Linglong Sport Master vs Nokian Powerproof 2
- TR Score
- 8.9/10
- Owners say
- 75% · 14
- TR Score
- 8.8/10
- Owners say
- 95% · 1
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Nokian Powerproof 2 finished ahead 2 times and the Sport Master once. The Sport Master stopped 10.5% shorter in the wet.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Pick the Linglong Sport Master if your top priority is maximum wet-braking security and strong wet grip for the money, and you accept faster wear and less convincing dry handling precision. Pick the Nokian Powerproof 2 if you want a more rounded summer UHP for higher mileage, better efficiency (lower rolling resistance), and a generally more premium ownership profile-while paying attention to the reported straight-line aquaplaning weakness in the ACE test.
Where the Sport Master is stronger
- Class-leading wet braking in shared data (e.g., 39.3 m in Autobild; 25.2 m vs 28.1 m in braking test)
- Consistently strong dry braking for the category (33.9 m vs 34.4 m in 245/45 R19 tests)
- Very capable wet dynamics beyond braking (wins wet handling, wet circle, and both straight/curved aquaplaning in Autobild)
Where the Powerproof 2 is stronger
- Substantially better wear/longevity (50,080 km vs 35,570 km) and lower abrasion (1,386 g vs 2,022 g)
- Lower rolling resistance (7.48 vs 9.15 kg/t), supporting fuel economy/EV range and typically cooler running
- Better perceived/measured dry handling performance in Autobild (100.1 vs 99.3 km/h; subjective dry 8 vs 6)
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 Powerproof 2 at a glance
| Category | Sport Master | Gap | Powerproof 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won3 shared tests | 1 | 2 | |
| Dry4 measurements | 2 | Level between the two. | 2 |
| Wet7 measurements | 7 | The Sport Master stopped 10.5% shorter in the wet (2 tests) | 0 |
| Comfort2 measurements | 0 | 1 | |
| Value3 measurements | 0 | 3 | |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.9/10 | The Sport Master by 0.1 | 8.8/10 |
| Owner rating14 and 1 reviews | 75% | The Powerproof 2 by 20 points | 95% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 62 | 34 sizes made in both | 77 |
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 | Powerproof 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | P16 of 20 | P11 of 20 | |
| 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? | P1 of 50 | P10 of 50 | |
| 2026 ACE Summer Tyre Test | P8 of 10 | P6 of 10 |
Performance profile
14 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
Powerproof 2
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.
Where each scores higher
Sport Master
Powerproof 2
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.
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 | Powerproof 2 | Wins | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33.9 | 1.5% | 34.4 | 2-0 | |||||||||
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| 99.3 | 0.8% | 100.1 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| scored | 33.3% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 32.25 | 10.5% | 36.05 | 2-0 | |||||||||
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| 82.4 | 0.9% | 81.7 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| scored | 9.6% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 14.74 | 1.1% | 14.9 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 92.8 | 3.5% | 89.7 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 3.38 | 9% | 3.1 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| scored | = | scored | 0-0 | |||||||||
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| 72.4 | 0.7 dB | 71.7 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 35,570 | 40.8% | 50,080 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 9.15 | 18.3% | 7.48 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 2,022 | 31.5% | 1,386 | 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 Powerproof 2 8.8 out of 10.
| Sport Master | Category | Powerproof 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 86 | Dry | 90 | ||
| 94 | Wet | 67 | ||
| 70 | Comfort | 24 | ||
| 3 | Value | 55 | ||
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 | Powerproof 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.7 | Dry Grip | 10 | ||
| 7.9 | Wet Grip | 10 | ||
| 6.6 | Road Feedback | 9 | ||
| 7.4 | Handling | 9 | ||
| 7.1 | Wear | - | ||
| 8.1 | Comfort | 9 | ||
Owners rate the Sport Master 75% from 14 reviews and the Powerproof 2 95% from 1. 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.
Nokian Powerproof 2
- 95%from 1 reviews
- 1,500 milesdriven by reviewers
All 1 Powerproof 2 reviewsThe initial impression is excellent, both in wet and dry conditions. For me, it's the ideal combination of feedback, directness (despite the high cross-section! - thanks to aramid-reinforced sidewalls), strong grip, and high comfort.
