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Tires: TRS vs. Rock'R2 vs DHF

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ungod

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
The Rock'R2 has been on my "to try" list for a while, and I noticed that the E*Thirteen TRS is basically the same side knobs and casing (probably made by Michelin). Has anyone compared them back-to-back?

The TRS has a reputation for being a slow roller, and the Rock'R2 is 150g heavier in 27.5, so I was curious how they even out.

And of course, I'm curious how they compare to my current front tire, a DHF 2.3.
 
#2 ·
I've tried both of them on dry loose over hard pack if you don't care about weight the rockr has much more gripp everywhere and much more puncture resistance than the e13 but it's definitely slow roller on climbs
Cheers
 
#3 ·
As long as it isn't muddy, there's probably nothing out there that will beat the Wild Rock'R2 for just pure grip, they stick to anything as long as they aren't clogged with mud.
Rolls pretty well for the grip too, not much slower than a HR2.
 
#4 ·
Shovi said:
I've tried both of them on dry loose over hard pack if you don't care about weight the rockr has much more gripp everywhere and much more puncture resistance than the e13 but it's definitely slow roller on climbs
Cheers
Click to expand...
My experience is basically the opposite between the e13 and Rockr, though I really liked both. I found the e13 to be more puncture resistant and has much better traction for the constantly wet & greasy northeast conditions at least. I can see how the Rockr would have the edge in dry over loose as it's compound is firmer.
I punctured 2 Rockrs via rim strikes and gave up. The E13 has held up for a season without punctures. Good luck getting your hands on them though, I think they are sold out till November or something.
 
#5 ·
elsinore said:
My experience is basically the opposite between the e13 and Rockr, though I really liked both. I found the e13 to be more puncture resistant and has much better traction for the constantly wet & greasy northeast conditions at least. I can see how the Rockr would have the edge in dry over loose as it's compound is firmer.
I punctured 2 Rockrs via rim strikes and gave up. The E13 has held up for a season without punctures. Good luck getting your hands on them though, I think they are sold out till November or something.
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Rock'R or Rock'R2? Huge difference between them!
E-thirteen TRS tires are based on the Rock'R2, exactly same casing (should be zero difference in protection), same side knobs, and every other row of knobs on the crown is the exact same. I have no idea about how the TRS compound compares, might even be the same there too, but I do know that the MAGI-X compound you can get on Rock'R2 is insanely sticky, as sticky if not more sticky than Schwalbe Vertstar.

To sum it up, you have either ridden the old Rock'R or you have a case of confirmation bias going.
 
#7 ·
Losvar said:
Rock'R or Rock'R2? Huge difference between them!
E-thirteen TRS tires are based on the Rock'R2, exactly same casing (should be zero difference in protection), same side knobs, and every other row of knobs on the crown is the exact same. I have no idea about how the TRS compound compares, might even be the same there too, but I do know that the MAGI-X compound you can get on Rock'R2 is insanely sticky, as sticky if not more sticky than Schwalbe Vertstar.

To sum it up, you have either ridden the old Rock'R or you have a case of confirmation bias going.
Click to expand...
On that note, did you try both versions of the TRS?
 
#9 ·
Been running the Rock R2 for a month and a bit now and love them. They are one of the best all round gripping tires, but are very slow rolling and heavy...so there is a trade off. I am back on my DHF WT now and rolling is much better and a nice shave of some grams.

Still, need to get out on some of the TRS. Stoked to read what people have to say on them
 
#10 ·
I ride all these tires

Rock'r 2: only used it as a front. As others have mentioned, super grippy, durable, very tough sidewalls. No good in mud. I haven't tried it as a rear, but I have run it with the grip'r and TRS in the rear. Both of those make for a good pairing. Between those two, rolling resistance feels the about the same to me. Nod to the Michelin for sidewall protection, nod to the TRS for weight. I tore a TRS tread. I've yet to do that with a Michelin.

For front, Rock'r 2 v DHF 2.5 WT 3c Maxterra EXO is a tough call. I run the DHF as my everyday and will use the Rock'r for lift accessed/shuttling. Rock'r2 is better in loose shale and gravel, but is significantly heavier. I've never tried Maxgripp DHF, but that could be an interesting comparison to the Rock'r2. The 2.5 DHF is more voluminous
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
Interesting, thanks all! I picked up a Rock'R2 advanced protection Magi-X off ebay for $45 so i'll give it a whirl as a front tire.

Shovi said:
I think that the rockr2 side walls are much more beefier than the e13
The weight is 1150g rockr2 vs 930g e13 a
Click to expand...
Advertised is 1050g (+/- 7%) for the Rock'R2, i'll see what it actually weighs when it gets here. Still not a light tire, but only about 75g heavier than my last DHF 2.5.
 
#12 ·
Losvar said:
Rock'R or Rock'R2? Huge difference between them!
E-thirteen TRS tires are based on the Rock'R2, exactly same casing (should be zero difference in protection), same side knobs, and every other row of knobs on the crown is the exact same. I have no idea about how the TRS compound compares, might even be the same there too, but I do know that the MAGI-X compound you can get on Rock'R2 is insanely sticky, as sticky if not more sticky than Schwalbe Vertstar.

To sum it up, you have either ridden the old Rock'R or you have a case of confirmation bias going.
Click to expand...
I've used 2 Rockr 2's, one with Gumx and one with MagicX. I've also used the E13 tires in both compounds. For the record, I loved both tires but had better luck with the E13's.

