Semperit Speed Life 3 vs Matador Hectorra 5
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Semperit Speed Life 3 finished ahead 3 times and the Hectorra 5 not once. The Speed Life 3 was stronger in dry and wet.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tyres posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Wins count the tests in which each tyre did better.
| Measurement | Speed Life 3 | Gap | Hectorra 5 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Speed Life 3 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking m | 37.93 | 2.5% | 38.93 | 3-0 |
| Wet Speed Life 3 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking m | 29.37 | 11.9% | 33.33 | 3-0 |
Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tyres shared.
Head to head in 3 tests, 2024 to 2026
Each row is one published test in which both tyres ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Speed Life 3 | Field | Hectorra 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? | P22 of 50 | P41 of 50 | |
| 2025 Summer Tyre Test Shootout | P25 of 52 | P37 of 52 | |
| 2024 Summer Tyre Market Overview | P23 of 55 | P43 of 55 |
Speed Life 3 vs Hectorra 5: your questions
Is the Semperit Speed Life 3 or the Matador Hectorra 5 the better tyre?
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Semperit Speed Life 3 finished ahead 3 times and the Hectorra 5 not once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Speed Life 3 scores 7.7 and the Hectorra 5 6.1 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Speed Life 3 or the Hectorra 5?
The Speed Life 3 led 3 of the 3 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 11.9% shorter in the wet across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Speed Life 3 led 3 of the 3 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.5% shorter in the dry across 3 tests.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.5/10 for the Speed Life 3 and 8.6/10 for the Hectorra 5.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Speed Life 3 81% from 2 reviews and the Hectorra 5 87% from 8.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Speed Life 3 is made in 90 sizes (15 to 21 inch) and the Hectorra 5 in 94 (14 to 21 inch). 74 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Speed Life 3 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Hectorra 5 B and C.
Which is the newer tyre?
The Hectorra 5 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2022, the Speed Life 3 in 2019. The Speed Life 3 replaced the Semperit SpeedLife 2.
More comparisons with these tyres
Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tyre wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tyres ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tyres can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.