E*Thirteen’s first foray into the tyre market, the TRS range incorporates a number of exciting features that draw upon recent advances in wheel and tyre technologies.
What is the E*Thirteen TRS?
There are two versions of the TRS tyre, the TRS Race and the TRS Plus. We’ll be testing the TRS Plus, which uses slightly harder rubber compounds than the Race, however out of the box the compound feels very soft, similar to Maxxis’ 3C tyres, which is impressive considering this is the entry level tyre in the range. The Plus retails for $99.95, and the Race retails for 114.95, and both tyres are available in 27.5″ and 29″ options.
The tyre profile is aggressive, with wide knob spacing, but the profiling of the centre knobs is quite low, and the compound of the centre tread is slightly firmer, which should assist in decreasing rolling resistance.
In the pivotal cornering department, the TRS uses meaty, angled knobs. The knobs have additional support at the base, which should assist in preventing knobs from collapsing or tearing during hard cornering. The compound of the cornering knobs is very soft, so it will be interesting to assess the TRS’s durability throughout testing.
Will they work with my rims if they have wide internal widths?
Due to the advent of wider internal rim widths, E*Thirteen designed the TRS range to work specifically with 24-31mm internals. The test wheelset they are currently mounted to is a SRAM Roam wheelset boasting a 30mm internal rim width, and the tyre profile looks spot on.
How heavy are they?
In terms of weight, the TRS Plus comes in at a very respectable 870 grams. Considering the aggressive tread pattern and reinforced sidewalls, and that an alternative like a 2.3 Maxxis Minion DHF in the comparable Double Down sidewall protection comes in at over 1000 grams, we’re impressed. It will be interesting to see if the lighter weight comes at the cost of puncture protection considering the style of riding these tyres are aimed at.
Where would you use this tyre?
The open spacing of the TRS and tall cornering knobs will provide excellent traction in a variety of trail conditions. We will be running the tyre front and rear, however if you were to pair this tyre we would recommend using it as a front tyre with something faster rolling out back.
Our first impressions of the TRS Plus are positive, so we’re excited to see how they perform out on the trail.
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