Kumho WinterCraft WP52+ vs Linglong Sport Master Winter
- TR Score
- 9.3/10
- Owners say
- 91% · 6
- TR Score
- 7.3/10
- Owners say
- 82% · 4
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, the Kumho WinterCraft WP52+ finished ahead 3 times and the Sport Master Winter once. The WinterCraft WP52+ lasted 15.7% longer in the wear tests; the Sport Master Winter stopped 0.6% shorter in the dry.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus for more dependable wet-weather braking and stronger snow traction overall, especially if winter conditions are a regular concern. The Linglong Sport Master Winter is a budget-focused alternative for milder regions, but its weaker snow performance in some tests makes it harder to recommend where snow and ice are common.
Where the WinterCraft WP52+ is stronger
- Wet 11/11 Stopped 5.3% shorter in the wet (4 tests)
- Snow 6/8
- Ice 1/1
- Value 5/7 Lasted 15.7% longer in the wear tests (3 tests)
Where the Sport Master Winter is stronger
- Often competitive on dry roads: it had the shorter dry-braking distance in ADAC and Auto Bild, though the margins were small.
- Strong value credentials: AvD named it the price-performance winner, and Auto Bild found it among the cheapest per kilometer.
- Placed third in the ADAC test, ahead of the Kumho in that size and test, with satisfactory dry and wet performance.
The measured tallies (wins out of measurements in the shared tests) come straight from the tables below. The written verdict and bullet points are analysis of those tests and of owner reviews; where they and the figures disagree, the figures are right.
WinterCraft WP52+ vs Sport Master Winter at a glance
| Category | WinterCraft WP52+ | Gap | Sport Master Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won4 shared tests | 3 | 1 | |
| Dry4 measurements | 1 | The Sport Master Winter stopped 0.6% shorter in the dry (3 tests) | 3 |
| Wet11 measurements | 11 | The WinterCraft WP52+ stopped 5.3% shorter in the wet (4 tests) | 0 |
| Snow8 measurements | 6 | 2 | |
| Ice1 measurement | 1 | 0 | |
| Comfort3 measurements | 1 | 2 | |
| Value7 measurements | 5 | The WinterCraft WP52+ lasted 15.7% longer in the wear tests (3 tests) | 2 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.3/10 | The WinterCraft WP52+ by 2.0 | 7.3/10 |
| Owner rating6 and 4 reviews | 91% | The WinterCraft WP52+ by 9 points | 82% |
| Pricein the 3 tests that listed prices | +13.1% | The WinterCraft WP52+ was dearer in 2 of 3 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 115 | 66 sizes made in both | 95 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire 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 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 | WinterCraft WP52+ | Field | Sport Master Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Winter Tire Braking Test - 50 Sets | P10 of 50 | P21 of 50 | |
| 2026 AvD Winter Tire Test | P6 of 15 | P9 of 15 | |
| 2026 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 185/65 R15 | P12 of 16 | P3 of 16 | |
| 2025 Autobild Winter Tire Test | P3 of 20 | P19 of 20 |
Performance profile
9 measurements from the 4 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
WinterCraft WP52+
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. 10 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
WinterCraft WP52+
Sport Master Winter
Not ahead in any category
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
WinterCraft WP52+
Sport Master Winter
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the WinterCraft WP52+ 91% 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. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | WinterCraft WP52+ | Gap | Sport Master Winter | Wins | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 142 | 0.6% | 143 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 71.1 | 0.6% | 71.6 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 142 | 5.3% | 150 | 4-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 128 | 3% | 132 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 51.3 | 3% | 49.8 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 12.43 | 1.8% | 12.66 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 50.7 | 5.2% | 48.2 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 9.1 | 13.2% | 8 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 77 | 1.7% | 77 | 2-2 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 602 | 9% | 552 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 36.7 | 2.6% | 35.8 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 9.5 | 3.2% | 9.2 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 71 | 4% | 73 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 9% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 69.4 | 0.7 dB | 68.75 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 25,547 | 15.7% | 22,698 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 8.87 | 8.5% | 9.75 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 5.6 | 3.4% | 5.8 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 95 | 13.7% | 82 | 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 tires 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 Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the WinterCraft WP52+ scores 9.3 and the Sport Master Winter 7.3 out of 10.
| WinterCraft WP52+ | Category | Sport Master Winter | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92 | Dry | 83 | ||
| 88 | Wet | 62 | ||
| 46 | Comfort | 29 | ||
| 79 | Value | 32 | ||
| 68 | Snow | 26 | ||
| 35 | Ice | 17 | ||
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.
