Kenda Klever S/T All-Season tire (245/65/17) on standard 17" Slate OEM wheel

[Cody]

Close up look at the standard 17" Slate OEM wheel with Kenda Klever S/T all-season tire (245/65R17 size).

 

[cadblu]

Nice detail! Decent ratings for treadwear 500; traction A, temperature A. Keep in mind the 17” wheel will deliver higher range than the optional 20” wheels. But I still prefer the look of the 20” wheels.

 

[raybythelake]

Nice detail! Decent ratings for treadwear 500; traction A, temperature A. Keep in mind the 17” wheel will deliver higher range than the optional 20” wheels. But I still prefer the look of the 20” wheels.

I've been trying to find data on the rolling resistance of these standard 17" tires. Did you come across that info anywhere?

 

[FL4XE]

Close up look at the standard 17" Slate OEM wheel with Kenda Klever S/T all-season tire (245/65R17 size).

Made in Vietnam. We will see if the tariff situation affects that choice at all.

 

[cadblu]

Kind of a coincidence, I have Kenda tires on my mountain bike with 26" tires.

 

[Sl8Ready]

Kenda makes the stock tires for my Can Am Ryker, and I've used them for my KLR 650. I'd trust them enough.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

I don't have any particular opinions on Kenda tires, but the name "Klever" might be a deal breaker for me, lol.

 

[Adam W]

Noticed that these Kenda tires are marked EV, and that's not a variant that's available on their site. The Kenda Klever EV variant were also mounted on the recent Stockyards TX truck. Did a bit of research and turned up this tire industry report that Kenda is working directly with Slate to develop the OE tires, possibly with a unique Slate-specific compound.

https://www.moderntiredealer.com/su.../kenda-named-oe-supplier-for-slate-ev-vehicle

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Noticed that these Kenda tires are marked EV, and that's not a variant that's available on their site. The Kenda Klever EV variant were also mounted on the recent Stockyards TX truck. Did a bit of research and turned up this tire industry report that Kenda is working directly with Slate to develop the OE tires, possibly with a unique Slate-specific compound.

https://www.moderntiredealer.com/su.../kenda-named-oe-supplier-for-slate-ev-vehicle

Nice article. Short and sweet, despite at least one factual inaccuracy:

Kenda Named OE Supplier for Slate EV
Aden Graves April 27, 2026

Kenda Named OE Supplier for Slate EV

American Kenda Rubber Industrial Co. Ltd. is expanding its original equipment fitments by serving as the named tire supplier for the new Slate Truck.

American Kenda Rubber Industrial Co. Ltd. is expanding its original equipment (OE) projects by serving as the named tire supplier for the new Slate Truck, a customizable electric vehicle (EV.)

Kenda will research, develop and produce OE and accessory tires for the “Blank Slate,” Slate Auto's base model vehicle, which is a two-door, two-seat pickup truck that can be customized with over 100 accessories.

Slate Auto, a Michigan-based electric vehicle startup company backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, aims to be an affordable EV option for consumers with its latest truck, which can also be upgraded to a five-seat SUV.

“This gives us a unique partnership,” said Joshua Herron, director of engineering for Kenda. “As Slate is understanding how to be an OE vehicle company, we wanted to work with them and collaborate on this new vehicle.”

Scheduled to start production in late-2026, the Slate truck will be built in Warsaw, Ind., and will be available to order online. Slate Auto says that over 160,000 people have placed a $50 refundable deposit down, which essentially holds buyers’ places “in line” to preorder their vehicle.

The price of Slate vehicles are targeted around $20,000 for a base model, but various upgrades and customizations – such as seat upgrades, roof details and speakers – could bring a higher cost.

Herron said Kenda’s collaboration with Slate accelerates the tiremaker's OE efforts and builds on projects in other segments.

Kenda says its American Technical Center in Akron, Ohio, will serve as the support and research facility for original equipment projects, such as Slate.

The facility is one of four Kenda research centers in the world. Its research, development and material engineering teams work across the tire company’s bicycle, power sports, passenger, light truck and non-pneumatic tire product lines.

Emphasis added.

So close, but the price. Makes me wonder if they'll issue a future correction and what other claims are misleading.

