e*thirteen Grappler Radial is the most affordable radial MTB tire of 2026

e*thirteen has rebuilt the Grappler tire from the casing out, adding a true radial option to what was previously a single gravity-focused tire. The new lineup branches into three tread patterns — Grappler, Grappler RS, and Grappler TR — each available across up to three casing tiers, topped by the Flux GR Radial at $79.95. That price point puts radial MTB performance within reach in a way no other brand has managed in 2026.

In a conventional bias-ply tire, the casing cords run diagonally across the tread at roughly 45 degrees, creating a structure that trades some compliance for sidewall stiffness. A radial tire runs those cords perpendicular to the direction of travel — bead to bead — allowing the tread to conform more freely to the terrain underwheel. e*thirteen claims this geometry produces a 30% larger contact patch at equal air pressure compared to bias-ply tires, translating to broader braking bite and more grip in loose or technical corners. The catch historically has been sidewall wallowing under lateral load, which e*thirteen addresses with its proprietary Dual Apex Sidewall Inserts — a pair of stiff inserts that reinforce each sidewall while leaving the tread compliant. The result, the brand says, is a tire you can run at normal trail pressures without the 4–6 PSI inflation premium that other radials typically demand.BikeRumorBikeMag

The Grappler family now covers three distinct tread designs. The flagship Grappler keeps the aggressive 2-3-2 center-lug layout it was known for — big knobs spaced for mud clearance and loose-over-hard traction. The Grappler RS is a 27.5-inch-only rear-specific tire with a tighter 2-2-2 pattern and tall, steeply ramped center knobs engineered for braking traction and rolling speed. The Grappler TR shares the RS tread footprint but with shorter-profile center knobs, shaving weight and rolling resistance for hardpack and dry conditions. Casing choice then layers on top: the Grappler is available in all three Flux tiers (AM, GR, and GR Radial), the Grappler RS in the two heavier-duty GR tiers, and the TR only in the lightweight Flux AM. Rubber compounds are MoPo — a single-durometer 42a throughout the entire tread for maximum grip — or Momentum, a dual-compound design with a firmer 50a center for durability and rolling efficiency paired with 42a shoulders, aimed at rear-wheel and eMTB use.BikeRumorPinkBikeBikeMag

Weights are competitive without being ultralight. The Grappler in Flux GR Radial casing comes in at 1,425g (27.5) or 1,510g (29). Step down to the non-radial Flux GR and you add roughly 20g — 1,445g and 1,520g respectively — presumably from the Dual Apex insert material swapped for the simpler GR Apex sidewall reinforcement. The Flux AM version of the Grappler is meaningfully lighter at 1,255g (27.5) or 1,305g (29), and that lighter casing is the only option for the Grappler TR. For the Grappler RS in 27.5, both GR-tier casings weigh the same 1,460g. All three casings use two-ply construction and Armor Weave sidewall protection; the Flux AM goes to a higher-thread-count 90 TPI weave while both GR variants run 72 TPI.BikeRumor

The pricing is the clearest statement of intent. The Flux AM-cased tires start at $59.95, the Flux GR at $69.95, and the Flux GR Radial at $79.95. That radial ceiling is $5 below the Vee Tire RAD Core ($84.99), $10 below the Specialized Radial ($89.99), and anywhere from $20 to $30 below Schwalbe's radial options. In a segment where gravity-rated tires have normalized at or above $100, e*thirteen is offering the full radial-construction package — including the sidewall-insert solution to the lateral-flex problem — for less than most non-radial competitors charge for their premium bias-ply tires. As e*thirteen product lead Joel Peters put it: "Riders shouldn't have to choose between performance and price."BikeMagBikeRumor

The Grappler Radial arrives at a moment when the MTB tire industry is broadly converging on radial construction as the next performance frontier. Pirelli launched its RC (Radial Casing) version of the Scorpion lineup, Maxxis has entered the conversation with a Forekaster Radial, and Schwalbe has been building its radial range for several seasons. What those brands share is a premium price tier; e*thirteen is the first to push the format down into the sub-$80 bracket while pairing it with a gravity-appropriate casing — two-ply, sidewall-reinforced, designed for enduro and DH loads. Whether the claimed 30% contact-patch gain holds up in independent testing remains to be seen, but on paper e*thirteen has assembled a value proposition that will be hard to ignore when riders are next pricing out a tire rotation.BikeMagBikeRumorPinkBike