e*thirteen TRS tire review
These tires come in 27.5 and 29×2.35 versions.
Editor’s Note: This article was written by Scotty Ender of Art’s Cyclery. The original post can be found here.
Lowdown: e*thirteen TRS Tire
Buy these tires immediately — they changed my life and will change yours, too. Here’s why.
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Review: e*thirteen TRS Tire
I’ve never been much for getting my bike perfectly tuned. Whether you slap a 15mm or 25mm rise handlebar on my bike, I wouldn’t notice the difference. The same went for tires, or at least did, until I rode e*thirteen’s TRS tires. For the first time ever, I understood what real traction was, how dramatically a tire’s casing affects ride quality, and the nuances of a tire’s tread pattern. e*thirteen put an incredible amount of effort into this tire and it shows.
Tread life was reasonable, especially considering they were tested on the tire-destroying trails around San Luis Obispo.
Note: TRSr tires feature an ultra-tacky triple compound rubber, while the TRS+ tires sport a more long-lasting dual compound rubber. Because e*thirteen’s TRSr and TRS+ tires are otherwise identical, the reviews are the same for both sets of tires.
Casing
I truly had no idea that a casing could so dramatically alter and enhance a tire. Fact: my test trails in San Luis Obispo eat tires. Pinch flats are common and extra tubes are a must. I can sum up the TRS casing by simply saying, I no longer carry extra tubes. It’s a bad habit, I know, but it’s true. I just don’t pinch flat anymore. The casing, which is called an “enduro” casing in the current parlance, utilizes an extra layer of protection as well as an ultra-slow-rebound rubber, which makes this tire predictable and forgiving through rocks. The casing offers the feel of a DH tire without the extra weight.
Large side knobs increase cornering traction.
Traction
The TRS’s tread is reminiscent of a few other tires on the market, namely Michelin’s Wild Rock’R and Maxxis’s DHR. The only difference is that the TRS is better… by a longshot. Not only do both TRSr (“race” triple compound) and TRS+ (“durable” double compound) offer insane amounts of bite thanks to their compounds, but the well-spaced, ultra-beefy, and super-angular knobs grab hold of anything and everything. From loam to loose rocks, even on hardpack, this tire has traction for days. Initially, it felt a little bit slow while pedaling, but the tradeoff of monster traction on the descent is well worth it in my opinion.
Another thing worth mentioning is how predictable e*thirteen’s TRS tires are. These tires let me know exactly how hard I could push before they’d let go and when they finally did, I knew precisely where they’d go, how far they’d go, and how quickly they’d get there.
Deep siping on the top of the large side knobs help to soften the corner of the knob in deeper lean angles, giving you that extra bit of traction when you need it most. Also designed to help at extreme lean angles, the sides of the cornering knobs feature accordion sipes that promote controlled folding. This tire utilizes both perpendicular and parallel siping on the center knobs, offering more than enough braking and cornering traction to keep you upright and focused on the next corner.
Weight
At 950 grams, these tires punch well above their weight class in terms of both traction and durability. I’d previously loved WTB’s Vigilante for its predictability and traction, but at around 1100 grams, I got more flats and less traction than with the TRS tires. Being able to ride with the type of confidence that these tires offer, knowing that your tires won’t leave you flat and bummed is well worth an extra 100 grams or so.
The reinforced sidewall reduces the chance of getting stranded on the side of the trail with a slashed tire.
Bottom Line
This tire’s tread pattern lends itself to predictability in corners, regardless of surface. Without transition knobs to get you from the center to the cornering knobs, e*thirteen has designed the center knobs to roll you over to the cornering knobs without that split-second of “in-between” that can be incredibly unnerving if you’re not ready for it. Bottom line, e*thirteen’s TRS tires are, without a doubt, the best tires that I’ve ever run both front and rear. Incredible casing, monster traction, and ultra user-friendly. I’d recommend a TRSr (race) up front and a TRS+ (plus) out back.
For more info, please visit bythehive.com.
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