Details of new winter tires Linglong revealed
Linglong has revealed details about its new non-studded European-style winter tires, the Linglong Grip Master Winter, which officially premiered at The Tire Cologne (TTC) exhibition in Cologne in June 2024.
The new model replaces two existing models in the Chinese brand's lineup: the Green-Max Winter HP and the Green-Max Winter UHP. According to the company, the Grip Master Winter outperforms its predecessors, particularly in terms of its performance on wet and dry asphalt. Additionally, the new model has improved snow performance and a longer service life.
To enable the tires to perform effectively on wet and snowy roads, a new directional tread pattern with numerous 3D lamellas and a special rubber compound containing silica have been developed. The interconnected tread blocks enhance stability, while the wide grooves are designed to quickly evacuate water and slush from the contact patch. Natural resins have also been added to the compound, which, according to the manufacturer, have made the tires more durable and improved their braking performance.
The tires also feature a new construction that has increased the contact patch area, which, in combination with the increased tread stiffness, has improved handling and reduced braking distances on dry surfaces. Furthermore, the new block design with converging lamellas enhances stability during maneuvering, and the arrangement of the blocks has been optimized to reduce noise, making the Grip Master Winter quieter than the previous generation of tires.
"The main goals in creating the new Grip Master Winter were to improve performance on wet surfaces and optimize dry road performance, as well as increase eco-friendliness compared to the two previous models," noted Wolf Fuder, marketing manager of Linglong's German division. "Developing a winter tire with such a balance of characteristics, which is effective on both dry and wet asphalt, as well as on snow, was a significant challenge for our development team, especially considering that we had to increase the service life and further reduce rolling resistance."
The Linglong Grip Master Winter is available in 70 sizes with diameters ranging from 14 to 20 inches and speed indices up to W. An additional 30 sizes will be released next year. Initially, the company had planned to introduce the tires in all 100 sizes this fall, but it appears that these plans have been adjusted. As announced during the Cologne exhibition, tires in all sizes will be produced at the plant in Serbia. The new model is part of the Master lineup, which also includes non-studded tires for northern winters, the Linglong Nord Master.