Updated: 04/22/2021 15:09:39
Expert: Boris Evgenievich Kononov
*Review of the best according to the editors of expertology.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.
The Russian SUV Chevrolet Niva is highly popular among domestic motorists. One of the reasons for stable demand is high traffic. In addition, the machine is unpretentious in maintenance and has an affordable price. In order for a car to realize its full potential, it is important to choose the right tires. It is best to do this taking into account the time of year and the nature of the roads being overcome. With the help of our experts, we will try to determine the range of suitable tires.
Recommendations for choosing tires for the Chevrolet Niva
Manufacturer's recommendations
. Depending on the modification of the Chevrolet Niva, R15 or R16 wheels are installed on the factory assembly line. Therefore, before going to a car store, you should find out the equipment of your iron horse. The most common tire sizes are:
- 205/70R15;
- 205/75R15;
- 215/75R15;
- 215/65R16.
Seasonality
. For different times of the year, you should select seasonal “shoes” for the Chevrolet Niva.
- Summer tires behave well in the warm season, allowing the driver to enjoy a fast ride. It is quiet and has good rolling power.
- Winter tires are indispensable when operating a car on snowy or icy roads. Friction models are recommended for the southern regions of the country, and for northern routes it is better to prefer tires with studs.
- For those who like to ride through meadows and forests, special mud tires are recommended. It features an aggressive deep tread that is easy to clean off the ground. The only disadvantage of special tires will be noise on asphalt.
Speed and load index
. Many Chevrolet Niv owners use their cars as workhorses. Some reckless drivers are trying to set a speed record on paved highways. Therefore, when choosing tires, you should pay attention to the speed and load index.
- Speed characteristics are encrypted in letter designation (Latin letters). For example, “T” indicates a top speed of 190 km/h, and “V” allows you to accelerate to 240 km/h.
- The Chevrolet Niva can be seriously loaded, but only if you have the appropriate tires. The load index has a digital designation. If with the marking “60” the maximum weight per wheel is 250 kg, then with “113” this value will increase to 1150 kg.
We have selected the 14 best tires for the Chevrolet Niva for review. All models are sold in auto stores in our country. When distributing places, the editors of the journal expertology took expert opinions as a basis, taking into account the reviews of Russian crop farmers.
Owner reviews
I discovered the STT Discoverer for the first time this year. Now I’m driving happy, because the tires paddle perfectly even in serious mud. Yes, at high temperatures and long driving on the highway they float a little, but the Niva is not created for this. Besides, I rarely travel like this. Some will say that the price is high. But if you count two sets (summer + winter), then the claim becomes unclear.
I’ve been driving the Amtelach Nord-Master for three years now. In winter, of course. Very good tires, especially considering their cost. Because for 12 thousand you can put shoes on a car for five years. And even driving on ice is very confident. When fishing, I feel simply irreplaceable - where others give up, my Niva drives very confidently. Yes, there are problems with noise, but in the Chevrolet line this is not the most comfortable model, and it was created for something else. So I'm willing to put up with these disadvantages in favor of the advantages.
Among domestically produced SUVs, Chevrolet Niva has received a well-deserved leadership in sales. But a relatively small percentage of owners use it for its intended purpose - off-road. This car acts as an everyday vehicle. Most often it can be found in rural areas as an excellent option for dirt roads and highway driving. Not everyone decides to “knead the dirt” on a Chevrolet Niva.
Rating of the best tires for Chevrolet Niva
Nomination | place | Name of product | starting price |
The best winter tires for Chevrolet Niva | 1 | Dunlop Grandtrek Ice02 | 4 428 ₽ |
2 | Hankook Tire i*pike RW11 | 4 000 ₽ | |
3 | GOODYEAR Ultra Grip Ice Arctic SUV | 6 326 ₽ | |
4 | Nokian Tires Nordman 7 SUV | 5 396 ₽ | |
5 | Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 | 5 500 ₽ | |
6 | Viatti Bosco Nordico V-523 | 3 152 ₽ | |
The best summer tires for Chevrolet Niva | 1 | Yokohama BluEarth-Van RY55 | 4 170 ₽ |
2 | Continental CrossContact ATR | 6 095 ₽ | |
3 | Nokian Tires Nordman SX2 | 2 020 ₽ | |
4 | MICHELIN Latitude Cross | 5 000 ₽ | |
The best mud tires for Chevrolet Niva | 1 | Toyo Open Country A/T plus | 3 875 ₽ |
2 | Continental ContiCrossContact AT | 5 099 ₽ | |
3 | GOODYEAR Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure With GOODYEAR | 6 750 ₽ | |
4 | Kumho Road Venture M/T KL71 | 8 840 ₽ |
What size winter tires should I use?
Winter wheels must not only cope with difficult conditions of icy or snowy roads, but also be suitable for the standard size of the car. The design of the Chevrolet Niva allows you to install tires with diameters of 15 or 16 inches. At the same time, such standard sizes as 195/70, 205/75, 205/70 or 185/75 are suitable without lifting.
R15
Despite the fact that the manufacturer in its recommendations gives preference to 16-inch wheels, it still allows for the possibility of installing products designed for R15 wheels, which can be found more often on the market. The most suitable sizes with this diameter are 195/70/R15, 205/75/R15 and 205/70/R15. In them, manufacturers offer a fairly large number of models to choose from at not very high prices.
It is worth highlighting the following products with spikes:
- Amtel NordMaster;
- Viatti Vettore Inverno;
- Kumho WinterCraft ice;
- Cordiant SnowCross.
