Barum Polaris 6 vs Linglong Sport Master Winter
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Barum Polaris 6 finished ahead 3 times and the Sport Master Winter once. The Polaris 6 was stronger in wet, snow, ice and comfort, the Sport Master Winter in dry.
Performance profile
8 measurements from the 4 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Polaris 6
Sport Master Winter
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 36 m stop against 34.2 m is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. 11 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Polaris 6
Sport Master Winter
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
Polaris 6
Sport Master Winter
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Polaris 6 81% from 6 reviews and the Sport Master Winter 82% from 4. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tyres posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Wins count the tests in which each tyre did better.
| Measurement | Polaris 6 | Gap | Sport Master Winter | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Sport Master Winter ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking m | 46.7 | 6.3% | 43.75 | 0-2 |
| Dry Handling km/h | 115.1 | 0.1% | 115.2 | 0-1 |
| Wet Polaris 6 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking m | 41.93 | 1.2% | 42.45 | 3-1 |
| Wet Braking - Concrete m | 44.6 | 9.9% | 40.2 | 0-1 |
| Wet Handling km/h | 80.8 | 0.7% | 80.2 | 1-0 |
| Wet Circle s | 12.62 | 0.3% | 12.66 | 1-0 |
| Straight Aqua km/h | 78.65 | 1.2% | 77.65 | 1-1 |
| Curved Aquaplaning m/sec2 | 2.71 | 9.6% | 2.45 | 2-0 |
| Snow Polaris 6 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking m | 23.88 | 3.4% | 24.48 | 4-0 |
| Snow Traction N | 2,699 | 9.7% | 2,455 | 2-0 |
| Snow Handling km/h | 58 | 0.7% | 57.6 | 1-0 |
| Snow Slalom m/sec2 | 2.76 | 1.4% | 2.8 | 0-1 |
| Ice Polaris 6 ahead | ||||
| Ice Braking m | 20.2 | 9.8% | 22.4 | 1-0 |
| Comfort Polaris 6 ahead | ||||
| Subj. Comfort pts | scored | = | scored | 0-0 |
| Noise dB | 67.55 | 1.2 dB | 68.75 | 2-0 |
| Value Level | ||||
| Wear km | 37,025 | 1.2% | 37,555 | 0-1 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 7.77 | 25.1% | 10.37 | 1-0 |
| Fuel Consumption l/100km | 5.3 | 8.6% | 5.8 | 1-0 |
| Abrasion mg/km/t | 108 | 24.1% | 82 | 0-1 |
Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tyres shared.
Head to head in 4 tests, 2025 to 2026
Each row is one published test in which both tyres ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Polaris 6 | Field | Sport Master Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 50 Sets | P7 of 50 | P21 of 50 | |
| 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | P8 of 16 | P3 of 16 | |
| 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | P8 of 20 | P19 of 20 | |
| 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | P10 of 51 | P16 of 51 |
Polaris 6 vs Sport Master Winter: your questions
Is the Barum Polaris 6 or the Linglong Sport Master Winter the better tyre?
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Barum Polaris 6 finished ahead 3 times and the Sport Master Winter once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Polaris 6 scores 8.6 and the Sport Master Winter 7.3 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Polaris 6 or the Sport Master Winter?
The Polaris 6 led 8 of the 11 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it held 9.6% more grip in curved aquaplaning across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Sport Master Winter led 3 of the 3 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 6.3% shorter in the dry across 2 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Polaris 6 led 7 of the 8 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.4% shorter on snow across 4 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Sport Master Winter lasted 1.2% longer in the wear tests (2 tests). Owners rate wear 9/10 for the Polaris 6 and 6.7/10 for the Sport Master Winter.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Polaris 6 was 1.2 dB quieter (2 tests). Owners rate comfort 8.5/10 for the Polaris 6 and 8/10 for the Sport Master Winter.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Polaris 6 81% from 6 reviews and the Sport Master Winter 82% from 4.
Which is more expensive?
In the 3 tests that listed prices, the Polaris 6 was the dearer tyre in 3 of them, by 6.8% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Polaris 6 is made in 92 sizes (14 to 20 inch) and the Sport Master Winter in 95 (14 to 21 inch). 67 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Polaris 6 is graded C for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Sport Master Winter A and D.
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Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tyre wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tyres ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tyres can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.