F816
In this short review, we will tell you about the tires for commercial vehicles - about the Linglong F816. But, before proceeding directly to the review, let's define what a commercial vehicle is and what requirements are imposed on the tires for these cars.
About tires for commercial vehicles
When we talk about commercial transport, we mean delivery trucks, cargo vans, buses and other equipment that is used by commercial organizations for intracity and intercity transportation. What are the requirements for tires for such vehicles?
There are several requirements and among them:
- Affordable price - the cheaper the tires, the better (of course, if the price is affordable without sacrificing quality).
- All-season operation - in order not to change tires at the beginning of each new season, you need to buy those tires that work equally well in summer and winter.
- Durability and Reliability - Tires must be predictably reliable for commercial vehicles to operate without downtime.
- Durability - Commercial vehicle tires should last as long as possible so that you don't have to spend regularly on new tires.
- Driving Performance - Tires mounted on a compact truck must be able to drive safely both on the highway and in the city.
The question is, to what extent do these requirements correspond to Linglong F816?
About tires in general
Linglong F816 is specially designed for commercial vehicles. The specificity of these tires is such that they can be used with equal success on both steering and driving wheels. Moreover, these tires are suitable for equipping trailers. Considering the versatility of the application, the manufacturer has released a model line with a wide range of standard sizes. As a result, you will probably be able to find, select and buy tires for your truck, van, or bus.
Structurally, the tire is a traditional solution, where the tread is made in the form of 4 longitudinal grooves, which provide effective water drainage and vehicle directional stability. The tire is reinforced wherever possible. Reinforcement of the center rib and reinforcement of the sidewalls provide high strength and, as a result, the durability of the tires. However, let's talk about this in more detail.
Price
As already mentioned, when choosing tires for commercial vehicles, among other things, how affordable the price is is taken into account. We recommend that you check the cost of these tires from any dealer in your neighborhood. You are guaranteed to be surprised to learn how inexpensive good tires can be.
And what is the secret of the low price? There is no special secret. It's just that a tire manufacturer is a Chinese brand that is still not popular enough in the west. To interest a promising western buyer, Linglong Tire sells its products at very attractive prices, well, at least in comparison with the price of European tires of a similar class.
If you think that the affordable price negatively affects the quality of the tires, then this is not the case. Linglong F816 tires are manufactured using the same technologies as European tires of well-known brands, the materials are the same, the equipment is similar, or even more modern. So why should Chinese tires be of lower quality than their European counterparts?
Main characteristics
Linglong F816 is designed for commercial vehicles, and therefore designed for continuous daily loads. The maximum wheel load is 2700 kg. This load corresponds to the parameters of most distribution trucks and similar equipment that are used as commercial vehicles.
The tires are designed for highway use and therefore have a maximum long-term speed of 140 mi / h. This is more than enough for delivery vans, buses, and other categories of similar equipment. The tires are designed exclusively for use on flat and dense road surfaces. Cross-country driving with these tires is only possible in dry weather. Due to the smooth tread, operating the tires on the soggy ground will not provide the desired handling.
The low tread height is not used by accident. Firstly, the tire is not off-road, and therefore there is no need for an aggressive tread pattern. Secondly, the rejection of the aggressive tread allows you to reduce rolling resistance. This in turn increases driving comfort and helps reduce fuel consumption when cruising on the highway.
Even though these tires do not look like off-road brutal tires, the reinforcement used in their construction will certainly outperform the reinforcement in other outwardly stronger tires. The central part is reinforced, the sidewalls are reinforced, so Linglong F816 is very strong and very reliable.
Driving comfort
Since commercial transport is usually associated with long journeys, driving comfort is important, which will allow the driver not to get tired for a long time and remain able to work for a long time. Ensure driving comfort three conditions, namely, low noise level, absence of vibrations, and sufficient directional stability.
As previously mentioned, the Linglong F816 tread is characterized by a low height. Rather, four deep longitudinal grooves drain water, but the transverse grooves are no deeper than 5 mm. Therefore, tires, unlike tires with a more aggressive tread, practically do not make noise.
Again, these tires are perfectly balanced for several reasons. Therefore, they do not vibrate and therefore there is no shaking on the steering wheel, of course, if everything is in order with the chassis of your commercial vehicle. Continuing the theme of driving comfort, we note that it is these tires that demonstrate high directional stability. Many tires can cause a car to be sideways when driving in a straight line.
Therefore, in a car on bad tires, you have to constantly steer, leveling the trajectory of movement. Linglong F816 does not need such steering, since these tires travel in a straight line like on rails.
This advantage is explained by 4 deep longitudinal grooves, which contribute to increased directional stability. By the way, directional stability is high in any weather, both on dry and wet roads. This is because deep longitudinal grooves prevent aquaplaning on wet roads. As a result, thanks to such tires, the car does not go into an uncontrolled skid but goes where the driver directs it.
Durability and reliability
As already mentioned, the Linglong F816 is a solid and reliable tire. Another confirmation of this is the guarantee that the manufacturer gives for 30-40 thousand miles of the run. Agree, this is a good guarantee for tires that will probably be used daily and almost without interruption.
How are the strength and durability of these tires ensured? First of all, the matter is in the reinforced frame of the radial weaving. The fibers of the carcass are closely matched to each other, the weave is very tight, and therefore the tire, despite the increased weight, can withstand increased loads without compromising its integrity.
In addition to the reinforced carcass, strength is provided by longitudinal metal belts that run along the central rib and prevent tire damage during regular collisions with speed bumps and other obstacles. However, the functionality of the metal belts used in the tire construction does not end there. Reinforcement of the central part of the tire prevents uneven wear of the tread, thereby prolonging its service life.
In addition to the central part of the tire, the sidewalls are also reinforced, especially near the bead rings. This is a necessary measure that allows you to increase the pressure of the tire against the rim. As a result, the likelihood of wheel depressurization is excluded, even in the event of severe tire deformations. This is a very important advantage as the tire is tubeless.