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Matador MP 44 Elite 3

The Matador MP 44 Elite 3 is a High Performance Summer tyre designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars.

6.3
Tyre Reviews Score Based on User Reviews
Limited Confidence View Breakdown
Dry Grip
90%
Wet Grip
84%
Road Feedback
85%
Handling
71%
Wear
81%
Comfort
78%
Buy again
88%
16 Reviews
82% Average
65,313 miles driven
4 Tests (avg: 23rd)
Matador MP 44 Elite 3

Matador MP 44 Elite 3

Summer Economy
BETA
6.3 / 10
Based on User Reviews · Limited Confidence · Updated 23 Feb 2026

The Tyre Reviews Score is the most comprehensive tyre scoring system available. It aggregates professional test data from multiple independent publications, user reviews, and consistency analysis using Bayesian statistical methods, weighted normalisation, and recency-adjusted scoring to produce a single, reliable performance rating.

Learn more about our methodology
Score Components
Professional Tests
Weight: 80%
Tests: 4
Publications: 2
Period: 2013 - 2018
User Reviews
Weight: 15%
Reviews: 16
Avg Rating: 82.3%
Min Required: 5
Consistency
Weight: 5%
Score Std Dev: 0.08
History Points: 10
Methodology & Configuration
Scoring Process
  1. Collect Test Data: Gather results from professional tyre tests across multiple publications. Minimum 1 test(s) required.
  2. Normalize Positions: Convert test positions to percentile scores using exponential weighting (factor: 1.2).
  3. Apply Recency Weighting: More recent tests are weighted higher with a decay rate of 0.95.
  4. Incorporate User Reviews: Factor in user review data (minimum 5 reviews). Weight: 15%.
  5. Bayesian Smoothing: Apply Bayesian prior (score: 7, weight: 1.5) to prevent extreme scores with limited data.
  6. Calculate Final Score: Combine all components using normalization factor of 1.1. Max score with limited data: 9.5.
Component Weights
Test Data
80%
User Reviews
15%
Consistency
5%
All Configuration Parameters
ParameterValueDescription
safety_weight 0.7 Weight multiplier for safety-related metrics
performance_weight 0.55 Weight multiplier for performance metrics
comfort_weight 0.4 Weight multiplier for comfort metrics
value_weight 0.45 Weight multiplier for value-for-money metrics
user_reviews_weight 0.15 How much user reviews contribute to the final score
test_data_weight 0.8 How much professional test data contributes to the final score
consistency_weight 0.05 How much score consistency contributes to the final score
recency_decay_rate 0.95 Rate at which older test results lose influence (higher = slower decay)
min_test_count 1 Minimum number of professional tests required
min_review_count 5 Minimum number of user reviews required
score_version 1.9 Current version of the scoring algorithm
score_normalization_factor 1.1 Factor used to normalize raw scores to the 0-10 scale
confidence_factor_weight 0.2 How much data confidence affects the final score
position_penalty_weight 0.2 Penalty applied for poor test positions
gap_penalty_threshold 12 Score gap (%) that triggers additional penalties
min_metrics_count 2 Minimum number of test metrics needed per test
limited_data_threshold 2 Number of tests below which data is considered limited
single_test_penalty 0.75 Score multiplier when only one test is available
critical_metric_penalty 0.7 Penalty for poor performance on critical safety metrics
critical_metric_threshold 70 Score below which a critical metric penalty applies
position_exponential_factor 1.2 Exponent used to amplify position-based scoring
position_exponential_threshold 0.9 Position percentile below which exponential scoring applies
gap_multiplier_critical 3 Multiplier for critical gap penalties
max_category_weight 2 Maximum weight any single category can have
max_score_limited_data 9.5 Score cap when data is limited
bayesian_prior_weight 1.5 Weight of the Bayesian prior in smoothing
bayesian_prior_score 7 Prior score used for Bayesian smoothing
evidence_test_multiplier 1.9 Multiplier for test evidence in confidence calculation
evidence_metric_divisor 3 Divisor for metric count in evidence calculation
evidence_review_divisor 10 Divisor for review count in evidence calculation
combined_penalty_floor 0.2
Data Sources
TestPublicationDateSizePositionMetrics
2018 AutoBild Summer Tyre Overview Auto Bild 2018 195/65 R15 23/47 0 metrics
2016 Market Overview - Braking Test Auto Bild 2016 205/55 R16 20/50 0 metrics
2014 Auto Review Summer Tyre Test - 205/55 R16 Auto Review 2014 205/55 R16 11/16 0 metrics
2013 54 Tyre Braking Test 2013 195/65 R15 38/54 0 metrics
4
Tests
23rd
Average
11th
Best
38th
Worst
Latest Tyre Test Results
23rd/47
20th/50
Good grip in the wet and dry
Low level of comfort
Matador tyres success in its segment is easy to predict,the Slovak company Matador is 100 percent owned concern Continental. Previously, the Matador and produced by the joint venture Matador Omskshina in Omsk, but now the company will produce for the Continental part of Russian models at its plant in Kaluga, and part - supply of Slovakia. According to the brake test on wet roads, the Matador is in third place! And on the road handling can go fast. Slightly quick transition to slip, but the car remains under control. On dry pavement tyres Matador also work perfectly: good braking characteristics, the turns can go quickly and without fear of slides - the car continues to uniquely respond to the steering and traction. Noise and smoothness - average. Overall a very good combination of price and quality. Recommended.

