It’s fair to say that e*thirteen tires came out of nowhere with their first batch. After years of making chainguides and a number of other components, the brand expanded into the world of rubber with the surprisingly good TRS range of tires. As these things usually go, in spite of glowing reviews, e*thirteen thought they could be even better.
From the outside, the new tires don’t look much different. They still use the same tread pattern that put grip first, but still tried to minimize rolling resistance. Things like reinforced pinch flat zones and accordion sipes on the side knobs set the tires apart in terms of grip and durability. Likewise, the tires still come in Race or Plus compound with the Race compound gaining High Tack side knobs for even better cornering grip with a tacky, slow rebound compound in the center. The Plus tires use that tacky, slow rebound rubber for the entire tread.
The real news comes from the inside of the tire with a second generation casing that improves the ride overall. Like a few other tires out there, the new tires utilize Apex inserts that provide more support for the sidewalls under cornering and braking, reduce the chance of pinch flats, and that increase the cut resistance of the sidewall. The TRSr version also gains aramid reinforcement for even better protection and air retention.
New to the range is a duo of dual ply LG1 tires meant for downhill use in both 27.5 and 29″. The LG1 tires carry all of the same features and even the same size – a 2.35″ width.
Weights and Prices
Claimed weights range from 990g for the TRS+ in a 27.5 to 1257g for the LG1r in the 29er version. Tires are priced at $69.95 for the Race tires and $59.95 for the Plus, with all four available in 27.5 x 2.35″ or 29 x 2.35″ sizes.
