Kenda Klever R/T is the highly recommended rugged(hybrid) terrain tire. It’s designed for light trucks, SUVs, and 4×4 vehicles such as Jeeps. Due to its wide product range, Kenda Klever R/T is many people’s choice. However, not all of them are happy with its performance. In this article, I’ll explain the best uses and give some size selection tips for Kenda Klever R/T. Let’s begin!
Quick Look
Kenda Klever R/T KR60
From my standpoint as a former Bridgestone engineer, the Kenda Klever R/T proves itself as a reliable performer on wet and dry roads, offering a cozy ride with a touch of noise. Even without a 3PMSF rating, it delivers decent winter traction in most conditions—with the exception of ice. Thanks to its 3-ply sidewalls, its off-road capability is huge, especially when it comes to rock crawling. The trade-off is in tread life, which runs a bit shorter than traditional all-terrains but still outlasts many rugged-terrain competitors.
Note: the Kenda Klever R/T is built specifically for ¾-ton trucks and above, available only in LT sizes, so its on-road manners may feel harsher on SUVs or ½-ton pickups.
As I always say: data is power. My tool gives you quick AT tire recommendations, but if you want personalized options based on your specific vehicle, driving style, and regional conditions, Tire Rack’s Tire Decision Guide (free) walks you through a quick questionnaire to match you with tailored tire options and takes the guesswork out of the process.
Dry Performance
Dry performance can be evaluated under three different layers. While one of them is traction which is extremely easy for off-road tires. Though, the other two, cornering stability and steering response may become a complaining point of users.
Dry Traction
Due to its aggressive pattern design, Kenda Klever R/T can handle dry surfaces.
Rugged(Hybrid) terrain tires have bigger lugs, wider void areas, and relatively softer compounds compared to all-terrain tires. All of these features are implied to improve traction performance. Innately, all rugged terrain tires have a unique dry traction capability.
Kenda Klever R/T offers reliable traction on dry grounds.
Cornering Stability
Cornering stability is highly important on the highways. Since off-road tires are used by high torque and heavy vehicles, sometimes, drivers feel the floating feeling while cornering at high velocity.
In that case, the sidewall stiffness of the tire is the game-changer. If the tire has relatively weak sidewalls, the sidewall flexes a bit more than expected while turning and that effect handling negatively.
Since it’s only available in LT sizes, Kenda Klever R/T has a tough sidewall structure. Therefore, it has decent cornering stability.
Steering Response
Steering response is the challenge for off-road tires. Especially for rugged-terrain and all-terrain tires.
Kenda Klever R/T has a heavy internal structure. Moreover, its tread has big lugs which generally means poor steering response. However, in my point of view, Kenda optimizes the contact patch perfectly for Klever R/T.
Kenda Klever R/T has wide shoulder blocks and not perfectly but well-designed center blocks that almost work like robust tire rib(robust center rib offers better steering response). Well, still, it has an average steering response.
Note: Due to test results(see the document in the ‘Sizes’ section), Kenda Klever R/T has almost the same steering response time as the top-notch competitors. I’d like to say average because it’s only available in LT sizes. LT tires can’t offer a quick steering response as P-Metric tires do.
Wet Performance
Wet performance has two different dimensions. Wet traction and hydroplaning resistance.
Off-road tires have a questionable wet performance. While mud-terrain tires have traction issues due to their weak contact patch, all-terrain tires have some hydroplaning issues due to their poor water evacuation capability.
Lucky, Kenda Klever R/T is a rugged-terrain tire. These tires are the best off-road tires on the wet road. Let’s talk about the reasons!
Wet Traction
Wet traction is related to two things. Compound stiffness and sipe density.
Rugged(hybrid) tires have a good amount of void area on their tread. In fact, this is a huge issue for wet traction. If the tire doesn’t have enough sipe to increase the biting area, there is no way that they provide traction on the wet grounds.
Regarding Kenda Klever R/T, its award-winning design pays off. This tire has an acceptable amount of notches and has a soft compound that has a positive effect on traction. Hence, its wet grip ability is similar to its competitors.
I can confidently say that you’ll never have traction issues with Kenda Klever R/T.
However, still, the wet braking distance of off-road tires isn’t trustable. So, be careful anyway.
