We’ve spent plenty of time on the Kenda Klever X/T in years past, but we’ve been excited to see Kenda expand the lineup with new 30x10R15, 33x10R15 and 35x10R15 sizes better suited for the larger, heavier and higher-horsepower UTVs hitting the market. We’ve been dying to get our hands on a set of the new 35s for our Kenda Klever X/T UTV Tire Review, and when a 2026 Can-Am Maverick R MAX X rs landed in our stable, we finally had the perfect test platform. With 240 horsepower, 24 inches of suspension travel front and rear and plenty of room for a larger tire, the Maverick R MAX is more than capable of putting a set of 35-inch Klever X/Ts through their paces.
We also had a beautiful set of OMF Performance HPO 2 six-lug beadlock wheels waiting for the right Maverick R to come along. Once our new 35-inch Kenda Klever X/Ts were mounted on the OMF HPO 2s, we were ready to put some serious miles on them, and what better place to conduct a desert tire review than the Vegas to Reno Legends Rally?
For the first time in the race’s 30-year history, the famous Vegas to Reno course would be run in reverse, traveling from Reno toward Las Vegas. The event also gave us an opportunity to legally prerun the course. To find out what these new 35-inch desert tires could really handle, we decided to take them on a prerun of the longest point-to-point desert race in America and put the Klever X/Ts through hundreds of miles of Nevada desert terrain.
We’ve also put Kenda’s latest tires through their paces in our Kenda Warhawk UTV Tire Review and Kenda Cross Trail: Polaris XPEDITION Tire Test.
Kenda Klever X/T UTV Tire Review
Kenda Klever X/T
The Kenda Klever X/T is an 8-ply steel-belted radial designed to combine the strength and durability normally associated with light-truck tires with the reduced weight and performance demands of a UTV tire. Kenda describes the Klever X/T as one of the lightest 8-ply steel-belted radial UTV tires on the market. The design is based on Kenda’s Klever R/T KR601 light-truck tire, giving the X/T a familiar aggressive truck-tire appearance while adapting the construction and tread for UTV use.
The aggressive tread pattern is designed as a true all-terrain setup rather than being focused on one particular type of riding. Large tread blocks provide plenty of biting edges for rocks, loose dirt, mud and snow, while staggered and reinforced shoulder knobs add traction and protection around the outside of the tire. Kenda also incorporates a substantial bead protector to help shield the wheel and lower sidewall area from rocks and other trail debris—something we particularly like when pairing these tires with a nice set of OMF beadlock wheels.
Another interesting feature is that the Klever X/T is studdable, allowing studs to be added for riders dealing with snow and ice. That obviously wasn’t much of a concern during our Nevada desert test, but it adds another layer of versatility for riders who use the same machine year-round.
The Klever X/T lineup now spans nine sizes, beginning with 27x9R14 and extending all the way to the new 35x10R15we chose for our Maverick R MAX. Kenda recently added 30x10R15, 33x10R15 and 35x10R15 sizes, significantly expanding the tire’s usefulness on the latest generation of high-performance UTVs. All three of the new sizes retain the 8-ply construction and 17mm tread depth. Our 35x10R15 is rated 84M, measures a claimed 35 inches tall by 10 inches wide, and Kenda lists a maximum pressure of 38 psi. At approximately 47 pounds per tire, the 35-inch Klever X/T is also relatively light considering its size, 8-ply construction and steel-belted radial design.
Kenda Klever X/T UTV Tire Review
Test Platform
Our 2026 Can-Am Maverick R MAX X rs was perfect for our Kenda Klever X/T UTV Tire Review. It comes from the factory on 32-inch tires, so moving to the 35-inch Klevers represented a significant increase in tire diameter. Fortunately, the Maverick R MAX has the hardware to handle it. Its turbocharged 999cc three-cylinder Rotax produces 240 horsepower through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, while the suspension provides 24 inches of travel at both ends.
Moving from the stock 32s to 35s gives us additional ground clearance and a larger contact patch, two things that are never bad to have when crossing hundreds of miles of Nevada desert. The tradeoff is additional rotating mass and a taller effective gear ratio, which can become noticeable on lower-powered machines. With 240 horsepower on tap, however, the Maverick R MAX gives us an ideal platform for evaluating a tire this size.
The OMF HPO 2 six-lug beadlocks were another important part of our setup. Aside from looking right at home on the Maverick R, a true beadlock wheel gives us considerably more freedom to experiment with tire pressures without worrying as much about pulling a bead off the wheel. That becomes particularly valuable when trying to find the sweet spot between high-speed protection, traction and ride comfort.
