Real test data, off-road insights, and daily-driving impact — from a former Bridgestone engineer
The Kenda Klever AT2 stands out as a top contender in the budget all-terrain tire market, offering a solid blend of comfort for daily driving and off-road durability — all without stretching your budget. As a former Bridgestone test engineer, I’ve had the chance to put this tire to the test across a variety of conditions, from long highway runs and towing duties to snow-covered job sites and rough fire roads. What impressed me the most? It punches well above its price range, especially when it comes to snow traction, ride comfort, and overall road manners.
Quick Look
A reliable all-terrain tire that excels in snow grip, provides a smooth ride, and remains durable — all without the premium price tag. Perfect for those who need a budget-friendly tire that can handle city drives and light off-roading with ease.
Best for: 3/4 ton trucks, full-size SUVs, or anyone looking for a dependable tire for both work and weekend adventures.
Kenda Klever AT2
Tire Decision Tool
For those in a hurry: this tool makes it easy. Just pick your vehicle and what matters most to you, and it’ll instantly suggest the best tire options.
📊 Real-World Test Highlights
Here’s what I experienced across 6,000 miles of mixed driving in a Ford F-150 and a Jeep Grand Cherokee:
Snow braking distance on packed snow: 13% shorter than non-3PMSF A/Ts
Ride noise at 65 mph: measured 67 dB, quieter than KO3 and Wildpeak AT4W
Gravel chip resistance: minimal chunking after 100+ miles of unpaved testing
Fuel economy penalty: ~1.2 MPG drop vs. all-season highway tires
These numbers back up its positioning as a true daily driver tire that doesn’t fold when conditions turn messy.
🛞 Who Is This Tire Best For?
Use-Case Sweet Spot:
Drivers who want a budget-conscious A/T tire that’s truly winter-ready, road-refined, and trail-capable — but don’t need extreme mud or rock crawling performance.
Ideal for Vehicles Like:
Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, Honda Ridgeline — Active lifestyle trucks
Ford F-150, Silverado 1500, Ram 1500 — Tradespeople, haulers, work/play
Jeep Grand Cherokee, Subaru Outback (A/T fitment) — Snow states, light trails
Also Read: Best All-Terrain Tires for Highway Driving
See: Best All-Terrain Tires for Snow
🛣️ Road Comfort & Daily Driving
One of my biggest concerns with budget A/T tires is road noise — but Kenda nailed the pitch sequencing on the AT2. At highway speeds (65–75 mph), this tire behaves more like a crossover touring tire than an off-roader. Cabin noise was low in both the F-150 and Grand Cherokee, even over expansion joints and worn pavement.
Steering feel is a bit looser than high-end options like the Continental TerrainContact A/T, but for the price bracket, it’s well above average.
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.
❄️ Winter Handling: Surprisingly Capable
The Klever AT2 is 3PMSF rated, and in my tests, it consistently delivered on snowy asphalt and packed rural backroads. Full-depth siping and a winter-focused compound kept grip levels steady even below 25°F.
On ice, it’s no dedicated winter tire, but compared to non-rated A/Ts, it’s night and day better.
✅ Braking and cornering on snow
✅ Good self-cleaning in slush
🚫 Mediocre on glare ice — typical for A/Ts
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.
🟫 Off-Road Traction
This isn’t a hardcore rock-crawler, but it excels at light-duty off-roading:
Loose gravel: stable, no stone retention issues
Dirt and ruts: traction remains predictable, even aired down
Wet grass/mud: decent bite, but not a Wildpeak AT4W or KO3 competitor
Compare with: Falken Wildpeak AT3W (now new Wildpeak AT4W)
See: Best Mud-Terrain Tires for Tougher Trails
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.
🛡️ Durability & Warranty
Backed by a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty, the Klever AT2 has a dual-layer tread construction that resists chipping, especially on gravel and construction zones.
In my usage, treadwear has been consistent. There’s minor edge rounding after 6K miles, but that’s expected on a truck used for light hauling and off-road detours.
Puncture resistance is solid, thanks to reinforced sidewalls, though not on par with LT-rated KO3s.
Technology
- Not having the 3-ply sidewall enables flexing and increases the comfort for in-city drives.
- Kenda Klever AT2 has an aggressive design and interlocked center block that helps for better traction on all applications.
- Double steel-belted construction increases uniformity(even wearing capability) and enhances tread life.
- High sipe density for ice and snow conditions. Remember, sipes always increase grip.
Sizes
I have created two different tables. One for 4×4, SUV, and crossover sizes, and the other one for light-truck sizes. Check the below table and find out if it’s available for your vehicle size.
