, and the quiet ride might attribute to pedestrians not being aware of you coming behind then. But that's what a bell is for! - Uhhh... The wider contact patch and edge makes for a slightly more irritating install past the brake pads. (Actually, not really a con, I just can't think of any more with this tire! It's just THAT GOOD!) Do yourself a favor. If you ride more on pavement than gravel/dirt/etc. with your mountain bike, seriously invest in these tires! They will make everything so much easier and much more enjoyable... well except maybe the pedestrian(s) who wanders into your path. :) ## Features - Slick MTB/Hybrid road and trail tire; 26 by 1.95 inches - Patterned after motorcycle tires for low rolling resistance and traction - Wire beads increase durability - Directional grooves channel water to the outer tire edge - Blackwall sides for a lighter weight profile ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B002DX1DWG | | Best Sellers Rank | #165,591 in Sports & Outdoors ( See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors ) #1,005 in Bike Tires | | Bike Type | Mountain Bike | | Brand | Kenda | | Brand Name | Kenda | | Color | black | | Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,079 Reviews | | Global Trade Identification Number | 00047853646498 | | Item Diameter | 26 inches | | Item Weight | 737 g | | Item Width | 1.95 inches | | Manufacturer | Kenda | | Manufacturer Part Number | 35-16-132 | | Material Type | Rubber | | Model Number | 04704N09 | | Number of Items | 1 | | Size | 26x1.95-Inch | | Tire Type | Clincher | | Tread Type | bead,slick | | UPC | 047853646498 793625917746 | | Unit Count | 1 Count | | Warranty Type | Limited | | Wheel Size | 26 inches | ## Product Details - **Bike Type:** Mountain Bike - **Brand:** Kenda - **Global Trade Identification Number:** 00047853646498 - **Item Diameter:** 26 inches - **Item Width:** 1.95 inches - **Material:** Rubber - **Tire Type:** Clincher - **UPC:** 047853646498 793625917746 - **Warranty Type:** Limited - **Wheel Size:** 26 inches ## Images ![Kenda K838 Slick Wire Bead Bicycle Tire, Blackwall, 26-Inch x 1.95-Inch - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41a7MizzJfL.jpg) ![Kenda K838 Slick Wire Bead Bicycle Tire, Blackwall, 26-Inch x 1.95-Inch - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41qa8z4NyeL.jpg) ![Kenda K838 Slick Wire Bead Bicycle Tire, Blackwall, 26-Inch x 1.95-Inch - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41rQr6mn8ML.jpg) ![Kenda K838 Slick Wire Bead Bicycle Tire, Blackwall, 26-Inch x 1.95-Inch - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/517Jud3oV8L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Easy rolling tire based on motorcycle technology *by R***L on July 26, 2010* My mountain bike needed new tires, the old ones were dry and cracked, and one had blown out through the sidewall. I decided that since I seldom ride in mud or on very loose surfaces, a smoother tread would allow me to ride along with lower effort and/or greater speed. Smooth tires on urban bicycles are nothing new, the Tioga City Slicker has been around for years, and probably serves as an inspiration for many other similar tires. I ordered the Kenda K838 based on the favorable reviews, and am very pleased. I ordered four tires, to upgrade two bicycles. They came in a box which was probably twice as large as it needed to be. As everyone else has mentioned, they are blackwall, not gumwalls as illustrated. Mounting the tires was no problem at all. I used a plastic tire lever to remove the old tires from the rims, and just popped the Kenda's on with my fingers, no tools needed. I inflated them and went for a ride. Note that while the tires can hold 60 psi, because of the larger volume of air contained, they work well at lower pressures, 35 to 40 psi for me, and provide a superior ride. The tread design and profile are based on combined features from successful motorcycle tires. The tread pattern is very similar to that seen on the Bridgestone Spitfire, with directional grooves to channel water to the outside edge of the tread surface. This gives low rolling resistance and complete silence....no humming or howling knobs on pavement. Constant pedaling is not necessary, as the low rolling resistance means one can pedal a bit, then coast or glide a long distance. They don't accelerate quite as easily as some narrower, lighter tires, say 700 x 28, but they do very well for a tire nearly 2 inches wide, and offer vastly better load capability, rim protection, flat resistance and a superior ride over irregularities. Bumps feel considerably "dampened", and the tires "float" undeflected over gravel patches instead of knifing in or skating around as a narrow tire might. Their triangular profile is based on designs used on Dunlop TT100 motorcycle tires and others. This means that when viewed from the front, the tire doesn't look "circular" round, but has a "rounded triangle" shape. When riding straight, the narrow "point" of the triangle contacts the road, giving a lower resistance. As the bike banks over for turns, the broad "flank" of the triangle gradually spreads across the road, giving a broader contact area and better grip. Owners of mountain bikes which are used more often on pavement and hard-packed dirt or gravel will probably enjoy these. They seem to be very well made and a good choice for their intended purpose. