Linglong Tire Captures Value for Money Award in the AvD Winter Tyre Test

Linglong Tire has been announced as the winner in the value-for-money category of the latest winter tyre test conducted by the Automobile Club of Germany (AvD).

In the 2026 test of tyres in size 225/45 R17 94V/W, the Linglong Sport Master Winter received an overall score of 4.2 out of a maximum possible 5 points and won the price-performance category in a field that included 14 models from other manufacturers.

Linglong are currently ranked 11th among the world’s largest tyre manufacturers and are sending a clear signal to the European market that tyres from Chinese manufacturers have reached the highest international standards.

The AvD states, “An interesting alternative to the more expensive premium tyres is the Linglong Sport Master Winter. The tyre achieves almost consistently good and very good ratings and impresses with a comparatively low price, making it the price-performance winner of the test.

“Its performance shows that a convincing winter tyre does not necessarily have to be one of the most expensive products on the market. For price-conscious drivers, the Linglong is therefore an interesting option.” In the test, the tyres had to prove themselves in various disciplines, on snow as well as on dry and wet roads.

“This test victory proves the high quality of our products, confirms our excellent development work in Europe and China, and underlines that high quality and an attractive price are very compatible,” says Wolf Fuder, Head of Marketing at Linglong in Europe.

With the Linglong Sport Master Winter, the company presents a winter tyre in the High and Ultra High-Performance segment for compact, medium and luxury class vehicles. The tyre combines the best winter driving characteristics with comfort, precise handling, short braking distances and good environmental properties.

To perform optimally in rain and snow, the Sport Master Winter uses a directional tread pattern with special 3D sipes and a newly developed polymer-silica composite tyre compound. The directional V-shaped tread pattern and the stable, interlocking tread blocks ensure a high level of driving stability. The wide, multi-tiered grooves optimally and effectively divert water or slush to the sides and prevent dangerous aquaplaning.

In winter and at low temperatures, the highly elastic tread compound ensures the necessary contact with the road surface and thus safe handling. The new V-profile and the 3D sipes provide excellent grip in the snow and at the same time in dry and cold conditions thanks to the toothing and improved tread stiffness by minimising block movements for stable and precise handling and short braking distances. The tyre carries the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol.

Handling and braking distance in the dry have been improved by the newly developed tread compound as well as a new carcass construction and the associated larger and stiffer contact patch. In combination with three-dimensional sipes, the new block structure ensures excellent stability in corners and improved steering precision as well as a high level of dry grip.

Thanks to the optimised block arrangement, noise emissions have been further reduced compared to the previous profile. The use of full silica compounds, which usually comes at the expense of the tyre’s mileage, as well as the new material mix based on natural resins, overcomes this conflict of objectives and manages to reduce abrasion while increasing braking effectiveness.

Therefore, the rolling resistance-optimised Linglong Sport Master Winter is also an interesting alternative from an economic point of view thanks to its high mileage. Thanks to the new, modern sidewall design, the new winter tyre also looks extremely attractive and dynamic even when stationary.

The Sport Master Winter was mainly developed by the European development centre in Hanover with the test drives taking place on the European test track in Idiada (Spain) and on the Group’s own Sino Asia test site in China.

The winter tests took place in Ivalo (UTAC), Finland. The Linglong Sport Master Winter is produced exclusively in Europe at Linglong Tire’s newest factory in Zrenjanin, Serbia. In addition to sales in the replacement business, Linglong also plans to offer the profile in the Original Equipment business, and initial tests are already underway with selected OEMs.

The Sport Master Winter is available in almost 100 sizes from 14 to 21 inches with cross-sections of 35 to 75 and section widths of 165 to 315 mm in the speed ranges T, H, V and W.

The Linglong Sport Master Winter completes the Linglong Master family, which also includes the summer profiles Sport Master, Sport Master e and Comfort Master, the Sport Master C/S SUV tyre, the Sport Master 4S all season tyre and the Dura Master Van tyre.