Tire brand
Linglong
Linglong is a Chinese tire manufacturer based in Zhaoyuan, in Shandong province.
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Brand profile
Linglong is a Chinese tire manufacturer based in Zhaoyuan, in Shandong province. Listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (601966), the company produces radial tires for passenger cars, SUVs and light trucks, as well as commercial tires (truck and bus), off-the-road and agricultural tires. Active in markets worldwide, it positions itself in the economy and mid-range segment.
Positioning: Positioning: Passenger, SUV, light-truck, commercial, off-the-road and agricultural tires, economy segment.
History
Linglong traces its origins to a tire repair and manufacturing plant founded in 1975 in Zhaoyuan, in Shandong province, China. The facility was originally a state-owned entity tied to Zhaoyuan County. In 1987, the company was reorganized as Shandong Linglong Tire Co., Ltd., under the leadership of Wang Xicheng, marking the start of its modern industrial direction. Over the decades, Linglong broadened its lineup from the simple replacement tire toward radial tires for passenger cars (PCR), light trucks (LTR), trucks and buses (TBR), off-the-road (OTR) and agricultural (AGR) applications. In July 2016, the company went public in Shanghai. Linglong then pursued an international expansion strategy. Its first overseas plant opened in 2014 in Chonburi, Thailand, initially dedicated to passenger tires, then expanded to truck and bus tires in 2015. In 2019, construction began on a second overseas base in Zrenjanin, Serbia, the first tire manufacturing plant of a Chinese group in Europe; this plant, representing an investment of close to one billion euros, came on stream in 2023 for car, truck and off-the-road tires. In China, the group operates several production bases, notably in Zhaoyuan, Dezhou, Liuzhou, Jingmen and Changchun. In North America, Linglong Americas was established near Akron, Ohio, in 2009, as the company's first international design and engineering center. The group has also announced plans for a plant in the Americas to round out its global footprint. Linglong distributes its products in more than 170 countries and supplies automakers as original equipment. The company has become known for its international sports sponsorships, notably in European soccer.
Technologies
Linglong's passenger and SUV tires are built on radial architectures with steel-belt-reinforced casings, designed for directional stability and reduced rolling resistance. Recent winter models use wavy sipes and micro-cavities in the tread to improve grip on ice and snow, along with asymmetric patterns that balance behavior on dry, wet and snow-covered surfaces. On the commercial side, all-steel (TBR) tires rely on wear-resistant rubber compounds, reinforced skeletons and variable-angle block patterns to limit irregular wear and extend mileage. Linglong operates several research centers in China as well as a technical center in North America.
Innovations
Linglong invests in research through several development centers spread across China (Zhaoyuan, Yantai, Jinan, Beijing, Shanghai), North America and a testing office in Europe. This R&D apparatus is aimed at improving rubber compounds, rolling resistance and original-equipment performance with global automakers. The company is developing a lineup geared toward electric vehicles, a segment where mastering noise, load and rolling resistance is decisive; an EV-focused range has been announced for the North American market. On the visibility front, Linglong has partnered with top-tier European soccer clubs, which has bolstered the brand's recognition in export markets. The group is also pursuing an industrial expansion plan, including a European plant in Serbia certified by several automakers for original equipment, illustrating its drive to move upmarket.
Manufacturing
Linglong's headquarters are located in Zhaoyuan, in Shandong province, China. The group operates several Chinese production bases, notably in Zhaoyuan, Dezhou, Liuzhou, Jingmen and Changchun, and has developed overseas sites: a plant in Chonburi, Thailand (since 2014), and a plant in Zrenjanin, Serbia (in production since 2023), the first tire plant of a Chinese group in Europe. Linglong Americas, established near Akron, Ohio, serves as the design and engineering center for North America. In Canada and Quebec, Linglong tires and its sub-brands are offered through distributors and retailers; there is no Canadian plant.
Reputation
Linglong is seen as an economy-segment brand offering attractive value for the money. Independent tests note good dry-surface performance for its recent sport and winter models, with more average behavior on wet surfaces and snow depending on the test. In Quebec, Linglong's passenger and SUV tires are relevant if they carry the 3PMSF pictogram (mountain and snowflake), required to meet the provincial winter tire mandate from December 1 to March 15. For the commercial, off-the-road and agricultural ranges, relevance has more to do with durability and operating cost. Availability in Quebec runs through the distribution network.
Models and families
Related Linglong models
These families are presented for reference. Actual availability depends on the catalogue and sizes.