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Well Worth The Investment! *by K***N on October 6, 2011* I was skeptical getting these wheels since I wanted to see if they made a difference. I love the linear, smooth feel of road bikes, but I hate the riding position and I have a soft spot for mountain bikes. But the knobby tires were wearing me out way to quick and all that effort led to little progress, even downhill. So I decided to take the dive and bought these tires since I was already replacing inner tubes. VERY surprised the difference it made. Friction is MUCH lower compared to knobby tires and it's like riding on a cloud. These tires have flared edges that I thought was interesting, but it lends itself to keep the tire in constant contact with the road through turns, keeping grip on the street at a max. I inflated both wheels to 40 ft.lbs. (I have no psi gauge yet...) and went about on my way. First thing I noticed, is that the extra air needed to firm up the tires leads to a heavier bike when carried, but this works to your advantage. Since the friction is considerably lower, pedal effort is reduced. And the extra air (weight) in a rotational mass (tires/inner tubes/air) keeps the wheel rolling longer. Sorry, just a little science to help explain the extra weight to other reviewers/potential buyers. It balances itself out so the weight doesn't weigh you down and the pedal effort is considerably easier compared to knobby tires. I would've expected to have paid at least $30-40 each tire for how good these are! NOTE: From what I saw, these tires, although not labelled directional or marked that way, might be more efficient when rain comes if one mounts it so the treads that go to the edge are pointing back and away. So it will look like |/ \|, with the slashes representing the grooves if you were to look down at the front tire from the bicyclist's point-of-view. Make sure the back is mounted the same way as the front! You'll be glad when the rain comes around that you did so! PROS: - SMOOTH ride. - Reduced pedal effort. - Fast rolling tire. - Perfectly capable for gravel, dirt, etc. Although don't push it too much. - EXCELLENT price, you will get your money's worth and then some. - Quiet. And I mean QUIET. CONS: - How quiet it is. I bike on a college campus, and the quiet ride might attribute to pedestrians not being aware of you coming behind then. But that's what a bell is for! - Uhhh... The wider contact patch and edge makes for a slightly more irritating install past the brake pads. (Actually, not really a con, I just can't think of any more with this tire! It's just THAT GOOD!) Do yourself a favor. If you ride more on pavement than gravel/dirt/etc. with your mountain bike, seriously invest in these tires! They will make everything so much easier and much more enjoyable... well except maybe the pedestrian(s) who wanders into your path. :) ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sweet tire *by R***E on August 18, 2010* I purchased a pair of these tires to use on my MTB for a smoother ride on the city streets than the Kenda K53's I was using. The K53's were nice tires and offer very little rolling resistance compared with full-on knobbies (and are smoother going straight) but still have good knobs on the sides. But when you are turning they have that knobby growl, so I figured that I'd try the 838's as they had seemed to be highly regarded by some. The tires are pretty smooth-riding and feel very sticky in the corners unlike the knobby K53's which tended to squirm at higher speed corners with large lean angles. The 838's seem to stick like glue to the tarmac (but not so much on dirt trails -naturally). I put the whole wheel off the bike on the slippery ceramic tile of my condo and could put all my weight against it at angles much greater than 45-degrees and the tire refused to slip or squirm which is a lot more than I can say for the K53's. I was pushing against it like a football tackle sled with all my might and they wouldn't budge. The K53's will slip out when I try this. I haven't tried using the 838's in the wet yet so I don't know how the traction will stand up in the rain. They look like they will do OK with that motorcycle-style tread pattern. Another good thing about this tire is that I can fill them up to 60-65psi which is about 50% more pressure than you can safely fill the K53. This allows lesser rolling resistance, better road feel, and much more front brakes can be used as front tire impending lockup has much more of a controlled feel than with lower-pressure tires. I can do controllable stoppies with these tires lifting the back wheel right up with my cantelever brakes out front. One thing about these tires is that while they say they are a 1.9 wide they are a bit wider than that in reality. I've got 26x1.75 rims and if I measure the sidewalls they are exactly 1.9" but the actual tread area is well over 2" and pushing 2.25" I suppose if you had really narrow rims the tire would squish out and be taller but as it is the 838's have a larger circumference than the K53's had and are HUGE. I'm glad I have a lot of clearance on my old Ross MTB with planet bike MTB fenders because these tires are so large that right now the rubber mold nubs are actually rubbing on the fender. It's a good thing they are small and will wear away soon. These things are WIDE. I've seen little asian-market 50cc motorcycles that didn't have such wide tires as my bike has now. I think I like it because there is tons of traction available and they ooze confidence when the bike is pitched over in a corner to near crank-scraping lean angles -this bike rides MUCH more aggressively on the tarmac now than it did with the K53's which always seemed to me like the bike was trying to squirm out from under me to the outside of the corner. Going from the K53 to the K838 is like going from Bias to Radial tires on a motorcycle. They are THAT much more grippy and because of the higher rated pressures you don't lose anything with rolling resistance (especially in the corners). And they are smooth as glass going straight or turning. It's like magic. I wouldn't put them on a rim narrower than 1.5 though or wider than 2 (max). I'd imagine they would be pinched and pointy on a narrow rim and pulled flat like a low-rider on a 2" -it's just the kind of tire they are with the built-out tread onto the sidewall like a motorcycle tire. Cons: You might not have the clearance for these tires even though you can run 2.25's on the K53 or other knobbies. The picture shown is a gumwall tire but what I got were blackwall tires. Not a big deal to me but others might be disappointed. Be aware of that. ## Frequently Bought Together - Kenda K838 Slick Wire Bead Bicycle Tire, Blackwall, 26-Inch x 1.95-Inch - New 2 Pack Kenda 26x1.90/1.95/2.10/2.125 Schrader Valve MTB Bike Inner Tubes - Bulk - Okared 2 Pack Bicycle Rim Strip Rim Tape (26" x 20mm) --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/251605-kenda-k838-slick-wire-bead-bicycle-tire-blackwall-26-inch](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/251605-kenda-k838-slick-wire-bead-bicycle-tire-blackwall-26-inch) --- *Product available on Desertcart South Africa* *Store origin: ZA* *Last updated: 2026-09-21*