A true radial casing, two compounds, and three treads.
The big change in the Gen3 Grappler range is a true radial casing. It makes these the grippiest tires we've made.
What the radial casing does
In a radial tire the casing threads run straight across from bead to bead, rather than crossing on the diagonal. The tread and the sidewall then work more independently.
A 30% larger contact patch, at the same pressure. More rubber on the ground means more traction and more braking bite.
Less fatigue. The casing conforms to the surface and absorbs the small, fast hits your suspension is too slow to catch. It adds a sense of extra travel to the bike.
Sidewall support, which is where most radials compromise. These casings use a stiff Dual Apex sidewall insert, so you run your normal pressures without the vague lateral flex radial tires are known for, and the rim gets more protection.
One piece of setup advice. The radial casing doesn't need low pressure to conform, so run what you normally run or a bit higher. In rocky terrain, add at least 15%.
The Gen3 Grappler range on trail. Radial and Flux GR casings, MoPo and Momentum compounds.
Two compounds
MoPo. Ultra-soft 42a for maximum grip. It's now soft through the full depth of the tread, not just the surface, which slows rebound and reduces vibration.
Momentum. A dual compound: 50a in the center for wear and speed, 42a on the shoulders for cornering grip. The choice for a rear tire, and for E-MTBs, where the center wears first.
Three treads
Grappler, 2.5" is the most aggressive: a 2-3-2 pattern with big center lugs that resist knob flex. Available in 29" and 27.5", Flux GR or the lighter Flux AM casing, from €59.95.
Grappler RS, 27.5" x 2.4" is rear-specific: a 2-2-2 pattern with tall, steeply ramped center knobs that brake hard and roll fast. €69.95, or €79.95 in radial.
Grappler TR, 2.4" is the fastest and lightest, sharing the RS layout with a lower center tread. For hardpack and dry, high-speed ground. €59.95.
The radial casing is available on the Grappler 2.5" and the RS, both at €79.95. Every tire in the range is two-ply with Armor Weave sidewall protection.
What they cost
Nothing in the lineup is over €79.95, and the range starts at €59.95.
Joel Peters, e*thirteen's CEO, on the process behind that price:
Getting the Grappler right meant a lot of iterations, a lot of back-to-back testing against the best tires on the market, and a lot of feedback from racers who don't sugarcoat anything. The construction we landed on is the one that beat everything we put it up against.
Joel Peters, e*thirteen CEO
Fitting a gravity casing tire for the first time? We filmed the process, radial included.
Details of the full range are on the Grappler tires landing page.