Hydroplaning Resistance
Unlike the common knowledge, mud and rugged terrain tires have a unique hydroplaning resistance. I know some people complaining about this but I guess they confuse it with dry braking distance.
Hydroplaning resistance is related to water evacuation capability. Hence, wide grooves and open shoulder blocks always work best.
Due to its massive water evacuation capability, Kenda Klever R/T has decent hydroplaning resistance.
Note from the Expert: When it comes to rain, I always emphasize two things: compound grip and water evacuation. You can see the full details in my analysis, but if you take just one thing away, remember that an AT tire’s stiff nature makes achieving top-tier wet performance a constant battle. This is why the question, Are All-Terrain Tires Good in Rain?, requires a nuanced answer that balances tread design against rubber stiffness.
Winter Performance
Winter performance is generally misunderstood by most reviewers. The light snow, deep snow, and ice performances are related to completely different things. Evaluating them under the one title is nonsense. Moreover, it might be dangerous for other people.
So, I’ll evaluate the winter performance of Kenda Klever R/T regarding the above conditions.
Light-Snow Performance
Light snow performance is similar to wet performance. The only needed extra feature is the self-cleaning capability.
Due to its relatively fluffy compound and horizontal notches, Kenda Klever R/T offers decent light-snow traction. However, still, if you’re looking for the best light-snow traction, you might look for something with 3PMSF.
Note: Kenda Klever R/T doesn’t have 3PMSF marking(what it is?).
Deep-Snow Traction
Deep snow is where Kenda Klever R/T shines. Due to its deep tread(17” to 19” depending on size), it has massive loose ground performance. Moreover, its staggered shoulder also increases the biting edges and improves loose ground traction.
If you need deep snow traction, you may stop searching and go with Kenda Klever R/T.
Ice Traction
Since Kenda Klever R/T can be stud-able, its ice performance is changeable.
Without studs,
If you’re not going to mount studs, I don’t recommend using this tire on icy grounds. Kenda Klever R/T’s contact patch is weak and has tons of void areas. It’s not safe to drive it on ice.
With studs,
You may increase Kenda Klever R/T’s ice performance with a stud(TSMI #15). Studs increase its traction capability by around 10-15% which makes them a usable tire on icy grounds.
Note from the Expert: Our discussions often boil down to the core tradeoff. On one hand, you must understand why all-terrain tires are truly effective in deep snow, but not on ice. On the other hand, you face the 3PMSF Paradox—the hidden cost of that badge. The short answer is: The 3PMSF badge certifies traction, but it costs you durability. Dive into our full analysis on the critical 3PMSF rating for severe winter and off-road service, and its hidden costs, before you risk your rig on the trail.
Riding Quality
Off-road tires generally offer good riding quality. In that case, the order is as follows,
- Mud-terrain
- Rugged-terrain
- All-terrain
As you all realized, the ride quality is related to internal structure as well as compound stiffness. So, mud-terrain tires with a fluffy compound and internal structure that have the ability to perform on low air pressure perform best. They are followed by rugged terrain tires and all-terrain tires take the last place.
Regarding Kenda Klever R/T, if you’re looking for a soft and smooth ride, you may look for something like Nitto Ridge Grappler. However, still, it’s a good option for above 3/4 trucks.
Kenda Klever R/T is mainly built for 3/4 tons of above-light trucks. Therefore, its riding quality for lower-grade vehicles might be a bit stiff for some of you. In that case, I recommend the C or D load range to improve riding quality.
Road Noise
Compare to other successful features, it looks like road noise is where Kenda sacrificed. In my point of view, this trade pays off.
Due to increased traction, the tires need wide grooves and stiff compounds compared to all-season tires.
Even though its interlocked center blocks close the gap into the center section, it still makes some noise due to its aggressive pattern.
Kenda Klever R/T can reduce the noise but it’s not the best one in that case. If you’re looking for a deaf ride, you may check the Kenda Klever AT2(review) instead.
Note from the Expert: For years, choosing all-terrain meant accepting noise—a true compromise for off-road grip. That’s why the question, Are All-Terrain Tires Louder than Highway Tires?, used to have a simple “yes” answer. Now, with the rise of on-road models, the core issue has shifted from noise to overall refinement. To fully understand which side of the comfort spectrum you’re buying into, you need to determine Are All-Terrain Tires Good for Daily Driving?—a question that depends entirely on the tire’s construction, not just the name.
