Skip advert
Advertisement

LingLong Sport Master Winter review

Overall, a strong performance that announces LingLong’s arrival in the winter tyre market. Economy is poor, though.

LingLong’s debut in Auto Express tyre testing sees it claim a maiden top score, being fastest around the dry handling course. Not the most significant discipline in a winter tyre test but the LingLong’s fifth-place finish puts it ahead of some better-known brands.

It puts together a fair set of snow results, with a solid fourth in the crucial braking test, eighth in traction (but not far off the pace), and fifth in snow handling where it had a safe, predictable, nose-led balance. With good braking, this made it tidy and easy to exploit. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

A strong result in wet braking – fourth place – was backed up by fifth in wet cornering but didn’t translate into a decent lap time. There wasn’t anything obvious missing from its performance but the test car felt heavier and less biddable on the LingLong. Aquaplaning performance was disappointing, too. 

It bagged fastest lap in the dry, which came as no surprise because it felt like a summer tyre; it delivered loads of grip and clean, direct responses. However, it was ranked seventh for refinement and, more significantly, recorded by far the highest rolling resistance, making it the least economical tyre here.

Blackcircles.com says…

“We are unable to give any details about the tyre’s performance or popularity with our customers at present.”

LingLong Sport Master Winter  
Overall96.5% 
Price£90 
Snow braking99.7%4th
Snow traction90.6%8th
Snow handling93.8%5th
Wet braking96.3%4th
Wet handling97.5%7th
Wet cornering98.2%5th
Straight aquaplaning88.6%7th
Curved aquaplaning71.9%7th
Dry braking93.8%5th
Dry handling100%1st
Cabin noise98.87th
Rolling resistance74.8%8th

Buy new winter tyres from Blackcircles.com

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £4,422 off RRP*Used from £7,495
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £27,145Avg. savings £2,383 off RRP*Used from £15,483
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £15,255Avg. savings £1,912 off RRP*Used from £7,299
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £39,025Avg. savings £3,224 off RRP*Used from £13,495
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

What do car journalists drive? The cars our experts spent their own cash on
Auto Express team members standing with their own cars

What do car journalists drive? The cars our experts spent their own cash on

The Auto Express content team is fortunate enough to drive many cars on a regular basis. But that knowledge sometimes translates into unusual private …
Features
29 Dec 2025
Tesla has lost its edge, but rival car brands could be made to fear it once again
Tesla comeback - opinion, header image

Tesla has lost its edge, but rival car brands could be made to fear it once again

News reporter Ellis Hyde believes Tesla is no longer a force to be reckoned with, but could be again
Opinion
30 Dec 2025
Alpine might have finally delivered a premium French car that Brits will take seriously
Alpine A390 flag

Alpine might have finally delivered a premium French car that Brits will take seriously

Steve Walker thinks sports car brand Alpine could well solve the long-standing French premium car problem…  but by the back door
Opinion
1 Jan 2026