Linglong Sport Master vs Pirelli Cinturato C3
- TR Score
- 8.9/10
- Owners say
- 75% · 14
- TR Score
- 9.4/10
- Owners say
- 91% · 19
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Pirelli Cinturato C3 finished ahead 2 times and the Sport Master once. The Sport Master stopped 7.5% shorter in the wet; the Cinturato C3 lasted 63.9% longer in the wear tests.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Pirelli Cinturato C3 for the best all-round summer touring tyre: consistently high test rankings, stronger wet cornering/aquaplaning safety margins, far better wear life, and lower rolling resistance. Consider the Linglong Sport Master only if your priority is maximum wet (and solid dry) straight-line braking at a low upfront price-and you're willing to accept substantially shorter life, higher abrasion/fuel use, and reported dry-dynamics weaknesses in demanding/hot conditions.
Where the Sport Master is stronger
- Exceptional wet braking across all shared tests (e.g., 39.3 m vs 43.0 m in Autobild; 25.2 m vs 27.6 m in braking super test)
- Slightly shorter dry braking in every shared comparison (e.g., 33.9 m vs 34.3 m in 245/45 R19)
- Strong wet braking on concrete in ADAC (32.3 m vs 37.3 m, a large margin)
Where the Cinturato C3 is stronger
- More balanced wet performance beyond braking: better wet handling, wet circle and aquaplaning resistance in Autobild and ADAC (repeated small wins)
- Much longer predicted mileage/wear life (e.g., 48,600 km vs 26,100 km in ADAC; 50,350 km vs 35,570 km in Autobild)
- Lower rolling resistance and better efficiency (7.7 vs 9.15 kg/t in Autobild; 5.7 vs 6.0 l/100 km in ADAC)
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
Sport Master vs Cinturato C3 at a glance
| Category | Sport Master | Gap | Cinturato C3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won3 shared tests | 1 | 2 | |
| Dry5 measurements | 3 | The Sport Master stopped 1.1% shorter in the dry (3 tests) | 2 |
| Wet11 measurements | 4 | The Cinturato C3 held 4.1% more grip in curved aquaplaning (2 tests) | 7 |
| Comfort2 measurements | 1 | 0 | |
| Value6 measurements | 0 | The Cinturato C3 lasted 63.9% longer in the wear tests (2 tests) | 6 |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.9/10 | The Cinturato C3 by 0.5 | 9.4/10 |
| Owner rating14 and 19 reviews | 75% | The Cinturato C3 by 16 points | 91% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 79% | The Cinturato C3 by 4 points | 83% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 62 | 14 sizes made in both | 35 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tyres; a tick marks the tyre ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 3 tests in 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 | Sport Master | Field | Cinturato C3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | P16 of 20 | P4 of 20 | |
| 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | P16 of 16 | P2 of 16 | |
| 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? | P1 of 50 | P7 of 50 |
Performance profile
5 measurements from the 3 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Sport Master
Cinturato C3
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. The scale stops at 90%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 12 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Sport Master
Cinturato C3
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
Sport Master
Not ahead in any category
Cinturato C3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Sport Master 75% from 14 reviews and the Cinturato C3 91% from 19. 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. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | Sport Master | Gap | Cinturato C3 | Wins | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 1.1% | 34.37 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 99.3 | 0.7% | 100 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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| scored | 21.7% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 31.53 | 7.5% | 34.13 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 32.3 | 13.4% | 37.3 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 82.4 | 1.2% | 83.4 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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| scored | 8.7% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 14.74 | 0.7% | 14.64 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 85.7 | 0.8% | 86.3 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||
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| 3.39 | 4.1% | 3.53 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||
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| scored | = | scored | 0-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 72.4 | 2.8 dB | 75.2 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 30,835 | 63.9% | 49,475 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||
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| 9.15 | 15.8% | 7.7 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 6 | 5% | 5.7 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 131 | 39.7% | 79 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 2,022 | 34.7% | 1,320 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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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. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Sport Master scores 8.9 and the Cinturato C3 9.4 out of 10.
| Sport Master | Category | Cinturato C3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 86 | Dry | 93 | ||
| 94 | Wet | 94 | ||
| 70 | Comfort | 28 | ||
| 3 | Value | 54 | ||
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.
What owners say
| Sport Master | Category | Cinturato C3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.7 | Dry Grip | 9.6 | ||
| 7.9 | Wet Grip | 9.6 | ||
| 6.6 | Road Feedback | 9.3 | ||
| 7.4 | Handling | 9.3 | ||
| 7.1 | Wear | 9 | ||
| 8.1 | Comfort | 8.3 | ||
Owners rate the Sport Master 75% from 14 reviews and the Cinturato C3 91% from 19. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Linglong Sport Master
- 75%from 14 reviews
- 79%would buy again
- 130,544 milesdriven by reviewers
Most owners find the Linglong Sport Master offers strong dry and wet grip for the money, with several calling its braking particularly impressive for a budget tyre. Value for money is a clear highlight, though overall sentiment is mixed-to-positive (7/10 positive reviews). The most common criticisms are a lack of progressive behaviour at the limit and vague steering feel (raised by around one in three and around one in five owners respectively), with some also reporting higher road noise. Tread life feedback is split, with as many owners criticising wear as praising durability.
- Strong dry grip
- Good wet grip for a budget tyre
- Very good dry braking
- Excellent value for money
- Not progressive at the limit; can understeer when pushed
- Vague or slow steering response
- Can be noisy
Summarised by AI from 10 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 14 Sport Master reviewsI literally dont have anything to complain about. For the price, I don't think you can get more value for your money.
Good grip, never had a slip, not in dry nor wet circumstances.
I've had tyres that cost 3x more money that dont feel nowhere near as premium.
