Which Grappler Tire Should You Run?

Three treads, three casings, two compounds. Here is how to narrow it down in about a minute.

The short version. Run a Grappler on the front, in MoPo. If your rear wheel is 27.5", pair it with an RS on the rear. If your rear wheel is 29", there's no RS for you, so run a second Grappler in Momentum instead. Pick the casing by how hard you hit things.

1. Pick the tread

This is the decision that changes how the bike feels most, so make it first. Each tread comes in a fixed set of casings and compounds, so this choice narrows the next two for you.

Grappler, 2.5" is the one that grips. Deep, widely spaced lugs with a supported center row, so it bites in the wet and clears mud instead of packing with it. This is your front tire in almost every case, and your rear too if you ride steep, loose, or wet.

Available 29" and 27.5", in Flux GR or Flux AM casing, MoPo or Momentum. The radial version covers both sizes and both compounds.

Grappler RS, 2.4" is built for the back wheel only. The center knobs are taller and ramped, so they roll over rather than dig in, and they give the rear brake more to work with. Pair it behind a Grappler and the bike gets faster without losing the front end.

There's no 29" RS. It exists only in 27.5" x 2.4", which makes it a mullet and 27.5 part. In Flux GR it comes in MoPo only. For Momentum, take the radial RS.

Grappler TR, 2.4" is the fast one. Same rear-biased layout as the RS with a shallower center, so it gives up some bite for rolling speed and weight. Hardpack, dry dirt, and trails where you pedal more than you brake.

The TR comes one way: Flux AM casing, Momentum compound, 29" or 27.5". That's the whole decision.

2. Pick the casing

The casing decides how much abuse the tire takes and how it feels taking it.

Flux GR Radial is a true radial construction: 72 TPI dual-ply with Dual Apex inserts in each sidewall. The casing threads run straight across the tire, which lets the tread follow the ground instead of being held flat. A 30% larger contact patch at the same pressure, and a suspension-like feel over chatter. For gravity riding and heavy, high-power E-MTBs.

Flux GR is the same 72 TPI dual-ply gravity casing with GR Apex sidewall inserts, without the radial construction. Full strength for enduro and downhill.

Flux AM is a lighter 90 TPI dual-ply casing. Trail weight, real puncture resistance.

All three run an Armor Weave sidewall. The two gravity casings add Apex inserts on top of it, and the radial lays its plies at 65 degrees where the other two sit at 52.

On pressure. You do not need to change your pressure for the radial casing. Run what you normally run. In rocky terrain, go up at least 15%, the same as with our previous generation.

The Gen3 Grappler range on trail. Radial and Flux GR casings, MoPo and Momentum compounds.

3. Pick the compound

MoPo is 42a, and our grippiest compound. This generation is soft the whole way through rather than only at the surface, which slows rebound and takes vibration out of the tire. It trades life for grip. Front tire.

Momentum puts a harder 50a in the center and keeps 42a on the shoulders, so it lasts and rolls without giving up the lean angle. Rear tire, and the right answer on E-MTBs, where the center strip wears out first.

Three setups that work

Trail bike, mixed conditions. TR front and rear, the one case where a Grappler up front isn't the answer. Flux AM and Momentum, because that's how the TR comes. Light, fast, enough grip for most days.

Enduro bike, 27.5 rear. Grappler Radial front in MoPo, RS Radial rear in Momentum.

Enduro or DH, 29 rear. Grappler Radial at both ends, MoPo front and Momentum rear. Add 15% pressure if the trail is rocky.

The full range

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