What owners say
| WinterCraft WP52+ | Category | Sport Master Winter | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.3 | Dry Grip | 8.8 | ||
| 9.3 | Wet Grip | 8.3 | ||
| 9 | Road Feedback | 7.8 | ||
| 9 | Handling | 7.8 | ||
| 8.3 | Wear | 6.7 | ||
| 8.8 | Comfort | 8 | ||
| 9.3 | Snow Grip | 9.3 | ||
| 8.4 | Ice Grip | 8 | ||
Owners rate the WinterCraft WP52+ 91% from 6 reviews and the Sport Master Winter 82% from 4. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Kumho WinterCraft WP52+
- 91%from 6 reviews
- 100%would buy again
- 40,507 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers report the Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus delivers impressively strong winter performance for the price, with repeated praise for confident grip (especially in wet conditions) and secure handling. Reviews consistently highlight low road noise and noticeably improved ride comfort versus some premium or run-flat alternatives, with multiple users describing a premium feel and excellent value. No recurring performance drawbacks were reported across the reviews.
- Strong wet grip and water shedding
- Confident handling and traction in cold/winter conditions
- Low road noise / quiet ride
- Good ride comfort
Summarised by AI from 5 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 6 WinterCraft WP52+ reviewsI bought these after looking at the tests. They offer performance close to premium tires while being very affordable. That's actually the reason I chose this tire. If you don't have extreme winter conditions where you are, you can go for this tire. If the winter conditions are bad, Barum might be a good alternative since it's still reasonably priced.
Linglong Sport Master Winter
- 82%from 4 reviews
- 5,000 milesdriven by reviewers
All 4 Sport Master Winter reviewsDrove them one winter on really heavy snow in the moutains no problem at all the snow grip was really impresive even against some premium tires. I had no problems never got stuck even when i was trying to get stuck i saw many people with premium tires and same awd having trouble but not with this ones. The only problem is Wear I think if ur winter is mild and temp are high the tires will melt away. About to mount them for this winter to see did they change after 1 year.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 115 sizes of the WinterCraft WP52+ and 95 of the Sport Master Winter, 66 of them made in both.
| Category | WinterCraft WP52+ | Sport Master Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter Run flat |
| Sizes made | 115 sizes, 13 to 21 inch | 95 sizes, 14 to 21 inch |
| Made in both | 66 sizes 165/70 R14175/65 R14175/65 R15185/55 R15185/60 R15185/65 R15195/50 R15195/55 R15195/60 R15195/65 R15195/45 R16195/50 R16and 54 more | |
| EU label wet grip | B81%A19% | A81%B19% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C65%D32%B2%E1% | D82%C17%B1% |
| EU label noise | 70-73 dB B100% | 71-75 dB B100% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 208 of 210 | 101 of 101 |
| On the market since | 2025 | 2025 |
| Awards | Winner: Winter Touring Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2026/27) | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The WinterCraft WP52+ was the dearer tire in 2 of the 3 tests that listed prices, by 13.1% on average. Each test priced the tires in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
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.
The Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus and Linglong Sport Master Winter are both passenger-car winter tires, but their test results point to different priorities. Across four shared tests, the Kumho generally delivers the stronger all-round safety case, particularly in wet braking and aquaplaning resistance, while the Linglong often performs well on dry roads and is attractive on price.
Conclusion
The Kumho finished ahead in three of the four shared tests, with particularly consistent wet-braking results: it stopped shorter than the Linglong in all four comparisons, including 37.5 m versus 40.6 m in the 2026 braking test. It also showed stronger snow traction and aquaplaning resistance in the detailed tests. Its wear results were usually favorable, though not uniformly so, and it has weaknesses of its own: ADAC criticised its dry handling, and AvD noted weaker curved-aquaplaning performance.
WinterCraft WP52+ vs Sport Master Winter: your questions
Is the Kumho WinterCraft WP52+ or the Linglong Sport Master Winter the better tire?
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, the Kumho WinterCraft WP52+ finished ahead 3 times and the Sport Master Winter once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the WinterCraft WP52+ scores 9.3 and the Sport Master Winter 7.3 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the WinterCraft WP52+ or the Sport Master Winter?
The WinterCraft WP52+ led 11 of the 11 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 5.3% shorter in the wet across 4 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Sport Master Winter led 3 of the 4 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 0.6% shorter in the dry across 3 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The WinterCraft WP52+ led 6 of the 8 snow measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The WinterCraft WP52+ lasted 15.7% longer in the wear tests (3 tests) and had 8.5% lower rolling resistance (2 tests). Owners rate wear 8.3/10 for the WinterCraft WP52+ and 6.7/10 for the Sport Master Winter.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.8/10 for the WinterCraft WP52+ and 8/10 for the Sport Master Winter.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the WinterCraft WP52+ 91% from 6 reviews and the Sport Master Winter 82% from 4.
Which is more expensive?
In the 3 tests that listed prices, the WinterCraft WP52+ was the dearer tire in 2 of them, by 13.1% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The WinterCraft WP52+ is made in 115 sizes (13 to 21 inch) and the Sport Master Winter in 95 (14 to 21 inch). 66 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the WinterCraft WP52+ is graded B 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.
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