Tire test: Kenda Vezda UHP Max KR20A

Andy
By Andy Hollis
Sep 16, 2024 | Tire Test, Kenda | Posted in Features | From the June 2024 issue | Never miss an article

Photography Credit: Anna Overman

Many of us focus our tire desires on the hottest, shiniest models–the ones that deliver the fastest laps at the pointy end of the field. But what about the masses who value streetability as much as durability and ultimate pace?

You’re in luck. 

[Grassroots Motorsports ultimate track tire guide]

There’s a subset of the Endurance 200 category that can provide exactly that: performance …

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Comments
bmw88rider
bmw88rider GRM+ Memberand UberDork
5/1/24 8:57 a.m.

Great comparison for those of us that do casual track days and aren't looking for the 10/10th. 

I've ran the AD08s for the last 2 years and I'm really happy that the AD09s keep that consistency. I like knowing that the last lap of a 20 minute session almost always feels the same as the first few laps. That's helped me get better everytime I'm out on track. 

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
5/2/24 9:25 a.m.

In reply to bmw88rider :

Glad you found the review helpful. I'd be lying if I said I didn't get excited when a new tire test gets announced...

DaleCarter
DaleCarter GRM+ Memberand Reader
5/3/24 4:46 a.m.

I keep landing on the Conti and the Hankook RS4 for the best balance of wear, grip, enduro performance and value.

Vaoh
Vaoh GRM+ Memberand New Reader
5/21/24 9:23 a.m.

The pace of the ECS02 really makes me wonder if it's a true 300TW class tire. I'd really want to see where it stacks up directly against your typical Endurance 200 and Super 200. Because these results almost make it seem like the unicorn tire for dual duty.

Andy Hollis
Andy Hollis
5/21/24 11:25 a.m.
Vaoh said:

The pace of the ECS02 really makes me wonder if it's a true 300TW class tire. I'd really want to see where it stacks up directly against your typical Endurance 200 and Super 200. Because these results almost make it seem like the unicorn tire for dual duty.

While not direct same-day, the lap times generated by the ECS02 are about 1-1.5 seconds off of the best Super200's (A052, RE71RS, CRS V2), all of which I can turn the same lap times with at Harris Hill.  This also jives with what I've heard from others who have tested.

In particular, the RE71RS and ECS02 are the two tires of choice for the One Lap of America.  The former being the obvious choice when the forecast looks mostly dry and the latter when Noah shows up.  Each is the best at one condition and really good at the other.  But it's also why there is so much comparative data out there, as plenty of those folks test both.

Vaoh
Vaoh GRM+ Memberand New Reader
5/21/24 3:25 p.m.

In reply to Andy Hollis :

Honestly that's extremely impressive for a tire that's a PS4S competitor. They seemed to do pretty well after getting heat soaked, they might not be as resilient to heat as your typical endurance 200 but I feel like you wouldn't regret taking them out for a fairly long session either.

300zxfreak
300zxfreak Reader
7/5/24 1:19 p.m.

Hmmmm, a tire test involving a Miata, you don't see that everyday.

t321sg
t321sg New Reader
7/7/24 12:12 a.m.

In reply to Vaoh :

The ECS02 was made to directly take aim at the PS4S, that is why it received the very similar treadwear rating, tread pattern, etc. A comparison of those two would be interesting. Currently I run the PS4S on a mostly daily driver and occasional track day car. I don't swap tires when I go to a track day, and I run whether it rains or not, so its the perfect tire. If it is a second or two slower than a super 200TW tire, so what?  Roger Penske isn't scouting me, I don't time myself - I just enjoy the laps.

t321sg
t321sg New Reader
7/7/24 12:12 a.m.

In reply to Vaoh :

The ECS02 was made to directly take aim at the PS4S, that is why it received the very similar treadwear rating, tread pattern, etc. A comparison of those two would be interesting. Currently I run the PS4S on a mostly daily driver and occasional track day car. I don't swap tires when I go to a track day, and I run whether it rains or not, so its the perfect tire. If it is a second or two slower than a super 200TW tire, so what?  Roger Penske isn't scouting me, I don't time myself - I just enjoy the laps.

t321sg
t321sg New Reader
7/7/24 12:12 a.m.

In reply to Vaoh :

The ECS02 was made to directly take aim at the PS4S, that is why it received the very similar treadwear rating, tread pattern, etc. A comparison of those two would be interesting. Currently I run the PS4S on a mostly daily driver and occasional track day car. I don't swap tires when I go to a track day, and I run whether it rains or not, so its the perfect tire. If it is a second or two slower than a super 200TW tire, so what?  Roger Penske isn't scouting me, I don't time myself - I just enjoy the laps.

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