Matador’s New Generation Winter Tyres – A Stronger Focus on Safety

When the decision was made to produce a third generation of passenger car winter tyre, Matador gave its design team the brief of coming up with a tyre specifically suited to the challenging driving conditions encountered during the European winter. The team set out to create a product possessing what they considered the optimal shape – and the end result was the MP59 Nordicca.

Compared with its predecessors, the MP59 Nordicca has been developed with a stronger emphasis on driving safety, particularly in the most demanding conditions. Matador believes the enhanced traction and braking properties on snow and ice surfaces afforded by the new tyre are strong factors that contribute to a more rewarding and comfortable driving experience. In addition to increased grip on snow and ice, the 3-D lamellas on the MP59 Nordicca’s tread pattern blocks allow for greater stability and rigidity in the blocks during dry surface transfers of load.

The tread pattern is asymmetrical with chunkier tread blocks on the outer edge. The compound is HD silica, which Matador claims will both enhance adhesion and significantly increase the tyre’s service life. The sidewall provides users with indicators of remaining service life, as well as each tyre’s position on the vehicle.

The Slovakian tyremaker’s confidence in their new product was reflected by their decision to invite a group of journalists and business partners from the UK and a number of other European countries to test the MP59 Nordicca, along with the company’s other winter tyres, in the Low Tatra Mountains during February. Test conditions included timed slalom courses, road circuits and off-road routes. Matador reports that the feedback from participants was very positive, with the consensus being that the tyres were able to well master any obstacle thrown at them.