Editor’s Note: This report was filed by Grannygear from Southern California

After mounting the Captain Controls onto the Leviathan, I decided to throw the 2.3 Eskars onto the Karate Monkey in its present form as single speed. I had been thinking about running a larger tire on the SS Monkey to aid in overall cushiness and climbing traction at the rear wheel. The present combo of a nearly new Ignitor front tire and a 50% worn Ignitor rear tire were getting it done, but would the larger Eskars provide a nicer ride and more traction? Are they that much bigger than the 2.1 Ignitors? We shall see.

First, the Eskars hit the scale. The Eskar S Works tires are actually lighter than the 2.2 Captain Controls in the non-S casing. I measured the pair at 700 and 720 grams each (20 to 30 grams less than the Captains).

Then I measured the front Ignitor, the newer one, as it sat on the DT Swiss 7.1TK rims with 25lbs of air pressure. It was 2.025” from sidewall to sidewall, 2.085” from tread edge to tread edge, and 2.80” as a combo of rim to tire height.

I mounted up the Eskar (both tires were mounted with tubes) and re-measured at the same 25 lbs of tire pressure. It came out as 1.8” sidewall to sidewall, 2.16” tread edge to tread edge, and 2.80” of height with the rim and tire measured together.

Hmmm…not much bigger than the 2.1 Ignitors. The hope of a cushy, bigger tire kinda faded a bit, but they are much knobbier looking to the eye, making them seem bigger even though the tape said different. Traction should not be an issue! As well, perhaps they will grow a bit over time as they become ‘seasoned’.

They were an easy fit into the Karate Monkey, which is pretty generous as far as rear tire to chainstay room. I did get a surprise as I rolled off for a ride. The brake arms were coming in far enough to rub on the side knobs (I need new brake pads!) so the tires were sure chunkier at the tread.

I will run them on the SS and see if they deliver, then maybe swap ‘em around a bit. Stay tuned.