Abstract: The present invention relates to the improvement of metal cords for the reinforcement of elastomeric bodies, in particular of vehicle tires which are provided with retaining helixes on their outsides. The problem was to avoid the disadvantageous properties of the retaining helixes in reinforced elastomeric bodies, namely, the impairment of the inherent elasticity of the metal cord and the fretting of the retaining helixes on the outer layer of the metal cord. The problem particularly resided in the improvement of socalled compact cords, meaning cords consisting of layers of identical twisting sense. For the solution of this problem, it is proposed to provide a core strand of shorter twisting pitch (twisting pitch ratio of preferably 1:2 or less) than the twisting pitch of the adjacent outer layer; this in particular in the case of metals cords having more than two layers.