Linglong Sport Master 4S

Excellent in the dry, reasonable wet braking, good comfort, low noise.

A little peaky in wet handling, below average snow performance, higher rolling resistance.

A fairly significant step ahead was the Linglong Sportmaster 4S, which is the new name for the GripMaster 4S. Linglong were one of the original budget manufacturers, but they have been making a huge investment in development and it's paying off with a sixth place finish overall, significantly ahead of the cheap tyres and almost matching the premiums. Linglong has chosen a dry / wet bias for this tyre, which I'm all for in an all season tyre as it was the best in the dry overall. In the wet it was still a 6% back in wet braking and a little peaky in wet handling, and it definitely was not the best in the snow, but it was way better than a summer tyre. It rounded out the test with good comfort levels, average noise but a pretty high rolling resistance. If you're tight on cash, you could do a lot worse than this tyre.

The Linglong Sport Master 4S performs as a dry-weather specialist that also handles wet conditions sovereignly, all at an attractive purchase price. This Chinese tyre offers surprisingly competent dry handling for its price point, making it appealing for fair-weather drivers. However, its overall weaker performance on snow limits its appeal as a true all-season solution.

The Linglong Grip Master 4S presents itself as an affordable option with appealing dry road capabilities and good wet performance. On dry surfaces, the Chinese tyre surprisingly delivers excellent braking performance, standing out with impressively short stopping distances. It also demonstrates competent wet road behavior with reasonable handling and braking. The tyre provides acceptable ride comfort for daily driving. However, this dry-road excellence cannot be replicated in other disciplines, revealing significant compromises. The handling on dry roads, despite good braking, feels somewhat disconnected and vague. More critically, the Linglong struggles noticeably on snow with extended braking distances and uncertain handling that undermines confidence in winter conditions. The relatively high rolling resistance also impacts fuel efficiency. For drivers in mild climates with minimal winter weather who prioritize dry braking performance, the Linglong offers niche appeal at a budget price.