What tires to put on Niva 2121 21214 2131 in winter: the best options

Actually, I'm interested in the maximum size on stock 16″ disks. Who installed what?

throw away these stock wheels))) Set the radius to 15. . . and cut 215/75/15 ) ) ) and you will be happy

I know that the original wheels are not comme il faut! and I know that I need to set P15, But I need to know the answer to the question

215 75 15 is 215 70 16

isn’t this 29″? because 29″ is a lot without a lift

they won't fit. . . on diagonals and in front they will catch

+1. I know for sure that 29 will be overwritten

the offset is 35 on the discs or less. The front will catch on the protection, it can be treated with two blows of a hammer from the rear, if there is no elevator, everything is humming.

I now have 215/75/15 and my little finger can barely fit to the front part of the wing with the wheels turned out! So 29 is too much without cutting or lifting) ) )

I currently have 235/55/r18 and it doesn’t affect anything...

I currently have 235/55/r18 and it doesn’t affect anything...

I had 255 55 r 18 rollers from the X 5, I cut the front arches with a jigsaw

235 75 r15 will fit you, but you won’t have enough torque to turn them

Write some unreal sizes, I have 205 70 15 and Cordiant off road tires, they will rub off on the arches brutally

There is a simple answer to this, there is little that the manufacturer will write on the tire... Even in a store, tires of the same size, but from different manufacturers, differ in size.

The size of the tires and wheels greatly influences the behavior of the car on the road. AvtoVAZ recommends installing tires and wheels of a strictly defined size on the Niva; only in this case the manufacturer guarantees the service life of the components and assemblies of the chassis and suspension. In the review, we will tell you what the size of the wheels affects during the operation of the machine and what recommendations the manufacturer gives.

What tires are suitable for Niva for standard and non-standard wheel sizes?

In order to install new tires on the Niva, you should carefully study the parameters of the standard wheels installed at the factory.

To understand whether or not a new brand of tire will fit on factory-sized wheels, pay primary attention to the following inscriptions:

1. 5J
2. R16
3. H2-ET = 58;
4. DIA = 98;
5. PCD = 5×139.7.

All these designations refer to important characteristics. So, the first indicates that the permissible tire size is 5 inches with a maximum deviation of 1 inch in any direction. The letter J indicates the presence of only one side.

The following parameter indicates the diameter, which should not exceed 16 inches. H2 indicates the presence of two hunting rings at the edges of the rim, necessary for tightly fixing the tire to the rim. Hunts are a must-have item for off-road vehicles.

The ET parameter indicates the wheel offset (in this case 58 cm) with a permissible deviation of 1 centimeter. Well, DIA indicates the radius. The PCD marking indicates the bolt pattern: that is, the number of holes for mounting bolts with the distance between them.

Thus, we can state that 27-28-inch tires will easily fit the standard wheel size. But to install 29-inch tires, which are more often found on foreign models, and are considered the optimal solution by SUV manufacturers, you will need a small but lift - it just won’t fit.

A lifted Niva, designed to install tires 30, 31, and even more so 32, 33 dm, will require larger rims. The last wheel size is the maximum. 35 inches are considered too big for this car. In case of such alterations, it is advisable to install beadlocks

It is important not to install too heavy discs, otherwise you can expect deformations when hitting bumps. Taking large wheels only makes sense if the car is intended to be used only outside the city

Standard design size

Before choosing wheels and tires for a Niva 4x4 with a diameter of R16, you need to carefully study the sizes of their standard, factory wheels. From the factory, this car was produced on wheels with the following designation: 5Jx16, H2-ET = 58, DIA = 98, PCD = 5x139, 7.

The developments discussed in this article are encrypted with the following formula:

• J - indicates that the structure can accommodate 5-inch tires. Depending on the manufacturer, the permissible size may differ by 1 inch up or down. The letter “J” indicates that the development has only one side.
• 16 - shows the diameter of the wheel rim assembly.
• H2 - indicates that the wheel rim design has 2 hants (special protruding rings located on the edge of the rim). They are needed to ensure that tubeless tires are securely fixed, in particular when the force of the road surface moves on the working plane of the tire. They secure the tires during maneuverable turns and are mandatory on off-road rims.
• ET - disc overhang size in mm. Of course, they are allowed to disdain, but only to a lesser extent and no more than 1 cm.
• DIA is the diameter of the hub in millimeters.
• PCD - indicates the number of holes for mounting the wheel and the diameter at which they are located.

