Kenda Klever MT2 Review: A Brutal Mud Tire I Actually Love

Finding a mud-terrain tire that doesn’t make you miserable on the highway feels like hunting for a unicorn. Most MT tires will chew through mud pits like a champ, then punish you with deafening road noise and a ride quality that shakes your fillings loose every time you hit pavement.

That’s exactly the problem I was trying to solve when I mounted a set of Kenda Klever MT2 tires on my truck. I wanted something aggressive enough for serious off-road weekends but livable enough for my daily commute — and I was genuinely surprised by what I found.

If you’re exploring the full lineup, our comprehensive Kenda Tires Review guide covers every model side by side to help you decide.

What Is the Kenda Klever MT2?

The Kenda Klever MT2 — model number KR637 — is Kenda’s second-generation mud-terrain tire designed for light trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. It’s the successor to the original Klever M/T, and Kenda made some significant improvements in tread design, compound durability, and noise reduction.

Kenda is a Taiwanese tire manufacturer that’s been around since 1962. While they’re not a household name like Goodyear or BFGoodrich, they’ve been steadily gaining traction (pun intended) in the US market by offering capable tires at prices that undercut the big names. The Klever MT2 is arguably their flagship off-road offering, and it’s available in sizes ranging from 15-inch to 22-inch fitments.

I’ve had these tires on my 2019 RAM 1500 with a 2.5-inch lift, running the LT285/70R17 size. I’ve put them through a range of conditions over my test period — everything from muddy backcountry trails in East Tennessee to long highway stretches across the Southeast. Here’s my honest breakdown of how they perform.

First Impressions and Build Quality

When I first pulled these tires out of the box, I was immediately struck by how aggressive they look. The Klever MT2 has a seriously mean stance with deep, wide tread voids and chunky shoulder lugs that wrap well down the sidewall. If you’re buying a mud tire partly for aesthetics — and let’s be honest, many of us are — these deliver.

The sidewall design features a distinctive mountain-and-shield motif on one side and a more rugged, textured pattern on the other. This dual-sidewall design is a nice touch — you can choose which side faces out based on your preference.

In terms of build quality, the rubber compound feels dense and sturdy. I ran my hand along the tread blocks and sidewall, and there’s a noticeable heft to these tires. The 3-ply sidewall construction (in LT sizes) gives me confidence against punctures and trail damage, and the high turn-up construction Kenda uses is designed to add extra sidewall strength where it matters most.

Mounting was straightforward — my local tire shop had no issues with bead seating, and the tires balanced out with minimal weight needed. That’s not always a given with aggressive MT tires, so I was pleased.

Off-Road Performance: Where the MT2 Shines

Let’s get to the reason anyone buys a mud-terrain tire — off-road capability. I tested the Klever MT2 across several different terrain types, and I’ll break down each one.

Mud Performance

This is the tire’s bread and butter, and it doesn’t disappoint. I took it through several muddy trails in the Cherokee National Forest area, including some sections with deep, clay-heavy ruts that would swallow an all-terrain tire whole.

The MT2’s tread pattern features wide, staggered shoulder lugs and deep center voids that channel mud out efficiently. I could feel the tires biting into the surface and finding grip rather than just spinning and packing with debris. The self-cleaning capability is genuinely impressive — after pulling out of deeper mud holes, the tread cleared itself within a few rotations.

Compared to the Falken Wildpeak MT01 I ran previously, the MT2 felt more confident in deep, soupy mud. The more aggressive void ratio and the angled lug design seem to work together to maintain forward momentum where other tires might start to spin.

Rock and Gravel

Rocky terrain is where sidewall strength and tread compound really matter. I spent a full day on a technical rocky trail near the Tellico Off-Road area in Tennessee, crawling over ledges and navigating loose, sharp-edged rock.

The MT2’s built-in stone ejectors did a solid job of preventing rocks from lodging in the tread — an underrated feature that can prevent punctures and uneven wear. I also aired down to about 18 PSI and found that the sidewall lugs provided excellent additional grip when the tire bulged out on rock faces.

