When it comes to buying summer tires, the conventional wisdom has always been ‘you get what you pay for’. If you want the shortest stopping distances and the safest wet-weather performance, you have to shell out the big bucks for a premium flagship tire. But a new test has proven that this may not be true.
According to a recent video published by Tyre Reviews on YouTube, a budget-tier Chinese tire known as the Linglong Sport Master has just pulled off a perfect test result. In direct, head-to-head instrumented testing, the Linglong outright beat premium giant brands.
Wet Braking Superiority
Interesting data from the Tyre Reviews test came during the wet braking evaluation. This metric tests the sheer mechanical grip required to stop a car from 80 km/h (roughly 50 mph) to a dead stop on a soaked surface.
The Linglong Sport Master took first place outright, bringing the test car to a halt in just 26.20 meters. To understand exactly how crazy that is, look at the stopping distances of the premium tires trailing behind it:
- Continental PremiumContact 7: 27.30 Meters
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6: 27.50 Meters
- Pirelli Cinturato C3: 27.60 Meters
- Michelin Pilot Sport 5: 27.70 Meters
Stopping a full 1.5 meters shorter than a top-tier Michelin Pilot Sport 5 in the pouring rain is a massive safety advantage from a tire that costs a fraction of the price.
It Wasn’t a Fluke in the Dry, Either
It’s common for a budget tire to strike gold in one specific metric only to completely fall apart elsewhere. But the Tyre Reviews data shows the Linglong didn’t lose its edge when the tarmac dried up.
During the 100-0 km/h (62-0 mph) dry braking test, the Linglong secured a solid podium finish. Coming in third place overall with a stopping distance of 33.90 meters, it was only bested by the Giti GitiSport S2 plus (33.60 meters) and the Hankook Ventus Evo (32.80 meters).
Crucially, it still managed to out-brake the Yokohama Advan Sport V107 (34.10m), the Pirelli Cinturato C3 (34.30m), and the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 (34.40m) in perfect, dry conditions.
The ADAC Co-Sign
If you think this is just an isolated YouTube test, the wider industry is starting to notice, too. ADAC, Europe’s largest motoring association, recently published its own 2026 summer tire test for the highly common 225/50 R17 size category.
Out of the 16 tires put through its tests, only three managed to earn a ‘good’ rating. The Linglong was one of them. The ADAC report even dedicated a section to the brand, asking: “Linglong: The new star in the tire sky?”
For years, budget tires have been viewed as the bottom-of-the-barrel option for drivers simply trying to save a buck. But with brands like Linglong putting down hard data that beats the big brands, it might be time to stop paying a premium just for the logo on the sidewall.