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Top 3 Matador MP 44 Elite 3 Reviews

Given 77% while driving a Opel Astra H GTC (205/55 R16) on mostly country roads for 0 spirited miles
Good tyre, made some research, this page convinced me to buy them, very good in dry, good in wet, not bad on wear, litle bit noisy. Excelent price, for 205/55 r16 some 45 euro/piece with install. Driving style not agressive, but sometimes on the open road and corners a bit speedier, allways confident with this tyre. Some 20000 km on them, still good.
April 10, 2017
Given 91% while driving a Volvo S40 1.8SE (205/50 R16 V) on a combination of roads for 200 average miles
Excellent tyres. Fantastic wet and dry grip! Quiet as well with sufficient road feedback. They are excellent value for money and perform very well.

Highly recommended.
October 5, 2013
Given 96% while driving a Renault Megane (205/55 R16 V) on a combination of roads for 1,200 average miles
MP 44 Elite 3 tires are great for a reasonable price! Drove 2000 km and I am very pleased with their behavior, both dry and wet. Good job Matador!
July 30, 2014

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Latest Matador MP 44 Elite 3 Reviews

Given 91% while driving a Nissan Note SE (185/65 R15 H) on mostly town for 3,000 average miles
For the money these Matadors have proved to be an excellent buy. I was running on Kumho Solus KH17 and I found they wore out quickly and weren't great in the wet. I researched these at length and I'm well pleased with the end result.
June 24, 2013
Given 90% while driving a Rover rover 200 turbo coupe (195/55 R15 V) on mostly country roads for 4,000 average miles
on the back of an old rover 200 turbo coupe(nexens reviewed for the front)
good honest tyre and no complaints
on all but something special a fellow would not know the difference between these and much more fancy tyres
+ i would not say the turbo is slow either and older fashioned handling(hrumph)
February 3, 2013
Given 74% while driving a Vauxhall Omega (225/55 R16 W) on a combination of roads for 5,000 spirited miles
Incredible grip most of the time wet or dry, amazingly seem to need to warm up. In cold weather for the first mile there's no grip.

Give good feedback, but when you keep pushing they let go quite quickly. I got XL ones as its all they had in stock. Supposed to take 95 load rated was a disaster on the 93's I had when I got a set of Michelin's. The XL ones are taking there toll on jelly mould chassis of the Omega but at long last its fun to drive with these tyres.
January 2, 2013
Given 93% while driving a Vauxhall corsa sport (165/65 R14) on a combination of roads for 20,000 spirited miles
these are the best value tyres on the market , excellent grip in the wet and the dry and surprisingly grippy in the frost , i would recommend these tyres to anyone .
December 5, 2012
Given 80% while driving a Mazda Mx5 2008 (205/50 R16) on mostly town for 300 spirited miles
I have just fitted those tyres in my 2007 Mazda mx5.

