The LingLong Sport Master Winter makes a notable debut, signaling a strong entrance for the brand into the competitive winter tire segment. Its standout performance comes on dry pavement, where it delivers the fastest handling lap time of all contenders, showcasing impressive grip, sharp steering, and precise control — characteristics more typical of a summer tire. On snow, it performs commendably with a fourth place in braking and fifth in handling, maintaining a stable and predictable front-led balance that’s easy to manage. Wet performance is solid but less consistent: braking and cornering results are competitive, yet overall lap times reveal a heavier, less agile feel, and aquaplaning resistance remains below par. Comfort and refinement are average, while rolling resistance is the highest in the test, making it the least economical tire here. Despite this, LingLong’s capable grip and controlled behavior across surfaces prove it’s a legitimate player in the winter market — a surprisingly confident performance from a rising brand.

The Linglong Sport Master Winter delivers balanced performance on reduced grip levels overall, but has pronounced weaknesses that limit its appeal. It provides decent braking on both wet and dry asphalt with good aquaplaning protection, and shows sluggish but easily controllable handling on dry roads. However, on snow it demonstrates weak performance across all disciplines except cornering grip. On wet surfaces, the tire exhibits sluggish steering with limited reserves and a tendency toward lift-off oversteer, which is concerning. In dry conditions, while cornering stability is weak, it maintains some basic competence. The tire feels somewhat harsh over cross joints. Most critically, the EU label's optimistic A-rating for wet grip proved misleading - the actual performance doesn't match this claim, and process stability in the Serbian manufacturing facility appears questionable based on follow-up testing showing significant variation between production batches.

The Linglong Sport Master Winter achieves a 3.3 (“Satisfactory”) rating, presenting itself as a budget-friendly winter tire with strengths in dry-road performance. It offers good grip and stable handling on dry surfaces, giving confident control in mild winter conditions and representing solid value for money.

However, the tire’s traction on snow is limited, and it struggles with weaker wet grip and longer braking distances on rain-soaked roads. Additionally, a high rolling resistance impacts both fuel efficiency and comfort, making it less ideal for drivers seeking refinement or economy.

Overall, the Linglong Sport Master Winter is a cost-effective choice for city or low-snow regions, where dry performance matters more than ultimate winter grip.

The Linglong Sport Master Winter, produced in Serbia for the European market, finishes ninth overall, showing mixed results that highlight both promise and serious shortcomings. Its dry performance stands out — achieving the fastest handling lap time of the entire test and solid braking at 43.4 meters, proving it can generate good grip on clear pavement. However, this strength is undermined by nervous rear-axle behavior that requires constant correction, reducing driver confidence. In wet conditions, braking distances are long at 53.4 meters, and aquaplaning protection remains limited, with modest stability and grip. The tire’s snow performance is its weakest point: poor traction, the longest braking distance (27.6 meters), and low lateral grip make it unsuitable for harsh winter weather, reflected in a driving safety score of just 15/30. Comfort earns full marks (8/10), but this is offset by the highest rolling resistance (9.6 kg/t), extreme wear (only 28,500 km lifespan), and loud operation at 76.2 dB(A). Despite its affordable running cost, the Linglong’s lack of refinement, durability, and cold-weather safety prevent it from being a viable alternative to established brands.