Mileage
Even though it has a softer compound compared to all-terrain tires, though, its compound is stiffer than its competitors. Moreover, its heavy-duty design is proof of its long-lasting rubber.
Kenda especially states that Kenda Klever R/T has a massive cut&chipping resistance. According to my deep research, they’ve got a point.
This tire is one of the most long-lasting rugged(hybrid) terrain tires on the market. However, this tread life is completely related to you. Like all off-road tires, Kenda Klever R/T tends to wear unevenly and uneven wearing is the enemy of tread life.
I can confidently say that if you’ll pay attention to rotation time(I recommend 5,000 miles but as far as I see, people get decent wear life even with the period of 15,000 miles), you can get hight satisfying tread life.
Getting maximum wear life from a tire is related to you as well as your tire,
If you’d like to learn how to get maximum tread life:
Warranty
Kenda doesn’t offer any treadwear warranty for this product.
Even though it doesn’t have a mileage warranty, Kenda covers up its product with other warranty types like uniformity.
If you’d like to check the warranty statement: https://automotive.kendatire.com/en-us/tire-tech/warranty/
Off-Road Performance
Off-road performance can be divided into two. Mild and severe off-road.
Since rugged-terrain tires place somewhere between mud and all-terrain tires, they can handle both at a certain level.
Though, it’s completely manufacturers’ decision to decide on the strongest side of the tire. Some of them prioritize on-road manners and built a tire for mild off-road, yet, others prefer severe off-road performance.
Luckily, Kenda prefers severe off-road performance that also contains mild usage. However, I still prefer to analyze its performance under 4 different sub-titles.
Note from the Expert: Every successful day on the trail is about preparation and physics, because tire longevity is earned, not given. Before you even start, you must master the critical link between tire pressure and load range for every rig to maximize your contact patch. Once moving, remember your ultimate off-road armor is your sidewall protection against the inevitable pinch flat. And finally, your traction on the obstacle is dictated by choosing the right aggressive vs hybrid tread pattern for your terrain. Master those three steps, and your rig will be ready for anything.
Dirt and Gravel Traction
Dirt and gravel traction is the default feature for off-road tires. Dirt is the starting point of the off-road. Then the gravel comes.
Since both are easy peasy for rugged-terrain tires, I’m going to evaluate both together.
Regarding dirt,
Due to its lugged-type pattern and wide grooves that can clean itself perfectly, Kenda Klever R/T provides huge dirt traction.
Regarding gravel,
Gravel is similar to dirt. The only difference is tires sometimes hold the rock. Hence, they lose traction capability. Kenda Klever R/T’s shoulders are the only section of its tread that might hold rocks(narrow grooves). However, Kenda solves this issue with a stone ejector placement. These ejectors throw the rock out of the tread and provide consistent traction. Moreover, its sidewalls inhold sidewall protectors which keep your sidewall safe from any kind of external damage. Unique improvement for a gravel performance.
Sand Traction
The best tire on the sand is the tire with a minimum lug. Therefore, people use smooth balloon tires for sand driving. However, sand driving is still possible for rugged terrain with air-down use.
Due to its high traction capability and wide grooves, Kenda Klever R/T has a high possibility to stick you into the sand.
However, Kenda Klever R/T has a satisfying self-cleaning capability which is the key to decent sand performance. So, I can confidently say that it’ll handle sand with ease. However, I’m not an expert on sand driving. Therefore, I’ll leave you guys a video to decide.
Mud Traction
Mud traction is related to tread depth, self-cleaning, and water evacuation capability. Luckily, Kenda Klever R/T has it all.
Due to its large volume of void area, this tire can clean itself and evacuate the water with ease. Moreover, its deep tread helps it to throw the mud out in early tread life.
I can confidently say that Kenda Klever R/T has a trustworthy mud traction. Moreover, according to field tests, Kenda Klever R/T is leading its category. However, this category contains only hybrid tires. So, expecting mud-terrain tire performance is a bit utopic.
Rock Crawling
If you follow my blog, you know that I’m in love with the BF Goodrich KO2’s rock climbing performance. However, its empery ends now.
