Review: E*Thirteen's New Grappler Tire
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the designers behind the Maxxis Assegai must be positively blushing at this point due to the number of similar-looking tires that have been hitting the market in recent months. Of course, there are only so many ways to design a tread pattern, and a tire's casing construction and rubber compound also have a huge impact on its performance. How does that other saying go? If it ain't broke, don't fix it?
Cliched phrases aside, e*thirteen are joining the party with the new Grappler, which is aimed at enduro and DH riders looking for high levels of traction in steep terrain, especially when conditions are loose or wet.
Cliched phrases aside, e*thirteen are joining the party with the new Grappler, which is aimed at enduro and DH riders looking for high levels of traction in steep terrain, especially when conditions are loose or wet.
Grappler Details
Wheel Sizes: 29", 27.5"
Width: 2.5"
Casings: Enduro & DH
Compound: MoPo or Endurance
Weight: 1245 grams (29", Enduro casing, MoPo compound)
Price: $69.95 USD
More info: ethirteen.com
Wheel Sizes: 29", 27.5"
Width: 2.5"
Casings: Enduro & DH
Compound: MoPo or Endurance
Weight: 1245 grams (29", Enduro casing, MoPo compound)
Price: $69.95 USD
More info: ethirteen.com
I've been testing a 29” Grappler with the enduro casing and MoPo rubber, a configuration that weighed 1245 grams on my scale, just slightly more than the claimed weight of 1225 grams.
DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
The Grappler's tread pattern consists of a row of three or two center knobs paired with large rectangular side knobs. Those side knobs are siped at an angle, which decrease the stiffness slightly so that they can dig in for traction, especially while cornering. Additional siping is found on the center knobs, where it's intended to help increase braking traction by allowing the rubber to flex more than it would if it were just a solid rectangle or square.
As the story goes, e*thirteen's MoPo rubber compound was originally developed for competitors in Thailand's underground moped drag racing scene. It's a slow rebounding, 42 durometer rubber that's used across the entire tread for maximum grip. The Endurance rubber uses a 56 durometer rubber at the center knobs, and a 50 durometer rubber on the side knobs for a longer-lasting tread.
The DH version of the Grappler uses a 2-ply 72 TPI casing with e*thirteen's Apex DH inserts at the sidewall to help prevent pinch flats. A 2-ply 120 TPI casing is used for the Enduro version, with an Apex EN insert for sidewall protection.
INSTALLATION
Installation didn't pose any unexpected hassles – the tire popped right into place, no swearing or frantic pumping required. However, once inflated it didn't quite measure up to the 2.5” width printed on the sidewall. Even after giving it plenty of time to grow it still measured 2.4” at the widest part of the tread when mounted on a rim with a 30mm inner width.
I typically ran between 20 – 22 psi depending on conditions, which tended to be on the softer and wetter side of things.
TRACTION & CORNERING
The Grappler's MoPo rubber works as advertised, delivering predictable grip even on slimy roots and rain-soaked rocks. For how sticky it is I didn't find the rolling resistance to be a hindrance when climbing or on flatter bits of trail, although it's worth noting that I do typically run a front tire with as soft of a rubber compound as I can find, so I'm used to the speed that the lower durometer rubber provides (or doesn't). The knobs have enough flex to keep from getting pinballed around too much at slower speeds while retaining enough support for cornering.
The Grappler's profile is slightly more squared off than the Assegai due to the position of the side knobs, but that's more down to the variation in width, since the Assegai measures a true 2.5”. The Assegai does seem to provide a little more room for error – I found it easier to correct a line choice mistake with the Assegai. At times the Grappler had more of an on / off feel during quick direction changes, although it's a fairly subtle difference.
The Grappler excelled on the steeper, loose terrain that it was designed for, with good traction under heavy braking, and decent mud-shedding capabilities. It will pack up if conditions get especially dire, but it takes pretty sticky, wet mud for that to happen.
DURABILITY
Not surprisingly, the soft, slow rebounding rubber isn't particularly long lasting. All of the knobs have remained in place so far, but there are chunks missing from a few of them, and the square edges are starting to lose their sharpness. The wear rate seems quicker than with Maxxis' MaxxGrip rubber, and while it's hard to say without riding the exact same trail the exact number of miles, when comparing the Grappler to a MaxxGrip Assegai that I've had in my rotation for a longer period of time there's less visible wear and fewer pockmarks in the tread on the Maxxis.