I was already quite satisfied with the Powerproof SUV. In between, I briefly used the Wetproof 1: the grip was also very good, but in direct comparison, it had significantly less direct steering.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tyre: 62 sizes of the Sport Master and 77 of the Powerproof 2, 34 of them made in both.
| Category | Sport Master | Powerproof 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| Sizes made | 62 sizes, 16 to 22 inch | 77 sizes, 16 to 21 inch |
| Made in both | 34 sizes 205/55 R16205/45 R17205/50 R17215/45 R17215/50 R17215/55 R17215/60 R17225/45 R17225/50 R17225/55 R17235/45 R17245/45 R17and 22 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A90%B4%C3%D3% | A100% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C79%D13%B6%A3% | B70%C30% |
| EU label noise | 68-72 dB A91%B9% | 69-73 dB B66%A34% |
| On the market since | 2020 | 2025 |
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 comparison pits two very different takes on a sporty summer tyre against each other: the budget-priced Linglong Sport Master (high-performance) versus the more premium-positioned Nokian Powerproof 2 (ultra-high-performance). Across three shared 2026 tests, the story isn't simply “cheap vs expensive”-it's a clear split between outright wet-stop safety and overall all-round usability.
The Linglong repeatedly produces headline wet and dry braking numbers (including the best wet braking of a 50-tyre braking shootout), while the Nokian tends to recover ground in areas that determine day-to-day satisfaction and total cost of ownership-wear, rolling resistance, and refinement. The key question is whether you value maximum braking performance (especially in the wet) over longevity, efficiency, and more consistent dynamic behaviour near the limit.
Conclusion
On objective safety metrics, the Linglong Sport Master is the shock performer of the data set. In Autobild's 245/45 R19 test it delivered the shortest wet braking distance of the entire field at 39.3 m from 100 km/h (the only finalist under 40 m), and it also beat the Nokian on dry braking (33.9 m vs 34.4 m). The pattern repeats in the braking-focused super test, where it again leads both dry and wet braking (wet: 25.2 m vs 28.1 m). If your priority is emergency stopping-particularly on wet roads-the Linglong's advantage is meaningful rather than marginal.
Where the Linglong gives back ground is in “ownership metrics” and some dry-dynamics confidence. Autobild shows a large mileage gap (35,570 km for Linglong vs 50,080 km for Nokian), and the Nokian is markedly better on efficiency (rolling resistance 7.48 vs 9.15 kg/t) and abrasion (1,386 g vs 2,022 g). ACE reinforces that the Linglong's profile is polarised: class-leading wet handling scores, but one of the weakest dry handling results-suggesting a tyre tuned heavily for wet grip that can feel less precise or less supportive on dry roads.
Net-net: choose the Linglong if you want maximum wet-braking and strong wet-circuit grip at the lowest purchase price and you can live with faster wear and a less accomplished dry handling feel. Choose the Nokian Powerproof 2 if you want a more balanced long-term proposition-better wear, lower rolling resistance, slightly quieter running-and you're comfortable with wet performance that is “good” rather than benchmark-setting (including a noted aquaplaning weakness in ACE). The practical takeaway: the Linglong can win you the critical moment; the Nokian is more likely to win you the long season.
Sport Master vs Powerproof 2: your questions
Is the Linglong Sport Master or the Nokian Powerproof 2 the better tyre?
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Nokian Powerproof 2 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 Powerproof 2 8.8 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Sport Master or the Powerproof 2?
The Sport Master led 7 of the 7 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 10.5% shorter in the wet across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
Across the shared tests the dry measurements are split 2-2 between the Sport Master and the Powerproof 2.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.1/10 for the Sport Master and 9/10 for the Powerproof 2.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Sport Master 75% from 14 reviews and the Powerproof 2 95% from 1.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Sport Master is made in 62 sizes (16 to 22 inch) and the Powerproof 2 in 77 (16 to 21 inch). 34 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 Powerproof 2 A and B.
Which is the newer tyre?
The Powerproof 2 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2025, the Sport Master in 2020.
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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.
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