• 0J x 15 ET = 48 - for stamped options;
• 5J x 15 ET = 40 - for the option with cast samples.

What tires are recommended for Niva 4x4

The question of what tires to put on a Niva 4x4 is a pressing issue among many motorists. For such purposes, special samples are selected. Their main condition is the width, which will be slightly more than half the width of the product. For example, for a structure with a width of 10 centimeters, a tire measuring 12.5 inches is suitable.

You may be interested in this About the rating of winter studded tires 2019-2020 for crossovers

Choosing tires for a Niva 4x4

Such criteria are selected taking into account the fact that when driving off-road, the air from the product will gradually be released, while increasing the width of the rubber on the sides. This impact is of great importance, as it increases the contact surface of the Niva 4x4 wheel and provides the vehicle with better traction.

Of course, nothing prevents you from installing off-road tires on narrower rims. But at the same time, the width of the rubber will decrease and the contact plane will also decrease. Although such a change also has its advantages. For example, when driving on a hard dirt surface, narrower tires on a Niva 4x4 will hold the road better due to the larger protrusion of the treads. But when driving through a swamp or other similar soil, it will go worse than a rim with wide tires.

Note!

To install rims with flattened tires, you must install additional fasteners in advance - beadlocks. They will hold the products during any maneuvers, braking and slipping. A cheaper fixing option is to put the tires on a sealant. But this method is very unreliable.

Niva Chevrolet

The standard wheel size for this car is R15. Mostly they install alloy wheels, which have gained great popularity. But if the car is used in Russian off-road conditions, it is more promising to install wheels of larger diameter - 16-17.

It must be said that their installation will require additional work. To increase the ground clearance, you will have to install special spacers. It will also be necessary to slightly change the design of the chassis.

Wheel markings may have several letters and numbers. In order to choose the right wheel for a Chevrolet Niva, you need to clearly understand the meaning of all the parameters indicated on it. Let's take, for example, the marking 6.5Jx16H2 PCD5x139.7 ET48 DIA98.6.

J – rim type and profile type,

16Н2 – mounting diameter equal to 16 inches,

Н2 – number of protrusions preventing rubber from slipping,

PCD – English designation for dimensions of attachment to the surface of the hub,

5 – number of mounting holes,

139.7 – diameter of their location,

ET – indicator of the disc extending beyond the plane of the car,

All wheel parameters

In addition to the bolt pattern, when choosing new wheels, they look at the following parameters:

• offset (distance from the hub to the center of the disk along the width);
• landing size;
• radius and diameter (in inches, affects the choice of tires);
• hub (mounting hole) size in inches.

Do not confuse the characteristics of the disc with the characteristics of the tire. The latter, in terms of dimensions (width and diameter), depend on the parameters of the disk, and also have their own specific ones. These include, for example, the profile height.

The appearance of a car is, in a way, the face of its driver. If the car is constantly dirty and unkempt, then most likely its owner is not very tidy either. If the car shines and its appearance is striking, then the owner of the vehicle clearly loves his things and values ​​them. One of the good ways to refresh and improve the appearance of your car is to change wheels. But in order to carry out this operation successfully, you need to know what a Niva-Chevrolet bolt pattern with a 15 radius is, for example, etc.

What types of disks to choose and from which manufacturers

For the Niva off-road vehicle, forged or alloy wheels are most suitable. The most popular option for models 2121 and 21214 are alloy wheels from Suzuki Grand Vitara, Suzuki Jimmy, Kia Sportage, and even Volga cars, measuring at least 15 inches.

If we talk about manufacturers who make wheels specifically for VAZ cars, then it is best to use products from KRAMZ. They have an anti-shock, stable design, and relatively light weight, thanks to the material from which they are made.