After several days of mixed rock and gravel driving, I didn’t find any chips, cuts, or damage on the tread or sidewall. The compound is clearly formulated to resist abrasion, which gives me confidence about long-term durability on rough surfaces.

Sand and Loose Dirt

I’ll be upfront — I didn’t test these in deep desert sand, as that’s not my typical terrain. However, I did drive through several stretches of loose, sandy soil along forest service roads.

The tire performed well when aired down, providing enough float to stay on top of soft surfaces. At highway pressure, it dug in a bit more than I’d like in very loose conditions, which is typical for any aggressive MT tire. If you’re primarily a sand driver, you’ll want to air down significantly.

Wet Off-Road Conditions

Rain-soaked trails are where many tires get unpredictable, but the MT2 felt composed and consistent. The wide grooves evacuate water effectively, and I never experienced a sudden loss of traction on wet rock or muddy inclines. This tire inspires confidence in mixed conditions, which is exactly what you want when you’re miles from the nearest paved road.

On-Road Performance: The Daily Driver Test

Here’s where things get interesting — and where the Klever MT2 genuinely surprised me. Most mud-terrain tires make you pay a steep comfort penalty for their off-road prowess. The MT2 still has trade-offs, but they’re more manageable than I expected.

Road Noise

Let’s address the elephant in the room. Yes, you’ll hear these tires on the highway. There’s a noticeable hum that starts around 45 mph and stays consistent at highway speeds. It’s the kind of sound that becomes background noise after a few days — your brain adjusts.

However, compared to something like the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss MT or the Toyo Open Country MT, the Klever MT2 is measurably quieter. Kenda uses a variable-pitch tread block design that breaks up the harmonic resonance that causes that droning whine in many MT tires. It works. The noise is there, but it’s a low-frequency hum rather than a high-pitched whine, which is far more tolerable.

With my windows up and the radio at a normal volume, I can hold a conversation without raising my voice. That’s more than I can say for some MT tires I’ve tested.

Dry Highway Handling

The MT2 tracks straight at highway speeds with minimal wandering. I was worried about the large tread blocks causing a vague, floaty feeling on pavement — a common complaint with MT tires — but the tire feels planted and responsive.

Lane changes are predictable, and the tire responds to steering input without excessive squirm. It’s not going to feel like an all-season touring tire, obviously. There’s a slight softness in the initial turn-in that’s characteristic of aggressive tread patterns. But for a mud-terrain tire, the on-center feel is better than average.

Wet Pavement Performance

Wet highway traction is actually one of the MT2’s strengths. Those deep tread voids that work so well in mud also channel water away from the contact patch effectively. During several rainy drives on the interstate, I experienced no hydroplaning and felt confident braking at highway speeds.

This is an area where I think the MT2 outperforms some budget MT competitors that use harder compounds and shallower grooves.

Ride Comfort

The ride is firmer than an all-terrain tire — there’s no getting around that with a 3-ply sidewall and aggressive tread. Small bumps and expansion joints are more noticeable. But it’s not punishing. On smooth highway surfaces, the ride is perfectly acceptable for a daily driver.

Where I noticed the most harshness was on rough, broken pavement at lower speeds — the kind of deteriorating city streets you find all over the US. The stiff sidewalls transmit those impacts more directly than a softer all-terrain would.

Treadwear and Durability

During my test period, I’ve been monitoring tread depth and looking for any signs of irregular wear. So far, the MT2 is wearing evenly across the tread face, and the tread blocks show no signs of chunking or tearing — even after the rocky terrain driving I mentioned earlier.

Kenda doesn’t offer a treadwear warranty on the MT2, which is standard practice for mud-terrain tires across the industry. BFGoodrich doesn’t offer one on the KM3, Nitto doesn’t on the Trail Grappler, and Mickey Thompson doesn’t on the Baja Boss. That’s just the reality of MT tire ownership.

Based on how the tread is wearing so far and the compound hardness, I’d expect these to deliver respectable longevity for the category — especially if you rotate them regularly and keep your alignment in check. Mud-terrain tires will always wear faster than all-terrains, but the MT2 doesn’t seem like it’ll burn through tread unusually quickly.

