Lion Sport GP
Are you the owner of a modern sports car and you need quality, inexpensive tires for it? The good news is that there are such tires, this is the Lion Sport GP and we will talk about them in this review.
What are good tires
But first, let's define what good tires are well, to know from what considerations to evaluate the options on sale. Among the distinguishing characteristics of good tires, first of all, we note the versatility of use. The tire must ride equally well on dry and wet road surfaces, ensuring efficient and safe driving.
The second point is that a good tire should provide ride comfort. After the tires you have bought are installed on the car, you should feel that there is less noise in the cabin compared to previous tires. The third is the duration of the service life. Good tires should last more than one season. That is, good tires are practical tires.
So now we know what good tires should be. It remains to be determined whether these qualities correspond to the Lion Sport GP.
General information about Lion Sport GP
Lion Sport GP tires are designed and manufactured for passenger cars, including family sedans, sports coupes, city crossovers, and even minivans. The tires of this model are designed for high performance and acceptable handling at high speeds (up to 160mi / h).
The tire manufacturer has made every effort to provide the best driving performance in urban driving. It's no secret that driving in city traffic involves frequent braking and acceleration. It is necessary to brake and then accelerate in traffic jams and at traffic lights. Therefore, Lion Sport GP tires provide a dynamic start without slipping and a short braking distance. Both of these qualities within the city provide comfort and safety of management.
According to numerous reviews, the tires are well balanced. Therefore, driving the car will be comfortable, again, you do not have to balance the wheels after installing these tires.
All-season or seasonal
The manufacturer positions the Lion Sport GP tires as all-season tires. But don't rely on these tires to provide optimal ride performance in all climates. Let's just say the Lion Sport GP is a tire designed for all seasons, provided that the climate where the car will be used is moderate. The optimum temperature range for these tires is + 20 ℃ to -10 ℃. If the climate where you live is hotter in summer or harsher in winter there is a reason to think about buying other tires with more all-season qualities, perhaps from the same manufacturer.
How do they go
When used in the warm season, Lion Sport GP practically does not differ from most of the summer tires on sale in the middle price segment. There is no excessive noise due to the pronounced tread, there is no characteristic roll when cornering due to the inherent softness of these tires. No, this is much better than what you might expect from an all-season rubber. Let us remind you once again that these tires are positioned precisely as all-season tires.
So, on dry roads in summer, tires ride well, but what about in the rain? In rain, these tires ride surprisingly well, both on slightly damp roads and through puddles. The reason for good handling on wet roads is the effective tread pattern. The system of longitudinal and transverse grooves pushes water from the contact patch of the tire with the road. As a result, the likelihood of aquaplaning is minimized.
About price and quality
As already mentioned, Lion Sport GP in terms of its driving performance is not inferior to the majority of tires presented in the middle price segment. Nevertheless, let's not forget that these are budget, and in other words, inexpensive tires. Check the prices of these tires from any dealer and you will surely be surprised!
How is it that good tires are inexpensive, on top of everything else? The Lion Sport GP tire lineup is manufactured by the Chinese company Shandong Linglong Tire Co., Ltd. And it just so happened that the products of this brand are little known outside of China. No, these tires are bought in different countries of the world, but the brand is not heard of, and therefore the prices for quality products remain affordable without compromising quality.
By the way, about production. Shandong Linglong Tire Co., Ltd is one of the few Chinese manufacturers that does not just copy popular Japanese or European brands but develops tires from scratch using the most modern technology. The production process is carried out with multi-stage quality control, and therefore the likelihood of a factory defect is minimal. Agree with a high level of quality combined with affordable prices - this is a great advantage!
What and how is it made
Lion Sport GP is a modern tubeless tire with asymmetric non-directional tread. A standard radial casing is used in the construction of the tires - an inexpensive but very reliable solution. For reduced Because of the total weight, most of the carcass is made of nylon belts, which, with relatively low weight, provide sufficient strength for the entire tire. Another advantage of such a frame is the efficient heat dissipation. That is, the tire overheats less and therefore it can be used at high speeds without fear of excessive wear.
Tread materials are standard for all-season tires. The rubber compound is composed of synthetic rubber, silicon dioxide, and more than 10 ingredients. All this determines the performance characteristics of the tread.
The high content of silicon dioxide allows the tread to remain flexible for a long time, despite low temperatures. The presence of special resins makes it possible to increase the density of the rubber, despite its elasticity. As previously mentioned, Lion Sport GP is tubeless tires, and therefore the issue of ensuring their tightness is acute. For this, the inner surface of the tire is covered with a layer of latex, which completely excludes the possibility of air leakage through micropores. Moreover, the inner diameter of the tire, which is in contact with the rim, is reinforced with a metal ring.
The tire tread is formed by longitudinal and diagonal grooves. Longitudinal grooves provide vehicle directional stability. Diagonal grooves are responsible for traction and water diversion from the contact patch with the road surface. The tread pattern is effective despite the classic design. To avoid excessive noise and vibrations, the tread is not very pronounced and its height does not exceed 10 mm.
An interesting technology - the tread is inhomogeneous and consists of an outer and an inner rubber layer. The inner layer is more porous than the outer layer. As the outer layer wears away, a more porous surface is exposed. Due to this, friction increases and, as a result, grip over the entire area of the contact patch of the tire with the road. That is, judging by the reviews and customer reviews, after 5 thousand miles of the run, the car's handling is noticeably improved on these tires.
About warranty
The manufacturer's warranty for Lion Sport GP tires at dealerships in the US and Canada is 50,000 miles. Agree that this is a lot, especially since the tires are budget! It remains to contact the nearest dealer of Linglong Tire products in your locality and find out what warranty conditions apply to these tires.