All right guys, this tire has a phenomenal design for rock crawling. Its compound, sidewalls, flexibility… This tire is awesome for rock crawling.
Due to its 3-ply sidewalls, cut&chipping resisted compound, durable but flexible cords, and beefy lugs on the sidewall that protect from puncturing; Kenda Klever R/T is one of the best tires for rock crawling. Strongly recommended!
Sizes
Kenda’s size range is limited. However, it’s available in the most popular sizes.
Kenda has a size sheet that includes popular applications and test reports, to reach out –> https://automotive.kendatire.com/media/736114/kenda_kr601_sales-sheet-060121.pdf
| 15” | 16” | 17” | 18” | 20” | 22” | 24” |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33×9.50R15LT Load Range: C Rating: 113Q | LT235/70R16 Load Range: C Rating: 104/101R | 33×10.50R17LT Load Range: E Rating: 121R | 33×12.50R18LT Load Range: F Rating: 122R | 33×12.50R20LT Load Range: F Rating: 119R | 33X12.50R22LT Load Range: F Rating: 114R | 33X12.50R24LT Load Range: F Rating: F 106Q |
| 35×12.50R15LT Load Range: C Rating: 113Q | 33×12.50R17LT Load Range: E Rating: 120R | 35×12.50R18LT Load Range: E Rating: 123R | 35×12.50R20LT Load Range: F Rating: 125R | 35×12.50R22LT Load Range: F Rating: 121R | 35×12.50R24LT Load Range: F Rating: 116Q | |
| 35×10.50R17LT Load Range: D Rating: 121R | LT265/65R18 Load Range: E Rating: 122/119R | 37×12.50R20LT Load Range: F Rating: 128R | 37×12.50R22LT Load Range: F Rating: 127Q | |||
| 35×12.50R17LT Load Range: E Rating: 121R | LT275/65R18 Load Range: E Rating: 123/120R | LT275/55R20 Load Range: E Rating: 120R | ||||
| 37×12.50R17LT Load Range: D Rating: 124R | LT275/70R18 Load Range: E Rating: 125/122R | LT285/55R20 Load Range: E Rating: 122R | ||||
| LT235/80R17 Load Range: E Rating: 120/117R | LT285/75R18 Load Range: E Rating: 129/126R | |||||
| LT245/75R17 Load Range: E Rating: 121/118R | ||||||
| LT265/70R17 Load Range: E Rating: 121/118R | ||||||
| LT285/70R17 Load Range: E Rating: 121/118R |
Most tire sizes begin with modifier letters(P, LT, etc.) that identify the type of vehicle or type of service for which they were designed. Here is a perfect guide for reading tire size –> https://tireterrain.com/how-to-read-tire-size/
Tire Size Selection: The Basics You Can’t Skip
Even the best tread design can’t rescue a tire that’s built too weak. Back when I was testing tires at Bridgestone, I saw all-terrain models that should’ve performed but fell short — simply because the basics (size, load strength, and speed rating) weren’t matched to the vehicle.
P-Metric vs. LT (Light Truck) Tires
The first step is knowing whether you need LT or passenger tires. LT (Light Truck) tires are built with extra reinforcement and stiff sidewalls, designed for towing, hauling, or off-road use. Passenger (P-metric) tires are lighter, smoother, and tuned for daily comfort and fuel efficiency — but they’ll flex more under load.
Understanding Tire Load Range: XL vs. E-Load
Then comes the tire load index and load range — essentially your tire’s strength rating. Here’s where things split between passenger XL and LT E:
XL (Extra Load) is a passenger tire with reinforced sidewalls. It can handle a bit more pressure (~41 PSI) than a standard SL tire and is perfect for SUVs, crossovers, or light trucks that carry extra gear, passengers, or small trailers. XL tires ride softer and quieter than LT options, making them ideal for daily use.
E Load Range is an LT tire class built with a much thicker casing. E-rated tires can handle far more pressure (up to ~80 PSI) and heavier loads, which makes them essential for ¾-ton and 1-ton trucks towing trailers or hauling close to max capacity. The trade-off is weight, stiffer ride, more road noise, and a small drop in fuel efficiency.
