Specialized S-works Eskar 2Bliss 2.3 Tire Review

Specialized Eskar 2Bliss

If you’re a skilled rider and braking traction and cornering are what you’re after, than the Specialized Eskar is for you.

Climbing & Descending:

The Escar has a row of wide blocks & wedges down the middle of the tire that give it incredible traction for both braking and climbing.  I’ve mainly been running it as a front tire, and even under extremely heavy braking it feels very in control.

Cornering:

The Escar has big, wide cornering blocks on the shoulder of the tire, and they mean business.  They’re spaced fairly close together, all in a row, and if you really lean the bike over in a corner they dig in and take hold of whatever trail you’re on.  I’ve ridden them in soft loamy dirt, wet trail, hard pack, and loose dirt gravel on top of hard pack, and in all cases it cornered as well or better than any tire I’ve ridden.  However, there is a bit of a blind spot between the center blocks and the side knobs on the shoulder of the tire, much like on the Maxxis HighRoller.  If you’re tentative in a corner and only partially commit your bike, it may well slide or drift until it’s far enough over for the side knobs to hook up.  And they will hook up.  But if you’re not ready for the drift or comfortable with it, this may not be the tire for you.  (in that case go with the Bontrager XR4)

Pros:

Incredible traction and great corner, if you commit to the corner.

Cons

The only catch is that you do have to commit the bike into the corners and really lean it over.  There’s a gap between the knobs on the top of the tire and cornering knobs on the side of the tire, and if you try to corner on that gap the tire will drift or slide out until the cornering knobs on the shoulder catch.  The first time that happened it was pretty unsettling.  Now I’m used to it, and know to really lean the bike over.

Ride this tire if you are:

• Looking for a great tire for all conditions
• Want confidence in corners
• Like to know that if you hit the brakes the tire will hold
• Like to run tubeless tires.

Less ideal for:

XC racer looking for an extremely fast rolling tire.  The knobs on this are big enough that they won’t roll as fast as some of the lower profile XC race tires like the Maxxis Crossmark or Bontrager XR2.

Also not ideal for a rider who wants great traction no matter how good (or poor) their cornering technique is.  For the less advanced rider I’d recommend the Bontrager XR4 tire.  It’s fantastic for just about anyone except the XC racer weight weenie.

Cost (MSRP) $45
Rolling speed: Medium
Grip: High – on loose terrain
Durability: High
Idea use: trail riding / all mountain riding, Downhill
Ideal bike: 5” – 7” travel bike
Weight: 770 grams