 

[jonboy108]

My current ride is a 2020 Tesla Y. I recently fitted a set of Michelin E-Primacy tires (19 inchers) and noticed a definite increase in range, lower WH/Mile calculation. I’m hoping that Michelin, or Kenda, if they’re 100% on board, will construct a LRR tire in ‘our’ size.

 

[phidauex]

If you changed to 19" wheels on the Slate, then the 235/55-R19 size has a number of EV specific options, including the popular Hankook Ion EVO, Goodyear Electricdrive2 and Pirelli Scorpion Zero AS Plus. https://www.tirerack.com/tires/Tire...&rearRatio=65&rearDiameter=18&performance=ALL

These have very similar OD, technically slightly smaller than stock, but only by ~1%.

235/60-R18 gives a few choices as well, including a unique Continental Crosscontact ATR, which is an EV tuned on-road AT tire. I haven't read any review of it but could be an interesting choice for light trucks... https://www.tirerack.com/tires/Tire...&rearRatio=60&rearDiameter=18&performance=ALL

In the 17" size, virtually nothing is available that has a sufficient outside diameter, sadly.

 

[thespacecowboy]

If you changed to 19" wheels on the Slate, then the 235/55-R19 size has a number of EV specific options, including the popular Hankook Ion EVO, Goodyear Electricdrive2 and Pirelli Scorpion Zero AS Plus. https://www.tirerack.com/tires/Tire...&rearRatio=65&rearDiameter=18&performance=ALL

These have very similar OD, technically slightly smaller than stock, but only by ~1%.

235/60-R18 gives a few choices as well, including a unique Continental Crosscontact ATR, which is an EV tuned on-road AT tire. I haven't read any review of it but could be an interesting choice for light trucks... https://www.tirerack.com/tires/Tire...&rearRatio=60&rearDiameter=18&performance=ALL

In the 17" size, virtually nothing is available that has a sufficient outside diameter, sadly.

I wish there were more EV specific tires in the 16-17” sizes. Unfortunately it seems that they’re mostly in the 18-20” range. Hopefully the stock Kenda’s feel good, have low rolling resistance, and aren’t too loud. Tire/road noise is very apparent in an EV because there isn’t an engine that drowns it out.

Some of the Hankooks apparently have foam in them to keep road noise down, but not available in the Slate size.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Consider these two points:
1. Air pressure might influence range more than an EV rating.
2. The foam lining might interfere with patching punctures.
Check with your local trusted tire retailer for more details.

 

[thespacecowboy]

There's a number of things that go into what makes a tire good for EVs. I know that Continental, for example, doesn't market any tires as being for EVs, but instead says the following on their website:

"All Continental tires are designed for usage on both Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles and Electric Vehicles (EVs)." and "All Continental tires are EV Compatible and capable of meeting the needs of an EV vehicle. The EV Compatible marking on the sidewall will be added to all new tires as they are introduced to the market." Source

They additionally note that while efficiency may be more top of mind for EV owners, the same characteristics are desirable for ICE vehicles, so they design all of their tires for it.

Engineering Explained has a video on EV summer tires, specifically discussing the Hankook iON Evo, in which he goes over why they may be desirable, notably things like a focus on more even tire curing and sidewall rigidity. He says that Hankook's engineers informed him that contact patch had a very small impact on rolling resistance than the strength of the sidewall and equal pressure on the contact patch.

So yes, proper air pressure is very important. Probably the single most important thing. I anticipate that the stock Kenda tire will be very solid, but I know that tire companies have been working hard on advancing tire technology to meet the needs of EVs. ICE vehicles are already ridiculously inefficient, and while tires play a part in it, it's easy to make up for a poor tire choice, but EVs highlight the limitations of many tires in actually being efficient while also being and sounding good.

I look forward to seeing all of the combinations people come up with. I think the moment someone tosses lightweight, aerodynamic wheels with great tires and gets 300 miles of range will be awesome for the rest of us in the forums. But it'll take some experimenting before people actually find a comfortable wheel and tire combo that has an outsized impact on range.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

I think the moment someone tosses lightweight, aerodynamic wheels with great tires and gets 300 miles of range will be awesome for the rest of us in the forums. But it'll take some experimenting before people actually find a comfortable wheel and tire combo that has an outsized impact on range.

Speed will have a greater impact on range than the tire. Which costs more?

For some owners the choice of tire & rim will satisfy their ego more than range or performance.