Matador MP 59 Nordicca MS

These were great winter tires that were finally replaced for reasons I'll explain below. They actually still had a lot of tread left. Grip in the dry and wet was very good. When they were new, I could drive on ice that I couldn't walk on as if it was a damp road. They made short work of moderate snow. They were extremely comfortable and usually quiet although certain road surfaces caused a drone. Handling was OK although the tread squirmed under hard acceleration, needing care to keep in a straight line. I noticed when I put them on for the fifth winter that cold weather grip wasn't as good. When I put them on for season six, the tread had hardened further. They had no grip whatsoever on a slightly icy road and were immediately scrapped. This may be an issue for most winter tires. In future I'll be scrapping tires when they're five years old, regardless of wear

very good tires exellent in snow and gold weather caution in much water to aquaplaning

I had a set of these put on our Doblo Cargo a few weeks ago in anticipation of the cold, and possibly white, winter ahead. Although they've only done around 500 miles so far, they seem to be very good. Temperatures haven't really got above 5 or 6 deg, and some mornings have been icy - initially (first 100 miles or so) the tires felt a bit 'squirmy' and I felt a distinct tendency towards oversteeer, but they've either 'settled' now, or I'm used to the feeling! I've driven through standing water at reasonable speeds, and not noticed any aquaplaning, and on wet roads the tires offer good grip and show no scary traits when cornering - bear in mind that though the Doblo's not driven flat out, and its in no way a performance vehicle, so these observations are relative to that style of driving! They cost me just under £50 a corner, so quite a saving on 'premium' brands for something that, to me at least, offers just what I was looking for (so far!) in a winter tire. I'll report back if it snows!

My driving style is very progressive as I like to test tires to see what their limits are in all conditions. I've been through all brands of summer tires on my 220 bhp st220 and vectra 150sri but this was my first set of winter tires. I went from 215/50/17w in the summer to 225/45/17H.
Bought Them on 15 dec 2012 when it was 5 degrees only for it to go to 12 degrees the next day and for the following week! However this gave me a chance to get them scrubbed in and test them in slight warmer conditions......Review as follows
At 12 degrees I drove them on a 800 mile round trip from the north east to wiltshire. Dry grip was really good and they were comfortable, similar to Barum bravuris2. Yes they are a softer compound but if you raise your tire psi a little in warmer conditions it limits any movement in the softer sidewall/compound. I know some have commented on the wet grip not being up to scratch but let me explain the characteristics of the tire with respect to this....if it was raining or roads were damp I pushed them hard accelerating on roundabouts, and although they don't inspire 100% confidence like premium brands in the wet such as Michelin ps2/3 or Goodyear assym 2 , they have never let go or felt even remotely dangerous an I would put them at 95%... I drove in torrential rain for several hours and they were great. The only time they twitched was when they aquaplaned slightly going through a 10ft long, 3 inch deep puddle at 60mph, but I don't know many tires that wouldnt twitch slightly in similar circumstances....
7 degrees and below.... The tire performance improves the colder it gets. When it got down to 0-3 degrees they felt similar to my summer tires with regards to comfort... Below 0 and again performed great..... We've now had 5 days of snow and ice so I've had the chance to test them properly down to -7. In soft snow or snow on ice they've been great.... I've headed for every snow covered hill in sight including one at a 50 degree angle covered in ice with 3 inches of fresh snow... Went up and turned no problem in 2nd gear with only slight movement when turning after I applied a few too many revs....obviously you still can't drive like an idiot in snow but u can trust them as long as your are sensible... Don't think you would get stuck in snow at any time.... In slush or wet snow they are not the greatest when turning as they slide slightly , but they soon regain traction... In straight lines it's no problem......I would put this down to the tread pattern as there is no continuous block in the rubber which would help prevent the side movement...
In summary they are a decent tire... Looking at reviews of other winter tires i would imagine they are a slightly cheaper version of the continental winter contact ts830p, about 30 quid cheaper per tire fitted...

Have run these tires in the worst of last years winter in colchester! on wet or dry roads they were great, on the ice and compacted snow they were truly awesome. I was the only car running and making 4x4's look pathetic, climbed a 1 in 5 hill, stopped at the top and pulled away without a hint of a slip or skid. The tire comes with a really thick rim protector which has saved my alloys on more than one occasion. well worth the money.

Excellent winter tire(you don't get stucked), but you must be carefull on wet surfaces.

Brilliant. £240 set me up for winter driving in a VW Sharan. (Good ground clearance helped in the deep snow (15cm)). I can totally recomment these. During the recent snow in December 2010 I kept moving when the only other vehicles were 4X4. I even managed when it the snow became sheet ice and no other ordinary car could go... Seriously, there were at least 12 occasions when other cars failed to get up a hill and I just passed them... even a FreeLander and a Volvo Cross Country. Bring on the snow!

Great handling on dry surface, fuel economy, and very good traction on snow and ice. You must be carefull on wet surfaces (0.8 mm of water at 74 km/h...acvaplaning)

Excellent winter tire, highly recommended for use in the Arctic North East of England.