Kenda to release super aggressive M/T2 in 2022

LAS VEGAS — Kenda Rubber Co. Ltd. gave visitors to the SEMA Show the first look at its next-generation mud tire, the Kenda Klever M/T2 KR629.

The M/T2 KR629 — the Taiwan-based company's most aggressive tire to date — was designed by Kenda USA engineers at the Kenda America Technical Center (KATC) in Akron specifically for the North American market. 

The tire will hit the market in late spring or early summer 2022.

The M/T2 improves upon the previous version — the M/T — in terms of mud, rock and loose material handling, as well as improving wet and dry handling and cornering, the company said.

The tire will come in the most popular light truck and SUV sizes (15- thru 20-inch rim diameters) — the same lineup at the R/T, but with more 16" rim diameter sizes, Brandon Stotsenburg, vice president of the automotive division of American Kenda Rubber Industrial Co. Ltd., said.

The company said it plans to have the top-20 most popular sizes available at launch. Another 10 sizes — including 33-, 35-, 37-, 40-, and 42-inch diameter — will be released near the end of summer 2022.

The initial 30 sizes will include load ranges C, D, E and F; rim diameters of 15- thru 20-inches; and speed ratings of Q and R.

The M/T2 features an interlocking pattern; void for mud; A-8 tread pattern to eliminate noise; aggressive upper sidewall to protect against cuts and tears; and strong rib protection, according to the company.

“To develop a tire that meets the demanding performance criteria for this segment, we did multiple rounds of testing (over a two year period) in diverse environments including the rocks of Arizona, mud in the Midwest, and desert sand in California.,” Al Henderson, chief design engineer for Kenda USA, said.

“The M/T2 has our T3 Triple Threat sidewall, an optimized tread compound and proprietary interlocking tread blocks for aggressive off-road performance.”

The compound is an optimized version of the one used in the R/T for improved wear and handling of multiple types of loads.

Many popular flotation sizes also are included going up to 42 inches, the company said.

In addition to stylized raised black letters on select sizes, the 35" and 37" overall diameter M/T2 will come with a red-letter option.

And the 40" version features a off-road "sticky" compound and raised lettering, Mr. Stotsenburg said.

Mr. Stotsenburg said the MT/2 meets the demands of customers.

“The ability of the Klever M/T2 to perform at premium levels across diverse terrain was showcased throughout our testing process,” Mr. Stotsenburg said. “The market is looking for a premium performance, value-priced product in the M/T segment and we compare it directly against great competition — Kenda delivers."

Kenda has also verified the KR629’s performance with other professional testing and will compete in short course off-road racing as it allows them to race DOT tires — the same tires sold to consumers at retail.

The tire will replace the M/T, a product the company said still performs well in the market but had reached the end of its lifecycle.

With the addition of the M/T2, the Klever line will feature all second-generation products: the A/T2 (all terrain), R/T (rugged terrain), M/T2 (mud terrain) and XT UTV.

"The first generation M/T, the reason it was replaced last wasn't because we forgot about it. It was because that was a really good tire in the market." Mr. Stotsenburg said.

He said the tire is reaching the end of its lifecycle and building a new tire allowed Kenda to "provide upgraded sizing and performance that will allow the tires to over index in performance to those brands that are doing well in that market."

Kenda will build the tires in its Vietnam plant where earlier this year it moved all of its North American production because of increased import duties on Taiwan.