Tests 72 · 7 tests Owners 76 · 6 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 (snow braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Barum Polaris 6 vs Matador MP93 Nordicca — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 7 + 6 road tests and 6 + 9 owner reviews. How we score
Polaris 6 leads, 74–72 Narrow edge
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Tests 70 · 6 tests Owners 74 · 9 reviews
Best test result: #3 of 31 in 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test (noise)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
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62
Dry
MP93 Nordicca +466Why this score
Source Polaris 6 MP93 Nordicca Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 3 tests 53 61 Reviews found online 75 75 Dry Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 90% 91% Dry Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 98% 99% Polaris 6: 60% × 53.2 + 40% × 75.3 = 62
MP93 Nordicca: 60% × 60.7 + 40% × 74.6 = 66
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81
Wet
Polaris 6 +675Why this score
Source Polaris 6 MP93 Nordicca Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 6 tests 83 75 Reviews found online 78 75 Curved Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 83% 93% Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 96% 96% Wet Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 87% 83% Wet Circle (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 94% 95% Wet Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 94% 93% Polaris 6: 60% × 82.9 + 40% × 78.3 = 81
MP93 Nordicca: 60% × 75.3 + 40% × 74.9 = 75
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78
Snow
Polaris 6 +672Why this score
Source Polaris 6 MP93 Nordicca Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 4 tests 81 72 Reviews found online 73 73 Snow Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 99% 98% Snow Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 97% 95% Snow Slalom (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 99% 96% Snow Traction (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 95% 93% Polaris 6: 60% × 81.5 + 40% × 73.4 = 78
MP93 Nordicca: 60% × 71.7 + 40% × 72.9 = 72
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72
Comfort
Polaris 6 +468Why this score
Source Polaris 6 MP93 Nordicca Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 2 tests 70 61 Reviews found online 73 73 Comfort (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 86% 80% Polaris 6: 40% × 70.3 + 60% × 72.7 = 72
MP93 Nordicca: 40% × 60.7 + 60% × 73 = 68
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87
Noise
Polaris 6 +1176Why this score
Source Polaris 6 MP93 Nordicca Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 3 tests 100 83 Reviews found online ≈ 66 (est.) ≈ 66 (est.) Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 100% 99% Polaris 6: 60% × 100 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 87
MP93 Nordicca: 60% × 82.7 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 76
No owner ratings of noise for Polaris 6 or MP93 Nordicca. The owner half is the owners’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.
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69
Treadwear
MP93 Nordicca +372Why this score
Source Polaris 6 MP93 Nordicca Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 2 tests 64 70 Reviews found online 76 74 Wear (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 90% 96% Polaris 6: 60% × 63.7 + 40% × 76.3 = 69
MP93 Nordicca: 60% × 70.2 + 40% × 74.2 = 72
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76
Handling (owners)
Polaris 6 +175Why this score
Source Polaris 6 MP93 Nordicca Reviews found online 76 75 -
85
Efficiency
Polaris 6 +1471Why this score
Source Polaris 6 MP93 Nordicca Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 3 tests 85 71 Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 86% 89%
Scores at a glance
| Category | Barum Polaris 6 | Matador MP93 Nordicca |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 72 |
| Dry | 62 | 66 |
| Wet | 81 | 75 |
| Snow | 78 | 72 |
| Comfort | 72 | 68 |
| Noise | 87 | 76 |
| Treadwear | 69 | 72 |
| Handling (owners) | 76 | 75 |
| Efficiency | 85 | 71 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
74
/ 100
Polaris 6
72
/ 100
MP93 Nordicca
The professional test results behind the scores
Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.
In the overall rankings of 2 tests that ran both, Barum Polaris 6 finished ahead 2 times and Matador MP93 Nordicca 0 times.
| Discipline | Category | Polaris 6 | MP93 Nordicca | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 90% | 91% | −0.9 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% | 99% | −1.1 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Curved Aquaplaning | Wet | 83% | 93% | −10.2 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 96% | 96% | −0.5 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 87% | 83% | +4.4 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Wet Braking (concrete) | Wet | 83% #13/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 89% #21/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 94% | 95% | −0.4 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 94% | 93% | +1.5 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Ice Braking | Snow | 96% #4/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 90% #14/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 99% | 98% | +1.3 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 97% | 95% | +2.4 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Snow Slalom | Snow | 99% | 96% | +3.7 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 95% | 93% | +2.6 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 86% | 80% | +6.1 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Noise | Noise | 100% | 99% | +1.0 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Abrasion | Treadwear | 58% #13/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 70% #21/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wear | Treadwear | 90% | 96% | −6.1 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Fuel Consumption | Efficiency | 100% #1/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 100% #4/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 86% | 89% | −3.3 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Value | Cost | 73% | 85% | −12.0 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #10/20 | #16/20 | – | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R19 |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Polaris 6
Pros
- High affordability and excellent price-to-performance ratio
- Incredible quietness and ride comfort
- Good initial grip on snow and ice compared to all-season tires
Cons
- Noticeable initial wobbly feeling or sidewall flex
- Limited long-term durability data available from early adopters
Tire B MP93 Nordicca
Pros
- Quiet on dry roads at various speeds, with noise described as almost unnoticeable or 'not bad'
- Good handling, steering response and road feedback, including praise for the feel despite a thick winter-tire sidewall
- Strong grip across conditions: wet, dry, cold tarmac, snow (notably lateral snow grip) and ice
Cons
- Long-term durability and performance retention are unproven; several reviewers explicitly say they cannot yet judge wear
- Not a performance-oriented tire; one reviewer cautions against expecting much beyond basic, safe winter capability
- Limited verification in severe winter conditions, as some reviewers had little or no snow and ice exposure
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Barum Polaris 6 | B · Matador MP93 Nordicca |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 92 | 81 |
| Rim diameters | 14″ – 20″ | 13″ – 20″ |
| Sizes in common | 68 | 68 |
Which one should you actually buy?
74
/ 100
Barum Polaris 6
72
/ 100
Matador MP93 Nordicca
Narrow edge: Barum Polaris 6 — better efficiency, noise and wet. Pick the Matador MP93 Nordicca if dry and treadwear matter most to you.
Pick tire A
You want lower fuel or energy use
Barum Polaris 6 scores 85 vs 71 on efficiency.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Barum Polaris 6 scores 87 vs 76 on noise.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Barum Polaris 6 scores 81 vs 75 on wet.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Barum Polaris 6 scores 78 vs 72 on snow.
Tire A · Barum Polaris 6
Tire B · Matador MP93 Nordicca
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Polaris 6 or MP93 Nordicca?
Which is better in the wet, Polaris 6 or MP93 Nordicca?
Barum Polaris 6, 81 vs 75 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Polaris 6 or MP93 Nordicca?
Matador MP93 Nordicca, 66 vs 62 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, Polaris 6 or MP93 Nordicca?
Barum Polaris 6, 78 vs 72 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, Polaris 6 or MP93 Nordicca?
Barum Polaris 6, 87 vs 76 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Polaris 6 or MP93 Nordicca?
Barum Polaris 6, 72 vs 68 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Polaris 6 or MP93 Nordicca?
Matador MP93 Nordicca, 72 vs 69 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, Polaris 6 or MP93 Nordicca?
Barum Polaris 6, 85 vs 71 on our efficiency score.
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology