Linglong introduced a new flagship summer tire
In the summer tests of the 2026 season, the budget tire caused the main sensation Linglong Sport Master, which outperformed all competitors, including premium products from well-known brands, in terms of braking efficiency on both dry and wet surfaces. In mid-April, in Tianjin, the premiere of the next-generation tire took place - Linglong Sport Master 2 - which will become the new flagship of the Chinese brand.
The Master line was presented as part of the modernization of the Linglong assortment in 2021, and now it includes models of various categories, including winter, electric vehicles, and Run-Flat construction. During the presentation of the new product, it was announced that last year the sales of tires from this family doubled compared to 2024, which "laid a solid foundation for the company's future development", while the second-generation tires are designed to consolidate this success.
Sport Master 2 was created using the seventh-generation Technology 7 technological platform, and the company says that they fundamentally changed their approach to developing new products, focusing on maintaining high performance characteristics throughout the life cycle (a similar philosophy is now actively promoted by Michelin, for example). The new tires have unchanged key parameters such as handling on dry and wet surfaces, acoustic comfort, and economy during operation.
Linglong also claims that thanks to technological innovations, engineers were able to improve several important characteristics at once. For example, the new rubber compound and tread pattern are designed to provide complete control over the vehicle on both dry and wet surfaces, and the braking efficiency in rainy weather does not deteriorate with tread wear, as is usually the case with car tires.
Although the Sport Master surprised with fantastic braking qualities, in the final test score of Auto Bild, they took only 16th place, and the reason was, among other things, very rapid wear (almost twice as fast as the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6). The company assures that when creating the second-generation tires, the developers did not sacrifice operational resources to increase grip, but modified the compound and design, which "significantly increased the service life of the tires compared to the previous model".
Like the previous generation tire, the Sport Master 2 has an asymmetric tread pattern, whose zones perform their functions: the outer zone with wide reinforced blocks improves resistance to lateral drift, and the inner zone with two wide drainage channels is designed to increase safety on wet roads.
The tread pattern also features optimized block placement and sizes, which, according to the manufacturer, simultaneously increased traction in various weather conditions and reduced noise levels. In addition, the uniform distribution of pressure in the contact patch improves handling and extends the life of the tread.
Another feature of the new product is the reinforced carcass construction, which, according to the manufacturer, allows the tires to quickly restore their shape after deformation and also improves the speed of response to steering wheel turns in various road conditions. In addition to this, the profile of the shoulder zones is optimized to reduce their deformability and heating, making the tires more durable and reliable, as well as for quick response to driver actions. The rim area is made of a special rubber compound that increases wear and impact resistance. To further strengthen, materials with aramid fibers were used, which suppress torsional deformations of the tread during aggressive driving, the company adds.
The tire marking is made in such a way that it does not protrude above the surface of the sidewalls, which accelerates the passage of air flows and, due to improved aerodynamics, increases energy consumption efficiency. The tires are also equipped with rim protection, which has been improved for more effective prevention of damage.
The size range of the new tires is not yet disclosed by Linglong, and the first-generation Sport Master is available in sizes with a diameter from 16 to 22 inches.