Pirelli Cinturato C3
- 91%from 19 reviews
- 83%would buy again
- 76,500 milesdriven by reviewers
Across 19 reviews, the Pirelli Cinturato C3 is described as a highly confidence-inspiring tyre with standout grip, strong wet and dry braking, and sharp, sporty steering that makes cars feel more responsive and secure. Many drivers also report good stability and a generally refined ride, with several praising low wear early on and solid durability impressions. The most repeated drawbacks are higher road noise for some users and a firmer/less plush ride over poor surfaces, with a smaller minority noting worsened fuel economy; one review also flags inconsistent manufacturing finish/quality control.
- Excellent dry and wet grip
- Strong braking and high safety/confidence
- Sharp steering response and sporty handling/turn-in
- Stable, predictable handling and good feedback
- Road noise can be higher than expected (especially on some roads/at low speeds)
- Ride can feel firmer/less forgiving over bumps and potholes
- Some reports of reduced fuel economy/rolling resistance increase
Summarised by AI from 19 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 19 Cinturato C3 reviewsI can say that these tires are the best I have ever had! My previous tires were Bridgestone T001 and Falken FK 510. I am extremely impressed with the comfort and stability of the new Pirelli tires. Their wear in 6000 miles is only 0.7mm! When new the tread is 7.3mm.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tyre: 62 sizes of the Sport Master and 35 of the Cinturato C3, 14 of them made in both.
| Category | Sport Master | Cinturato C3 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| Sizes made | 62 sizes, 16 to 22 inch | 35 sizes, 16 to 20 inch |
| Made in both | 14 sizes 205/55 R16215/55 R17225/45 R17225/50 R17225/55 R17225/45 R18235/45 R18235/50 R18235/55 R18225/45 R19235/40 R19235/50 R19and 2 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A90%B4%C3%D3% | A100% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C79%D13%B6%A3% | B40%A35%C25% |
| EU label noise | 68-72 dB A91%B9% | 66-72 dB B80%A20% |
| On the market since | 2020 | - |
| Replaced | - | Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2 (2026) |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
This is a particularly revealing matchup because these tyres “win” in very different ways. The Linglong Sport Master is a budget-priced, high-performance summer tyre that repeatedly shocks in straight-line stopping distances-especially in the wet-while the Pirelli Cinturato C3 is a premium-touring summer tyre built around balanced safety, efficiency and long service life.
Across three shared tests in two different sizes (225/50 R17 and 245/45 R19), Linglong consistently posts class-leading braking numbers (including the shortest wet braking in the 2026 Autobild test at 39.3 m, the only tyre under 40 m). But the broader test outcomes flip the story: Pirelli places 4/20 in Autobild and 2/16 in ADAC, while Linglong is 16th in both-showing that overall safety and ownership costs are about more than braking distance alone.
Conclusion
If you only look at braking distances, the Linglong Sport Master has a genuine headline advantage: it beats the Pirelli in dry braking in every shared dataset (e.g., 33.9 m vs 34.3 m in 245/45 R19) and, more importantly, in wet braking by meaningful margins (e.g., 39.3 m vs 43.0 m in Autobild; 30.1 m vs 31.8 m in ADAC; 25.2 m vs 27.6 m in the large braking test). That is not a rounding error-those gaps can be the difference between stopping short and making contact.
However, the Pirelli Cinturato C3 is the far better “whole tyre.” It consistently leads in wet cornering/handling and aquaplaning resistance (small but repeated wins in wet handling, wet circle, straight and curved aquaplaning), and it dominates the ownership-and-environment metrics: wear is dramatically better (e.g., 50,350 km vs 35,570 km in Autobild; 48,600 km vs 26,100 km in ADAC), rolling resistance/fuel use is lower (7.7 vs 9.15 kg/t in Autobild; 5.7 vs 6.0 l/100 km in ADAC), and abrasion is far lower (1,320 g vs 2,022 g in Autobild; 79 vs 131 mg/km/t in ADAC). ADAC's qualitative notes are the clincher for safety: Linglong's dry behaviour can degrade as temperatures rise, with delayed/elastic steering response and oversteer in evasive manoeuvres-exactly the scenario where predictability matters most.
Practical takeaway: Linglong is a “braking specialist” that can look unbeatable in stop-distance charts and offers strong upfront value, but its low mileage and reported dry-dynamics shortcomings can erase that value and raise safety concerns in real-world hot/demanding driving. The Pirelli is the smarter, safer all-round purchase for most drivers-especially those doing higher mileage, mixed conditions, or wanting consistent behaviour-accepting that it is relatively noisy and doesn't top the braking tables.
Sport Master vs Cinturato C3: your questions
Is the Linglong Sport Master or the Pirelli Cinturato C3 the better tyre?
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Pirelli Cinturato C3 finished ahead 2 times and the Sport Master once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Sport Master scores 8.9 and the Cinturato C3 9.4 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Sport Master or the Cinturato C3?
The Cinturato C3 led 7 of the 11 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it held 4.1% more grip in curved aquaplaning across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Sport Master led 3 of the 5 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.1% shorter in the dry across 3 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Cinturato C3 lasted 63.9% longer in the wear tests (2 tests). Owners rate wear 7.1/10 for the Sport Master and 9/10 for the Cinturato C3.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.1/10 for the Sport Master and 8.3/10 for the Cinturato C3.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Sport Master 75% from 14 reviews and the Cinturato C3 91% from 19. 79% of Sport Master owners would buy it again, against 83% for the Cinturato C3.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Sport Master is made in 62 sizes (16 to 22 inch) and the Cinturato C3 in 35 (16 to 20 inch). 14 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Sport Master is graded A for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Cinturato C3 A and B.
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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.
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