PRICE & WEIGHT
The Grappler's $69.95 price tag is on the more reasonable end of the spectrum; it's $20 - $30 less expensive than comparable options from companies like Schwalbe, Michelin, or Maxxis. The weight is in line with this style of tire – it's within 40 grams of a DoubleDown Maxxis Assegai, or a Super Trail Schwalbe Magic Mary.
Can you spot the differences? That's the Grappler on the left, and a Maxxis Assegai on the right.
Pros
+ MoPo rubber provides lots of traction
+ Predictable handling as a front or rear tire
Cons
- Not as wide as advertised
- Rubber wears quickly (but there is a longer lasting version available)
Pinkbike's Take
 | I'm a big fan of the fact that the Grappler is offered in configurations that make sense. Riders in rockier, drier terrain will be better served by the Endurance version, and riders who want the most traction possible will want to go with the MoPro rubber. Having just one width to choose from simplifies things even further, although I do with that it measured true to size. Still, if you're in the market for a grippy, 2.4" tire that isn't exorbitantly priced, the Grappler is a worthy candidate. |
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nice to see e13 commiting to their ethos of making things that fall apart much sooner than you'd expect!
@justinfoil: I blame the tech editor. The hooks in Grappler center-tread ought to have an attributable effect
Here's mtb the equivalent of your $60 car tyre anyway
www.amazon.co.uk/Schwalbe-Unisex-Smart-Performance-Black/dp/B073ZG38BW/ref=asc_df_B073ZG38BW/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=375506380058&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15420362347027823305&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045954&hvtargid=pla-539128793917&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=76507802083&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=375506380058&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15420362347027823305&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045954&hvtargid=pla-539128793917
Also I agree with the difficulty to find hard compound in tough casing. Does anybody know good options for a rear tyre that will keep all its knobs for one DH season?
Currently running Schwalbe bike park, the "addix bike park" is not bad at lasts a while, but the casing has wire bead and weighs a ton. Super Gravity/addix bike park would be perfect...
I assume if you're roosting corners the tire might squirm. Isn't a problem for me though because I don't know how to do it.
I suspect that DH34 bike park is very similar but 300g lighter, a bit narrower and a bit weaker.
@MartinDeb I can't roost anything either, but Super Gravity has been excellent for me (protection and damping), really seems like DH level.
@DavidGuerra : I see only 60€ trail boss and vigilante. Expensive and I know at least that Vigilante knobs tend to fold too easily with my riding, trail boss also seems less big knobbed than a MM.
@cxfahrer oh thanks I didn't know that existed! At first glance, the very few places it can be found, are out of stock though
@MegaStoke lasts long even in the rear for bike park laps? anyway, I was thinking of trying that one when it's back in stock as a front
I remember another "long term" tire review by someone else here a few years back, where a tire was praised for being relatively durable for a soft compound. If one had actually bothered to read that article, it turned out that they had pretty much worn out after only 80 km. Fine for a race day tire, maybe, but not for most of us.
Delium Rugged Reinforced (42a/50a) 1220g, $55
Of course, then there is actual on-the-trail user friendliness. Tubeless setups are a total crap shoot for trailside repairs. Maybe you can just shove in a plug and ride on. Maybe your tire came off the bead and you waste a CO2 and then are SOL unless you carry a tube, and then why did you have more weight in sealant in the first place? Here, add some dirt to that sealant to create a nice Slushie of abrasive crap in your tire. Just a total nightmare, all of it, and we all just happily look away hoping it doesn't effect us.
Some years ago, dropper posts came, and it was like "how did we ever not have this!". Same for 1X. Sooner or later, somebody is going to solve for this, and make mad bank.
Agreed but I have tempted fate with similar remarks over the years.
Another favorite is " If there is a god, i dare him or her to strike me down now as i stand here"
oh shiii
"The Assegai does seem to provide a little more room for error – I found it easier to correct a line choice mistake with the Assegai."
why I love it. The Grappler sticks to wherever you aim it too, which gives me a personal level of confidence I am exactly missing on the Assegai.
On the "wear side"..Can't comment yet..guess it's just been to muddy to loose any rubber on as low as 18 psi.
Stiff casing will save your rims. And sealed up with half the sealant of my Maxxis’. Cheaper too.
My go to tyre now for proper DH riding.
I don't blame Mike though, as I can't think of a more vaguely similar tire. We're wired to compare stuff, and you only have to look at it for half a second to know what the comments will be.