What I want to note in this tire from the positive, Matador Hectorra 3 is the best tire (in my opinion) when driving in the rain, downpour, through puddles in a rut. The behavior of this tire in such weather is extremely predictable, driving into and out of puddles very confidently, there is absolutely no Aqua planning, and this is at a speed of 90-120, for example, the Bridgestone potenza re050a rides completely differently at this speed, it holds the road worse . (and the price difference is 2 times) It feels like in winter, when the temperature is plus 5 and puddles with snow, and you ride through puddles on good studded tires, i. E. holds the road in the rain at 5. I would also add that I didn’t drive much on this rubber in sub-zero weather, it also holds the road well! Regarding the sidewall, in my case the sidewall was reinforced with XL FR, but this is relative to Bridgestone potenza re050a, I would say the usual sidewall. Second, the Hectorra 3 is the softest tire I've ever ridden. I didn’t experience such smooth control! ) At first, I just didn’t recognize the car, I didn’t think that the rubber would change the car’s behavior so much, the car just felt like it started to float along the road, in the good sense of the word))) (it’s clear that we are talking about asphalt is not about gravel roads). Of course, the comparison is more with what was previously standing - Bridgestone potenza re050a NOT Runflat. What tire is it close to? - this is of course Continental, only Matador will be softer. The person who put this rubber on me in 2022 had exactly the same opinion, his opinion is “the tire itself is very soft”.
The third is keeping in a rut. Holds up great.
Fourth - the price of 2022. When buying a Matador Hectorra 3 100 Y XL FR, I considered Bridgestone, Nokia, Matador, Barum.
I did not consider Chinese and Korean tires, at that time Matador Hectorra 3 245/45 R18 100 Y XL FR - price per piece. 7048 rub. Bridgestone potenza re050a - 15,000. Nokia, Barum cost about - 8500.