Niva tires and their features

Our all-wheel drive SUV has been in production for over 40 years and is designed for off-road driving. Therefore, you should select tires in accordance with the planned operation, because when driving in conditions where there are no roads, not only all-wheel drive is important. Without good tires it can become useless. Niva copes with its purpose perfectly and is not hindered by its outdated appearance. Plus, the car is easy to maintain, and spare parts are very inexpensive, especially since you can find them in any store.

Standard set of tires

On Niva, without any tuning, standard-sized arches are used. This means that they cannot install wheels different from the standard sizes on the Niva. From the factory, the car is equipped with VLI-5 tires with a diameter of R16 175/80.

Standard tires have more disadvantages than advantages:

• too noisy (at speeds above 60 km/h when driving on hard surfaces the noise will be too loud);
• in winter it loses all elasticity and simply becomes stiff in the cold;
• standard wheels have a tube, which can also be considered a disadvantage;
• low level of controllability, does not hold the road.

For those who do not want to save money on everything, it is recommended to purchase alternative options with better performance.

Options for alternatives to standard tires

In addition to the basic version of the Niva 2121, there are several different modifications, for example, the five-door 2131, Urban, Bronto and others. You can use the same tires for them as for the standard model; there is no fundamental difference. For example, tire R15 215/75. This kit is the most popular, because no modernization is required, but taking into account the correctly selected disk. A Niva tire must have an offset of at least 35 mm and a diameter of no more than 28 inches. In certain situations, such tires can still touch the wheel arch liners, especially if the car is heavily loaded or moves over high bumps, which causes the suspension to work in extreme positions. But at the same time, the cross-country ability with such tires is significantly improved, fuel consumption is reduced, and there is no need to lift the body.

For fans of extreme off-road driving, it is better to consider more serious options, such as tires with sizes R15 235/75 and 240/80. With this size of tires on the Niva, the car will look like a real off-road monster, capable of driving anywhere. But at the same time, installing such large tires and wheels will require mandatory lifting, since without this the wheels will not fit into a standard arch. Today this is not a problem.

The preparation doesn't end there. You will also have to change the front and rear gear pairs. It is necessary to put 4.44, whereas from the factory they are 3.9. This will reduce the load on the clutch and engine, and improve dynamic performance.

Additionally, special spacers should be installed on the hubs, since the disc offset needs to be increased. Of course, with such additional procedures, installing larger tires and wheels can lead to serious financial costs, especially considering the high cost of such wheels. Despite all this, such alterations are worth it. The Niva on larger mud tires with lifting makes off-road driving a pleasure.

Choosing tires for Niva

An experienced owner of a 2121 is thinking about replacing tires for a reason; it’s not about extreme sports or the thrill of the sensations. Standard tires have poor off-road and asphalt performance, so replacement is a necessary measure.

When choosing tires for the Niva, you need to consider several basic parameters:

• operating conditions of the car (driving mainly on asphalt or in conditions where there is no hard surface on the road);
• will the car be tuned (it may require enlarging the standard arches, lifting the suspension and raising the body);
• the size of the available budget (large wheels with mud tires are expensive, and you will have to spend money on lifting and other modifications);
• choosing the right brand (good wheels from leading manufacturers also cannot be cheap).

When choosing tires, it will definitely not be superfluous to know their markings. That is, you need to write down the tire width, profile height and radial size of the rim on the Niva. In addition, you need to understand what characteristics of rubber are important for use at different times of the year and in different conditions, what are the technical characteristics, performance and much more.

Tires for even greater cross-country ability: 235/75 R15 and 240/80 R15

For those for whom standard cross-country ability is not enough and want to go into the real wilds, then you just need to take R15 tires with this dimension (235/75) and put it in the Niva. These dimensions will make the car a real jeep, which will essentially go everywhere it can go. So whoever has such goals should put such wheels on the Niva.

But it’s not so simple, in order for such tires to become normal, you will have to do a lifting, this is a kind of tuning of the Niva. You'll have to raise the suspension and widen the wheel arches. But this is not a problem at all, because even at the plant in Togliatti there are special lifting kits, thanks to which the wheel axle can be made lower by 4 cm, which will be enough to install such off-road tires R15 235/75.

