Barum Polaris 6 vs Linglong Sport Master Winter
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, 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 tire 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 tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft 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 tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire 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 tires' 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 tires 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 tire did better.
| Measurement | Polaris 6 | Gap | Sport Master Winter | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Sport Master Winter ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 153 | 6.3% | 144 | 0-2 |
| Dry Handling mph | 71.5 | 0.1% | 71.6 | 0-1 |
| Wet Polaris 6 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 138 | 1.2% | 139 | 3-1 |
| Wet Braking - Concrete ft | 146 | 9.9% | 132 | 0-1 |
| Wet Handling mph | 50.2 | 0.7% | 49.8 | 1-0 |
| Wet Circle s | 12.62 | 0.3% | 12.66 | 1-0 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 48.9 | 1.2% | 48.2 | 1-1 |
| Curved Aquaplaning ft/s² | 8.9 | 9.6% | 8 | 2-0 |
| Snow Polaris 6 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 78 | 3.4% | 80 | 4-0 |
| Snow Traction lbf | 607 | 9.7% | 552 | 2-0 |
| Snow Handling mph | 36 | 0.7% | 35.8 | 1-0 |
| Snow Slalom ft/s² | 9.1 | 1.4% | 9.2 | 0-1 |
| Ice Polaris 6 ahead | ||||
| Ice Braking ft | 66 | 9.8% | 73 | 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 miles | 23,006 | 1.2% | 23,336 | 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 tires shared.
Head to head in 4 tests, 2025 to 2026
Each row is one published test in which both tires 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 Tire Braking Test - 50 Sets | P7 of 50 | P21 of 50 | |
| 2026 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 185/65 R15 | P8 of 16 | P3 of 16 | |
| 2025 Autobild Winter Tire Test | P8 of 20 | P19 of 20 | |
| 2025 Winter Tire 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 tire?
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, the Barum Polaris 6 finished ahead 3 times and the Sport Master Winter once. On the Tire 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 tire 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 tire 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 tires 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 Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.