The casings are similar, but not the same. The E13 is a significantly bigger tire. It measures out just over 2.4 and was bigger than the 2.5 Minion WT I ran on the same 30 mm rim.
The e13 in race compound was also tackier than the Michelin Magicx. Where the Michelin had firmer side knobs that were better for hard, dry surfaces. The e13 is unbeatable in greasy off camber roots, rocks etc.
I'd also agree that the sidewalks were stiffer in the michelins, as they are significantly heavier. For whatever reason, I had a hard time with rim strike punctures on the Rockr2. Id guess a huck Norris or similar insert would solve that issue.
 
#13 ·
elsinore said:
The e13 in race compound was also tackier than the Michelin Magicx. Where the Michelin had firmer side knobs that were better for hard, dry surfaces. The e13 is unbeatable in greasy off camber roots, rocks etc.
Click to expand...
My experience is somewhat different. I find the magi-x compound to be the tackiest rubber I've ridden, not that the "race" e-13 is a slouch.

The fairer Michelin comparison tire to the e-13 is not the Rock'r2 but the Grip'r, which I use as a rear sometimes in the Gum-X compound. When super dry (which is common here on the Colorado front range), I'll use a Michelin Race'r Enduro as a rear with a dHF or Rock'r2 up front. The Rock'r2 is definitely a dry condition tire - which explains the consistent comments about it not being good in mud.
 
#14 ·
After ~75 all mountain miles on the E13 Race on my Ibis 941s, the side knobs were already being undercut. Also I had a leak in the seam between the tread and sidewalls. The tire was warrantied so no loss.

My non WT 3C DHF 2.5s lasted 600+ miles before looking the same as the TRS sideknobs.

Grip out of the E13 was great but I'll be going with the 2.5 WT DHFs and Aggressors for my next tire set because they're made for my wheels and seem more durable.
 
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Discussion starter · #15 ·
The Squeaky Wheel said:
My experience is somewhat different. I find the magi-x compound to be the tackiest rubber I've ridden, not that the "race" e-13 is a slouch.

The fairer Michelin comparison tire to the e-13 is not the Rock'r2 but the Grip'r, which I use as a rear sometimes in the Gum-X compound. When super dry (which is common here on the Colorado front range), I'll use a Michelin Race'r Enduro as a rear with a dHF or Rock'r2 up front. The Rock'r2 is definitely a dry condition tire - which explains the consistent comments about it not being good in mud.
Click to expand...
I was curious about the Grip'R too. How does it roll? I'm currently using an Aggressor on the rear, if that serves as a good comparison point. I also use the DHR2 a lot.
 
#16 ·
Porch said:
I was curious about the Grip'R too. How does it roll? I'm currently using an Aggressor on the rear, if that serves as a good comparison point. I also use the DHR2 a lot.
Click to expand...
It's more similar to a DHR2 than Aggressor.
I haven't ridden DHR2 for two seasons so tough for me to give an accurate comparison. I really like what Michelin does with their rubber and I don't mind the weight of the beefy sidewalls because I can run lower pressure without rim strike.

mid-summer, I move away from full on knobby rears like the DHR2, e-13 or Grip'r. Colorado front range conditions are very dry, sandy, loose and don't need those big knobby tires in the rear dragging me down.
 
#18 ·
Porch said:
Interesting, thanks! I'm in northern NM so pretty similar conditions. Agreed about not wanting a knobby tire in the back for much of the year though.
Click to expand...
gotcha. Yeah, check out the race'r enduro (650 only, last time I checked). I'm also running a Victoria Morsa in the rear. both paired with a 2.5 DHF up front. I'm leaving on a trip shortly that will have a lot of lifts and shuttling. Will likely go Michelin rock'r2 front/grip'r rear for that
 
#19 ·
elsinore said:
I've used 2 Rockr 2's, one with Gumx and one with MagicX. I've also used the E13 tires in both compounds. For the record, I loved both tires but had better luck with the E13's.

The casings are similar, but not the same. The E13 is a significantly bigger tire. It measures out just over 2.4 and was bigger than the 2.5 Minion WT I ran on the same 30 mm rim.
The e13 in race compound was also tackier than the Michelin Magicx. Where the Michelin had firmer side knobs that were better for hard, dry surfaces. The e13 is unbeatable in greasy off camber roots, rocks etc.
I'd also agree that the sidewalks were stiffer in the michelins, as they are significantly heavier. For whatever reason, I had a hard time with rim strike punctures on the Rockr2. Id guess a huck Norris or similar insert would solve that issue.
Click to expand...
Interesting, I always thought the Rock'R2 and TRS were exactly the same tire but with different logo printed on the side. I am running a Rockr2 Magi-X front and Gum-X rear, but my front tire is wearing out, and starting to get unpredictable slide-outs. When the tires were new, the grip was phenomenal. I had to start running a front fender year round because it picked up and threw so many pebbles in my face.

Before the Rock'rs, I ran Conti Trail King 2.4's, I found the Rock'rs to be much faster rolling and to have much more cornering grip than the Trail Kings. However, the Rock'r casing is much lower volume, and I have to pick my line more carefully with the Rock'rs, in contrast to the Trail Kings which could monster truck over anything. I was looking for a tire that rides like the Rock'R but with more volume, so maybe I'll try out the TRS. I have not measured my Rock'rs, but they seem a bit smaller than their stated width of 2.35.
 
#20 ·
The Squeaky Wheel said:
gotcha. Yeah, check out the race'r enduro (650 only, last time I checked). I'm also running a Victoria Morsa in the rear. both paired with a 2.5 DHF up front. I'm leaving on a trip shortly that will have a lot of lifts and shuttling. Will likely go Michelin rock'r2 front/grip'r rear for that
Click to expand...
I ran a Race'R Enduro in the rear for a while, was very surprised with how much grip it could generate with such small knobs, I have a Bontrager SE2 in the rear now, and I don't think it's quite as good as the Race'R.
 
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