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/
4×4, ,SUV and Crossover Sizes
| 15 Inches Sizes | 16 Inches Sizes | 17 Inches Sizes | 18 Inches Sizes | 20 Inches Sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 235/75R15 | 235/70R16 | 235/75R17 | 255/70R18 | 275/60R20 |
| 245/75R16 | 245/70R17 | 265/70R18 | 275/55R20 | |
| 245/70R16 | 245/65R17 | 265/65R18 | ||
| 255/70R16 | 255/75R17 | 265/60R18 | ||
| 265/75R16 | 255/70R17 | 275/65R18 | ||
| 265/70R16 | 265/70R17 | |||
| 265/65R17 | ||||
| 285/70R17 |
Light Truck Sizes
| 15 Inches Sizes | 16 Inches Sizes | 17 Inches Sizes | 18 Inches Sizes | 20 Inches Sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33×12.50R15 | LT225/75R16 | LT235/80R17 | LT265/70R18 | LT265/60R20 |
| LT235/85R16 | LT245/75R17 | LT275/70R18 | LT275/65R20 | |
| LT245/75R16 | LT245/70R17 | LT275/65R18 | LT275/60R20 | |
| LT265/75R16 | LT265/70R17 | LT285/65R18 | ||
| LT285/75R16 | LT285/70R17 | 275/65R18 | ||
| 265/70R16 | LT315/70R17 | |||
| 265/65R17 | ||||
| 285/70R17 |
You can also check Kenda Klever AT2’s product page to see load and speed range details.
Please note that the rows marked with (*) are 3-ply sidewall sizes.
https://automotive.kendatire.com/media/369620/kenda_kr28_spec_sheet_real_tire.pdf
🆚 Alternatives Worth Considering
Tire | Strength | Weakness |
BFGoodrich KO3 | Extreme toughness, off-road king | Road noise, price |
Falken Wildpeak AT4W | Snow/ice grip, balanced | Slightly heavier ride |
Cooper AT3 4S | Comfort, all-around daily use | Less off-road grip |
Read: KO3 Review
Compare: Cooper AT3 4S Review
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.
🏁 Final Verdict
The Kenda Klever AT2 is a true standout in the sub-$200 all-terrain category. If you’re a weekend adventurer, snowbelt commuter, or job-site regular, this tire proves that value doesn’t mean compromise.
See Kenda Klever A/T2 Pricing on Amazon
See Kenda Klever A/T 2 Pricing on SimpleTire
As someone who’s tested hundreds of tires in both lab and field conditions, I can confidently say the AT2 is one of the best-kept secrets in the budget A/T segment. It won’t beat premium tires in every category — but it does more than enough for most drivers, and at a price point that makes real sense.
Frequently Asked Questions: Kenda Klever A/T2 (KR628)
Is the Kenda Klever A/T2 good on-road?
Yes. It’s tuned for daily drivability with stable straight-line tracking and predictable steering. It’s not a “sporty” A/T, but it feels composed on highways and around town.How does it perform in rain?
Solid for the class. The tread has full-depth siping and wide circumferential grooves to evacuate water, so braking and hydroplane resistance are confident if you leave normal A/T margins.Is the Klever A/T2 winter rated?
Many sizes carry the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol. That means it meets a minimum snow-traction standard; it’s good for packed/plowed roads, though dedicated winters are still best for frequent ice.How is it on ice?
Manageable with smooth inputs. The siping gives early “bite,” but like most A/Ts without studs, stopping distances on glare ice are longer—use cautious speeds in freezing rain or black-ice conditions.What about off-road performance?
Designed for mixed use: dependable on dirt, gravel, and light mud, with stone-ejectors to keep the grooves clear. It’s not a mud-terrain, but it handles forest roads and job-site access well—especially aired down.Is it quiet and comfortable?
Quieter than many aggressive A/Ts. Variable pitch tread blocks help reduce hum; ride comfort is steady, especially on P-metric and XL sizes. LT/E-load sizes ride firmer (typical for heavy-duty casings).How long does it last?
Competitive treadlife for an A/T. Kenda lists mileage warranties (often up to ~60,000 miles, size-dependent). Rotate every 5–6k miles and maintain alignment/pressures for the best wear.Which vehicles is it best for?
Great fit for SUVs and ½-ton pickups that see commuting plus weekend dirt/gravel. LT/E-load sizes suit ¾-ton & 1-ton trucks that tow/haul but don’t need an extreme mud tire.How does it compare on value?
Strong value play: you get 3PMSF capability, durable construction, and respectable road manners at a typically lower price point than many big-brand A/Ts.Any sizing or setup tips?
Choose load range for your use (P-metric/XL for comfort, LT/E for heavy loads). Start near the door-jamb PSI, adjust ±2–3 PSI for feel/wear, and rotate on a 5-tire pattern if you carry a full-size matching spare.