Kenda Klever X/T UTV Tire Review
Performance and Durability
Vegas to Reno provides about as demanding a desert tire test as we could ask for and it was a great choice for our Kenda Klever X/T UTV Tire Review. The route crosses remote Nevada terrain filled with fast roads, rocks, sand washes and countless opportunities to damage a tire. The first 50 miles of our prerun were especially rocky, and since we made the questionable decision to tackle the course without carrying a spare, we weren’t interested in finding the Klever X/T’s limits the hard way.
We started the 35-inch Klevers at 22 psi to give ourselves some extra protection through those first 50 miles of rocks. As the terrain opened up, we gradually started knocking the pressures down in search of a little more comfort. We typically consider 20 psi a good sweet spot for balancing ride quality with protection from rocks and the occasional driver error, but we eventually settled at 18 psi and really liked how the Klevers felt there. The OMF beadlocks gave us the confidence to go considerably lower, and we could easily see dropping into the 15 psi range or below for slower rock crawling, but we don’t expect to spend much time rock crawling this school bus of a UTV.
What immediately impressed us was how light the 35-inch Klevers felt from behind the wheel. Larger 35-inch tires can sometimes make a UTV feel heavy and reluctant to change direction, especially when you start pushing through faster corners. We didn’t get that sensation with the Klever X/T. Steering remained precise, and the Maverick R MAX didn’t have the tendency to push through corners that we’ve experienced with some heavier 35-inch tires.
Traction was equally impressive. The Klevers seemed to have a constant supply of grip as the terrain changed, but the sand washes were where they really surprised us. The rear of the Maverick R MAX rarely wanted to come around, even with 240 horsepower available under our right foot. Instead, the tires hooked up and drove the big four-seater forward, giving us plenty of confidence to carry speed through long stretches of loose desert terrain.
The combination of predictable traction and precise cornering also made the Maverick R MAX easier to place at speed. That’s particularly important in a large four-seat UTV, where a tire that pushes or takes a set slowly can make the machine feel even bigger than it already is. Despite their 35-inch diameter, the Klevers didn’t make the Maverick R MAX feel cumbersome. If anything, their relatively light approximately 47-pound weight helped preserve the responsive character of the chassis while giving us the benefits of the larger tire.
We also got a few unplanned opportunities to test the Klever X/T’s sidewall strength. We tagged a couple of rocks that were buried perfectly in corners and didn’t become visible until it was too late to avoid them. Both impacts were hard enough to get our attention, but the end result was nothing more than a couple of scuff marks on the tires and, most importantly, no flats.
There were also a few instances where we had to tread lightly off trail through some nasty, sharp desert brush. Despite plenty of opportunities to pick up a stick, we came out the other side without anything finding its way through the tread. We’re not sure we would have been quite as comfortable trying that at lower pressures, but at 20 psi or more, the Klevers handled it without an issue.
Kenda Klever X/T UTV Tire Review
Price and Availability
Pricing varies by size and retailer, but at the time of this review, the 35x10R15 Kenda Klever X/T can be found for approximately $260–$315 per tire, depending on the retailer and current promotions. That puts a set of four at roughly $1,040–$1,260 before tax and shipping. The Klever X/T is available through Kenda powersports dealers and several major online tire and powersports retailers. You can check current sizes, availability and find a dealer directly through Kenda Powersports.
Kenda Klever X/T UTV Tire Review
Final Verdict
In conclusion for our Kenda Klever X/T UTV Tire Review, we’ve been very pleased with the 35-inch Kenda Klever X/Ts. With a solid 1,000 miles on this set, they’ve delivered the traction, precise handling and durability we were hoping for, and the tread still looks great. Considering the rocky desert terrain, high-speed miles and a few hard impacts along the way, we’re impressed with how well they’ve held up.
Our testing isn’t finished, either. We’re going to move these same 35-inch Klevers over to our two-seat Can-Am Maverick R to see how they perform on the shorter, lighter machine. We also have a set of Kenda’s new 33-inch Klever X/Ts that we’ll be testing on the two-seater as well.
We loved the 35s on the big four-seat Maverick R MAX, where the additional tire size felt right at home without making the machine feel heavy or cumbersome. On the two-seater, however, we may find that a solid 33-inch tire is the better overall combination. We’ll put both sizes to the test and let you know what we find.
We’ve also put Kenda’s latest tires through their paces in our Kenda Warhawk UTV Tire Review and Kenda Cross Trail: Polaris XPEDITION Tire Test.