How the Kenda Klever MT2 Compares to Competitors

No tire review is complete without context. Here’s how the MT2 stacks up against some of the most popular mud-terrain tires in the US market. I’m using the LT285/70R17 size for pricing comparisons, as it’s one of the most common fitments.

vs. BFGoodrich KM3

The KM3 is the gold standard in mud-terrain tires, and it deserves that reputation. In pure rock-crawling performance, I give the edge to the KM3 — its Krawl-TEK compound and CoreGard technology are genuinely best-in-class for sidewall protection.

However, the MT2 gets remarkably close in mud performance and arguably matches the KM3 on wet pavement. Where the Kenda wins decisively is on price. You’re saving $80-$100 per tire in many sizes, which means $320-$400 on a full set. That’s real money, and for most weekend warriors, the performance difference doesn’t justify the premium.

vs. Nitto Trail Grappler

The Trail Grappler is known for being one of the quieter MT tires on the highway, and I’d say it and the MT2 are in a similar ballpark for road noise. Off-road, the MT2 feels more aggressive in deep mud thanks to its wider void ratio. The Nitto is a more refined choice if your driving is 70%+ highway, but if you want more off-road bite, the Kenda delivers — at a lower price point.

vs. Toyo Open Country MT

The Toyo is a proven tire with excellent durability, but it’s also one of the louder MT tires I’ve tested. The MT2 is noticeably quieter on the highway and offers comparable mud performance. The Toyo does have slightly better availability in larger sizes (up to 24-inch), which matters if you’re running a heavily modified truck. But for most common sizes, the Kenda is the better value.

Snow and Winter Performance

I want to address winter driving because it’s a common question for MT tire buyers. The Klever MT2 is not a dedicated winter tire, and it does not carry the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) rating.

That said, I did drive in a light snowfall during my test period, and the tire performed reasonably well. The aggressive tread pattern bites into loose snow effectively, and the deep voids prevent snow packing. In fresh snow under about 4 inches, these tires actually feel quite capable.

Where they’ll struggle is on packed snow and ice. The rubber compound isn’t formulated for cold-weather flexibility, and the large tread blocks don’t have the siping density you need for icy surfaces. If you live in a northern state with serious winters, I’d recommend dedicated winter tires for the cold months and save the MT2s for the other three seasons.

Available Sizes and Fitments

Kenda offers the Klever MT2 in a solid range of sizes that covers most popular truck and SUV fitments in the US market. Here’s a sampling of what’s available:

• 15-inch: LT31X10.50R15, LT33X12.50R15, LT35X12.50R15
• 16-inch: LT265/75R16, LT285/75R16, LT305/70R16, LT315/75R16
• 17-inch: LT265/70R17, LT285/70R17, LT285/75R17, LT295/70R17, LT315/70R17, LT35X12.50R17, LT37X12.50R17
• 18-inch: LT275/65R18, LT285/65R18, LT295/70R18, LT325/65R18, LT35X12.50R18
• 20-inch: LT275/55R20, LT285/55R20, LT295/55R20, LT305/55R20, LT33X12.50R20, LT35X12.50R20, LT37X13.50R20
• 22-inch: LT325/50R22, LT33X12.50R22, LT35X12.50R22, LT37X13.50R22

This covers popular fitments for the Jeep Wrangler, Ford F-150, RAM 1500, Chevrolet Silverado, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra, Ford Ranger, and many other trucks and SUVs. The inclusion of 37-inch options is a big plus for owners running heavily modified rigs.

Pricing and Value

This is where the Kenda Klever MT2 really makes its case. Depending on the size, you’re looking at roughly $180 to $350 per tire through major US retailers like Discount Tire, Tire Rack, Walmart, and Amazon.

For the popular LT285/70R17 size, I’ve seen prices consistently in the $210–$250 range. Compare that to $290+ for the BFGoodrich KM3 in the same size, and the savings add up fast. A full set of MT2s can easily save you $300-$400 compared to premium-brand alternatives.