- Nexen Winguard WinSpike;
- Matador MP 30;
- Jislevd NordFrost 100;
- Yokohama F700Z;
- Yokohama IceGuard IG35;
Tires with treads without studs, designed for winter roads, are also presented:
- Toyo Observe Gsi-5;
- Tunga Nordway;
- Viatti Vettore Brina;
- Kumho KW 7400;
- Nexen Winguard ice;
- Yokohama IceGuard IG 30;
- Sava Eskimo Ice;
- Nokian Nordman RS;
- Dunlop Graspic DS3.
In addition to these models from the budget and mid-price segments, manufacturers are able to offer car owners a fairly large list of specialized wheels at a more expensive price.
The poorest selection of tires is for size 205/75/R15, which, at the same time, is indicated by the manufacturer as a standard option. In fact, the domestic brand Cordiant is a monopolist in this segment. Its wheels are inexpensive, but still many Niva owners prefer to replace them with something else.
R16
Exactly 16 inches is the standard radius or, more precisely, diameter for Chevrolet Niva tires. The manufacturer installs the standard size 185/75/R16 on the car. The problem with such tires is that they are both narrow and high, so companies do not often undertake the production of such models, especially in the winter version.
Most wheels for the cold season with these sizes are made with studs. They are also the most popular among SUV owners in general. The stock option for the Chevrolet Niva is Voltyre VLI-5 and VLI-10 - they are inexpensive and easily accessible. But they do not have the best driving characteristics. Because of the latter, most car owners strive to replace them with something else at the first opportunity.
Among the popular studded substitutes, there are the following models that fully comply with the instructions of the Niva manufacturer:
- Amtel K182A Seven Hills;
- Nordman Nordman 4;
- Cordiant Business;
- Good Year Cargo Ultra Grip;
- Jisleivd NordFrost Van;
- Michelin Agilis X-ice North;
- Nokian Hakkapeliita.
Since studded tires are not always needed, models without studs on the tread are also available on the market:
- Rosava LTW;
- Amtel Seven Hills;
- Viatti Vettore Brina;
- Nokian WRC3;
- BelShina Bravado;
- Kama Euro 519;
- Hankook Winter Ipike;
- Tigar Cargo Speed;
- Yokohama W.Drive;
- Continental VanContact.
The budget category of the listed products includes those produced by the Russian brands Cordiant, Kama and Amtel, as well as the Belarusian BelShina and the Ukrainian Rosava. The increased price of most of these tires is one of the main reasons why car owners prefer 15-inch ones. There is simply more choice of the latter at an affordable price. There will also be a larger assortment in other price categories.
The best summer tires for Chevrolet Niva
From spring to autumn, it is best to drive a Chevrolet Niva on summer tires. Especially when the daily route runs along city streets or country roads. Experts liked the following tire models.
Yokohama BluEarth-Van RY55
Rating: 4.9
Summer tires Yokohama BluEarth-Van RY55 are designed for use on commercial vehicles, crossovers and SUVs. The element of rubber is city streets and country roads. In such conditions, the tires feel confident on both dry and wet asphalt. Experts note fuel efficiency, which should please Chevrolet Niva owners. Japanese designers worked out the tread pattern in detail, this made it possible to increase directional stability and reduce rubber deformation in the transverse direction. Domestic motorists also express their solidarity with the experts, making the model the winner of our review.
The main advantages of tires, according to users, are softness, wear resistance, and good balancing.
Advantages
- directional stability;
- affordable price;
- resistance to transverse deformation;
- fuel efficiency.
Flaws
- not detected.
Continental CrossContact ATR
Rating: 4.8
A successful balance between the main performance qualities allowed the Continental CrossContact ATR summer tires to win silver in our review. German tires are designed for crossovers and SUVs. The tread pattern has an unusual look for the brand. In the center there is a large number of blocks, united in groups of threes. They are responsible for directional stability and excellent traction and grip properties. If the central part is flexible, then the shoulder areas have a rigid connection. This structure increases efficiency during acceleration, maneuvering and braking.
Positive assessments prevail in reviews of Russian consumers. Car enthusiasts like tires for their versatility, noiselessness, and tenacity. The downside is the high price.
Advantages
- good handling;
- noiselessness;
- effective braking;
- resistance to aquaplaning.
Flaws
- high price.
All-season tires for Chevrolet Niva
When can you install all-season tires on your car? In two cases. First, your region should have mild winters without much rainfall. Secondly, if you do not have the opportunity to buy separately winter and summer tires.
Sometimes “mud” tires for Chevrolet Niva are also classified as all-season tires. But this is not entirely correct. Yes, such tires are adapted for all-season use, but they are primarily designed for harsh off-road conditions and will not be as effective on asphalt. The selection of such tires is a very individual matter, and they are most often produced by manufacturers specializing in such tires.
See the table for several popular all-season tires.
Model | Standard size | Cost, rub |
Maxxis AT-771 | 205/70 R15 | 3920 |
Goodyear Wrangler HP | 215/65 R16 | 4980 |
Kama 232 | 205/70 R15 | 3200 |
Maxxis AT-771
Goodyear Wrangler HP
Wheel chains
You can get out of the mud or overcome a snow drift on regular road tires.
That's what snow chains are for. They are fixed on the wheel rims and encircle the tire, allowing it to “cling” more firmly to the muddy ground or loose snow. Chains are not designed for long trips - they wear out quickly and accelerate tire wear. Therefore, they are equipped with special locks that allow you to attach or remove iron “bracelets” in a couple of minutes.
Help: Chains are marked according to the radius of the discs. For Chevy Niva it is 15, 16 or, on non-standard wheels, 17 inches.
Wheel bracelets are very effective and do not take up much space in the trunk. This is a simple, fast and cheap way to increase the cross-country ability of a car on road tires.