First impression is very very good grip in slippery dry roads.
Also, i feel that those tyres feel a bit harsh comparing to my old Michelin Pilot Exalto but with much more feedback!

I'm very happy with them so far.
September 14, 2012
Given 53% while driving a Vauxhall Astra (195/65 R15 H) on a combination of roads for 13 average miles
Previous tyres lasted over 25,000 mixed miles before wear was near limit. Tyre fitter said these were good and went with them. From the off the tyres felt slow and heavy with loads of road rumble and thumps from minor imperfections!! Grip is fine but after less than 14,000 miles wear is getting close to limit!!
Bad choice, won't be getting these again.
July 20, 2012
Given 84% while driving a Citroën XM 2.0 TCT Prestige Auto (205/60 R15 H) on a combination of roads for 2,000 average miles
I bought these for my XM as I wanted something value for money but also a decent tyre. These were recomended to me by my chosen tyre supplier as fitting that description. They also said that Matator is owned/part of Continental and having had good experiences with that brand before, I bought these MP44s.

I have only covered around 2500 miles since fitting them to the front, however there is no noticeable signs of wear yet.

I usually fit Michelins to my Citroens and have another XM with Michelin Energy Savers, which suit the car well. However, these Matadors are quite hard to tell apart from the Michelins, in terms of grip, road noise and ride, its all very good.

I had trip around Wales just after fitting these, it was very wet and flooded but the tyres never gave any worries. Wet grip is pretty excellent for the price you pay for these tyres. I do tend to be a bit of a spirited driver and they did not let me down on the soaked and twisty country lanes.

They seem to be a step up in quality from older Matador tyres, the siewall looks more upmarket. Alone with the legal 1.6mm tread markers they also have ones slightly higher at 3mm, which is referred to as the recommended tyre change thread wear. Along with this safety feature there are numbers which appear in the tread itelf, as the tyre wears lower numbers are exposed which give a rough guide to how many mm of tread is left, a great idea! Mine are just starting to show 6mm of tread.

Its not a sporty feeling tyre but for my car that is not what I was wanting. Its a very good alrounder which grips very well in the wet and dry, gives a good ride, low road noise and seems to wear quite well. Impressive for the money, glad I didn't pay twice as much on some Michelins!

I would recommend them and will consider them again.
July 6, 2012
Given 100% while driving a Volkswagen Golf Gt sport Tdi (205/55 R16 V) on a combination of roads for 10,000 average miles
I am lost for words excelent tyres through an through great grip in the wet an dry i just cant not rate these tyres high enough!!!
wish i had gone with them long time ago.
got mine in tyres direct ni in lurgan who are the only matador dealers in the whole town.
i was reassured by the sales person and since have visited the tyre center again to thank them on the great recommendation,
June 7, 2012
Given 89% while driving a Vauxhall Astra 1.7 CDTI (205/55 R16 V) on mostly country roads for 2,000 spirited miles
Dealer fitted on the car when purchased. Was ready to get them swapped for "proper" tyres (Bridgestone Turanza ER300 or T001), but having driven on the Matadors I don't think there's any reason to change. In fact, I think I might try and source more of these tyres in the future, rather than my normal Bridgestones.

Recommended.
May 15, 2012
Given 90% while driving a Volkswagen Golf (225/45 R17 W) on a combination of roads for 1,000 spirited miles
had continentals on the back and Falken 452's on the front of a golf GTI. Just swapped for an entire set of these. They grip the road so much better especially in the dry, and suprising in the wet. No understeer squeel, little road noise on motorways and wearing well. Would definately buy again
November 10, 2011
Given 90% while driving a Opel Astra G (205/50 R16 V) on a combination of roads for 1,000 spirited miles
This tyre was an extremely nice surprise for me. They have a very good grip on both dry and wet surfaces. I would definately buy them again.
April 12, 2010
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