Put simply: XL is for “extra luggage and family,” while E is for “truck bed full of bricks or a car trailer.”
Why the Tire Speed Rating Matters for Safety
Finally, don’t overlook the tire speed rating. It’s not just about top speed — it measures how well a tire handles heat and stress at highway pace. Lower ratings (like S) tend to ride softer and last longer, while higher ratings (H, T) feel more stable and responsive under sharp maneuvers. Heat build-up is the silent killer of tires, and speed rating is your safeguard.
Bottom line: Match your tire’s construction (LT vs P-metric), load range (XL vs E), and speed rating to your vehicle’s demands. Get those right, and everything else — off-road grip, winter traction, comfort — will finally perform the way it was designed to.
Conclusion
Depending on your expectations, Kenda Klever R/T can be a perfect tire for your vehicle. You may see the below table to see what to expect.
| Kenda Klever R/T | |
|---|---|
| Best for | Real sharp looking, minimal road noise, 3/4 ton or above light truck or full-size SUV owners who are looking for flotation-size tire that works well on the highway, working trucks, severe winter conditions |
| Category | Rugged Terrain Tires |
| Vehicle | Light Truck, SUV |
| Available Sizes (Rim) | Check Available Sizes |
| Made In | Dong Nai Province, Vietnam |
| Labels | M+S |
| Warranty (P-metric) | N/A |
| Warranty (LT Sizes) | N/A |
A Quick Check List:
- LT sizes have stronger sidewalls. That feature makes them more durable. Yet, these tires offer a rougher ride. (LT vs P-Metric tires)
- XL sizes tend to carry more load and offer better handling. Hence, if you’ll go with p-metric sizes, they might be a better pick for hauling and towing( XL vs SL tires)
- Please pay attention to the load index & load range and speed index. These metrics are essential if you expect decent tread life
- There isn’t a bad tire in the market right now, you should just know what to expect from tires
I hope the article was helpful. If you have any further questions, please leave them in the below section. Have a safe ride folks!
For those who prefer to see whole market analyze:
- https://tireterrain.com/best-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-all-terrain-tires-for-snow/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-1-2-ton-truck-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-3-4-ton-truck-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-rt-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-tires-for-snow-plowing/
- https://tireterrain.com/on-road-all-terrain-tires-highway/
A couple of popular size analyses:
- https://tireterrain.com/best-35x12-50r20-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-285-70r17-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-275-55r20-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-275-65r18-all-terrain-tires/
Want to learn more about all-terrain tires:
- https://tireterrain.com/highway-tires-vs-all-terrain-vs-mud-terrain/
- https://tireterrain.com/all-season-vs-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/tire-load-index-and-load-range/
- https://tireterrain.com/lt-tires-vs-passenger-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/are-all-terrain-tires-good-for-daily-driving/
- https://tireterrain.com/are-all-terrain-tires-good-in-snow/
- https://tireterrain.com/are-all-terrain-tires-loud/
- https://tireterrain.com/how-long-do-all-terrain-tires-last/
- https://tireterrain.com/are-all-terrain-tires-good-in-rain/
- https://tireterrain.com/off-road-tire-pressure-load-range-for-every-rig/
Hi Emre
I have ram 3500 6.7
Live on a gravel road
I work in forestry. I haul gooseneck trailer 20k lbs
I go through tires pretty quick. Lots of highway then hauling onto log roads and wet fields. I am torn between kenda klever rt and the nitro exo grappler as the next tire I try . Would appreciate any thoughts you have. Thanks
I have to say I was stunned reading this article. I have these tires on a Jeep Wrangelr Rubicon. I have maybe 15 k on these tires and want to replace them due to their poor wet handling. Quit possibly the worst all terrain tire I’ve ever owned (in my 35 years off road driving)
Since the Kenda Klever R/T is a rugged terrain tire, using the wrong size for your Jeep could be contributing to the poor handling, especially in wet conditions. Rugged terrain tires like the Klever R/T are designed to provide excellent off-road capabilities, but if the tire size isn’t properly matched to your vehicle, it could negatively affect performance on-road, particularly in terms of handling and wet traction. Ensuring that you select the correct size for your Jeep can help mitigate these issues and improve both wet handling and overall driving comfort.
Still I understand using over-size tires.