Does that savings come with compromises? Some, yes. You’re not getting BFGoodrich’s decades of motorsport heritage or their industry-leading sidewall technology. But in terms of real-world off-road performance for the average truck owner who goes off-road on weekends, the gap is much smaller than the price difference suggests.

Kenda also backs the MT2 with a standard limited manufacturer’s warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship, along with a free replacement period for the first year. Check with your retailer for specific warranty terms, as they can vary.

Who Should Buy the Kenda Klever MT2?

Based on my experience, here’s who I think this tire is ideal for:

• Weekend off-roaders who daily drive their trucks: If your rig pulls double duty between the trail and the commute, the MT2 strikes a good balance between off-road aggression and on-road manners.
• Budget-conscious buyers who refuse to sacrifice capability: You want a real mud-terrain tire, not a watered-down hybrid, but you don’t want to pay premium-brand prices. The MT2 delivers serious off-road chops at mid-range pricing.
• Jeep and truck owners who want an aggressive look: Let’s be real — the MT2 looks fantastic. Those wraparound shoulder lugs and the deep tread pattern give your vehicle a menacing stance that turns heads.
• Hunters, ranchers, and rural drivers: If you regularly deal with unpaved roads, muddy fields, and unpredictable conditions, this tire gives you the confidence to keep moving without breaking the bank.

Who Might Want to Look Elsewhere?

• Primarily highway drivers (80%+ on-road): If you rarely go off-road, an aggressive all-terrain like the Falken Wildpeak AT3W or Kenda Klever AT2 would give you better ride comfort, less noise, and longer tread life.
• Dedicated rock crawling enthusiasts: If you’re running extreme trails like Moab or the Rubicon regularly, the BFGoodrich KM3’s superior sidewall technology might be worth the extra cost.
• Northern drivers in heavy winter conditions: Without a 3PMSF rating, this isn’t the tire for regular ice and packed-snow driving.

Pros and Cons Summary

What I Liked

• Excellent mud traction with effective self-cleaning tread design
• Surprisingly manageable highway noise for a mud-terrain tire
• Strong wet traction both on and off-road
• 3-ply sidewall construction with aggressive sidewall lugs
• Dual sidewall design for aesthetic customization
• Competitive pricing — significantly cheaper than premium MT brands
• Wide range of available sizes from 15-inch to 22-inch
• Even tread wear during my test period
• Solid build quality and no issues during mounting and balancing

What Could Be Better

• Road noise is noticeable — better than many MTs, but still louder than any AT tire
• Ride is firmer than average, especially on rough city streets
• No treadwear warranty (standard for the MT category, but still worth noting)
• No 3PMSF winter rating
• Availability can be spotty at some local tire shops — you may need to order online
• Not as widely reviewed as major brands, which means fewer long-term owner reports to reference

My Final Verdict on the Kenda Klever MT2

After spending considerable time with the Kenda Klever MT2 across a wide range of conditions, I’m genuinely impressed. This is not a “budget tire that’s okay for the price.” This is a legitimately good mud-terrain tire that happens to cost less than the competition.

In mud, it performs on par with tires costing $80-$100 more per corner. On the highway, it’s quieter and more composed than several premium MT tires I’ve tested. The build quality is solid, the tread design is well-engineered, and the value proposition is hard to argue with.

Is it perfect? No. If I could change one thing, I’d want a slightly softer sidewall compound for better ride quality on rough pavement. And I’d love to see Kenda offer a 3PMSF-rated version for northern drivers. But these are minor gripes in the context of what this tire does well.

If you’re shopping for a mud-terrain tire and you’re not married to a specific brand name, I strongly recommend putting the Kenda Klever MT2 on your shortlist. Test it against the BFGoodrich KM3, the Nitto Trail Grappler, and the Toyo Open Country MT — and then look at the price difference. For most drivers, the MT2 is going to be the smartest buy in the group.

I’d rate the Kenda Klever MT2 a solid 8.5 out of 10 for its category. It loses a half point for ride comfort on rough pavement and a full point for the lack of winter certification. But in terms of pure mud-terrain capability and overall value? It’s one of the best deals in the MT tire market right now.

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