The lifting kit includes:

• cross rod,
• upgraded spring cups;
• spring spacers;
• reinforced longitudinal rods;
• spacers for the ball joint.

If you install this kit correctly, the shock absorbers and springs will fit as they should. But that’s not all, for a full ride you still need to make some changes: change the pairs of front and rear gearboxes. If they come from the factory 3.9, then you need to put 4.44. The result will be increased acceleration dynamics, and there will be less load on the engine and clutch.

You also need to remember that there is also an offset of the wheel rims, this parameter needs to be increased slightly, for this you need to make special spacers from aluminum alloy and install them in the hub. Masters usually know how to do this.

After such improvements, the hub assembly will operate under increased loads, so it is recommended to install hubs with 2-row bearings on the steering knuckle. This kind of Niva tuning will require a little time and money.

General background information

Ranges of possible values ​​for tires and wheels VAZ 2121 Niva 1989.
Tires

Wheel disks

Photo

Expert advice

When choosing tires for a car, you must first follow the manufacturer's instructions. Ask yourself a few questions.

• On what roads will the car be primarily used?
• Do you need increased cross-country ability?
• How much of the route will be city roads and how much will be highways?
• Will the vehicle carry heavy loads?

The answers to these and similar questions will help determine which tire parameters you need to pay special attention to.

How to choose the right wheels for a VAZ 2121 Niva 1989?

3 types of rims:

• Stamped (economical price category) - made from a sheet of iron by stamping on a press.
• Light alloy - manufactured by casting (more reliable than stamped ones).
• Forged (the highest quality and more expensive than the previous ones) - made from light alloys by stamping at high temperatures.

The choice depends on financial capabilities. However, it should be borne in mind that the quality of the road surface on which you have to drive every day must also be taken into account.

So, if it gets into a hole, a stamped disk will bend and will not cause harm to the tire, but a forged or cast one can cut it. There is a possibility that the cast disc may burst or crack.

It should also be noted that repairing “stamping” wheels is cheaper than repairing cast or forged wheels. But wheels with high-quality cast and forged disks kill the suspension less, because lighter and have more perfect geometry (better balanced).

The same wheels may or may not rub with tires on the same car - wheel alignment adjustment will help here.

What is the tire pressure?

It is the driver's responsibility to constantly monitor tire pressure. This will avoid standard problems associated with vehicle operation. An abnormal pressure value often causes:

• deterioration of management;
• uneven tread wear.

Often the car owner independently reduces the pressure in the wheels of his own vehicle. This reduces the load on the suspension, and the car “passes” various road irregularities an order of magnitude easier. But it is worth noting: a decrease in pressure even by 0.1 MPa leads to serious problems. The main ones include:

• increased fuel consumption;
• rapid wear of the outer tread segments;
• the car becomes less maneuverable.

An overinflated wheel causes no less problems. The central part of the cylinder begins to wear off quickly. In addition, at ambient temperatures of more than 60 degrees Celsius, the tire may simply explode. Which will lead to driving into the oncoming lane.

How long to pump winter tires

In winter, it is customary to slightly reduce blood pressure compared to summer. This helps improve traction. Thus, the indicators can be reduced for soft rubber to 0.8 atmospheres, and for regular tires to 1.2.

Standard testing of winter tires, carried out by experts from leading auto publications such as Autoreview, is designed to find out how tires behave in the following conditions:

• ice tracks;
• snowy road;
• clean highway.

And also inside and outside the city. The indicators check the grip level by determining the braking distance, acceleration speed and cornering control.

When choosing suitable winter tires, you should pay attention to its cost and compare it with the budget that you are willing to allocate for it. Today the market offers models of three price classes - low, middle and premium. At the same time, within each of them, products are ranked depending on the authority of the brand.

The lower price category includes brands such as Cordiant or Kumho. The cost of their tires for the cold season ranges from 3-4.5 thousand rubles per piece. Prices in the middle price category, which includes Nordman, BF Goodrich or Nokian, range from 5-8 thousand rubles. And over 8 thousand sell premium-segment wheels.

