e*thirteen Radial MTB Tires: Most Affordable Radial Casing in 2026

Radial tires are the cake right now, and more brands are looking to get a slice, but for the most part, this new mountain bike tire tech is fairly expensive. Vee Tire Co. has their RAD Core tires for $84.99, Specialized Radials are $89.99, and Schwalbe Radials are upwards of $100 USD. We’ve all just accepted that a premium, gravity-rated tire will cost $100 or more and feel relatively similar across the board. That is where e*thirteen has always differed; they offer pretty decent tires at a very attainable price, and the new radial tires are the most affordable on the market, at just $79.95 USD.

The big story here is the Flux GR Radial tires. While traditional tires use a bias-ply layup (where the casing cords run diagonally), a radial tire’s cords run perpendicular to the direction of travel. It’s a concept we’re all probably pretty familiar with at this point, but this is what e*thirteen is saying about the Flux Radial casing.

e*thirteen claims its tires have a 30% larger footprint at the same pressure as traditional tires, offering more rubber on the ground, better braking, and greater confidence in loose corners. The sidewalls flex for better tracking, acting as a secondary suspension to reduce fatigue and keep the bike stable. To address “wallowy” high-load cornering, they use Dual Apex Sidewall Inserts for added stability while maintaining flexibility.

As with other radial tires, e*thirteen recommends increasing your pressure by 15% to account for the extra radial compliance.

The Compounds

e*thirteen has simplified its rubber offerings into two options.

1. MoPo Compound (42a): This is the “glue” stuff. It’s a 42a durometer rubber through the entire tread, designed for maximum damping and slow-rebound grip. If you’re racing DH or Enduro and traction is your only priority, this is the one.
2. Momentum Compound: A dual-compound mix featuring a firmer 50a center for better rolling speed and durability (crucial for high-torque eMTBs) and 42a side knobs to ensure you don’t wash out when things get spicy.

The Treads & Casings

The Grappler line offers three distinct tread patterns to suit your dirt, and now they offer three casings to suit the style of riding.

• Flux AM
  90 TPI, 2-ply bias. Armor Weave sidewalls resist punctures without the weight penalty. Built for riders who climb as hard as they descend.
• Flux GR
  72 TPI dual-ply construction. GR Apex sidewall inserts for maximum support on bike park laps, enduro lines, and rock gardens.
• Flux GR Radial
  True radial plies run bead-to-bead at 65°. Bump compliance without the lateral wobble. Dual Apex inserts fix what other radials get wrong.

• The Grappler: The flagship “do-it-all” aggressive tire. It uses a 2-3-2 knob layout with massive center lugs. It looks like a beast for wet, loamy, or loose-over-hard conditions.
• The Grappler RS: Rear-specific and optimized for speed. It moves to a 2-2-2 pattern with steeper ramps to help you carry momentum while keeping the braking edges sharp.
• The Grappler TR: The “Fast and Light” option. It keeps the RS layout but drops the knob height for hardpack hero dirt or dry summer laps.

The Price

Perhaps the most impressive part of this launch isn’t the radial tech—it’s the MSRP. In an era where “budget” tires often feel like plastic, e*thirteen is launching the Grappler range between $59.95 and $79.95.

If the performance of the Flux GR Radial casing lives up to the claims, e*thirteen might have just set a new benchmark for the performance-to-value ratio.

Learn more and shop tires at ethirteen.com