Responsible owners of iron horses have a separate set of wheels for each season: summer and winter. Many even purchase special tires to overcome mud. This approach seems to be the most correct. Although there are still those who believe that since the Chevrolet Niva is positioned as an SUV, there is no need to change summer tires with the onset of cold weather.

However, savings in this case are unacceptable.

• The aerodynamics of an SUV are not its strongest side, so a car with all-wheel drive and high ground clearance does not have high stability on slippery surfaces.
• Off-road qualities are manifested not at all on an icy road, but off-road.
• The weight of 4x4 vehicles is significantly higher compared to their passenger counterparts, which is why they are characterized by greater inertia and, accordingly, longer braking distances.

So you can’t ignore the rules that apply to owners of regular hatchbacks or sedans. As you know, for different seasons, tires are made from certain rubber compounds that differ in ductility in different temperature ranges. Summer tires lose their elasticity, which largely determines the car’s behavior on the road, already at 5 degrees; all-season tires can be used down to -5.

When choosing tires, you should focus on the climatic conditions of the region. Many people are concerned about the question of whether it is possible to install all-season wheels on a Niva. If there is no frost or snow in winter, then you can opt for these tire models. Frequent trips to icy surfaces require the installation of studded tires.

And, of course, do not forget that the tires change on both axles and all tires must be the same (from the same manufacturer and the same parameters).

Only by observing these requirements can you ensure comfort and safety for yourself and others.

Previously, at the factory, cars were equipped with Kama tires with standard sizes 185/75 R16. However, it should be noted that the Niva has a rather low landing. And these tires are not intended for an SUV at all, as they instantly become clogged with dirt.

For winter, it is recommended to opt for tires in sizes 215/65. But, in addition to geometric parameters, a well-chosen brand of winter tires is important. For those who are studying winter tires for Niva 4x4: this review can help you understand the range offered.

And also interesting: Scanner for car diagnostics elm327 OBD2 wi-fi version 1.5, which is better to buy for VAZ, Niva Chevrolet |

This tire is designed specifically for 4x4 SUVs. It behaves well not only in cold weather, but also during temperature changes. The profile, slightly rounded, helps not to lose traction when turning.

Designed specifically for countries with cold climates in winter, these tires perform well on the road in all weather conditions. A drop in fuel consumption for cars equipped with these tires was also noted. This option is worthy of consideration by those choosing winter wheels for the Niva.

Cordiant Polar SL

Tires without studs, the cost of which is quite budgetary, perform excellently when the thermometer readings drop below -5 degrees. Therefore, it is not recommended to visit a tire service long before frost. In winter, rubber copes well with ice, and even better with slush.

Kumho I'Zen KW22

Tires with studs perform well when moving on ice. They are budget friendly. However, over the course of a season, you can lose almost a fifth of your studs (especially if you drive on asphalt surfaces).

The rubber is characterized by decent cross-country ability; it starts and brakes well on ice crust. The spikes are quite securely fastened; they practically do not fly out when driving. The tires don't handle snow so well. In addition, they are characterized by a high noise level (when driving at speeds greater than 60 km/h). The price of tires is quite reasonable.

Reviews from those who have already tested this rubber testify to its merits, even without taking into account the brand. What can we say about the tires: they are not too noisy and perform well on icy surfaces. Thorns are practically not lost during the season. Wheels dressed in this tire cope somewhat worse with loose snow slush. But in terms of price/quality ratio, these are good winter wheels for the Niva.

In the middle price segment, this model stands out for its ability to hold both icy road surfaces and loose snow slush well. Moreover, in the latter case, it does this no worse than tires designed for driving on mud. The studs that are installed on the tires have an interesting shape. They are square. Due to this they have special tenacity. Moreover, they hold quite firmly in the tire.

If the car accelerates to a speed of about 70 km/h, a noise can be clearly heard. However, this is typical for almost all tires with studs. In connection with the above, this option can be recommended to those who are deciding which winter tires are best for the Chevrolet Niva.

The purchase of winter tires should not be delayed until the onset of cold weather. It’s better to worry about equipping your iron horse in advance.

The purchase of winter tires should be based on the area of ​​use of the car. If the car is used primarily for hunting and fishing, you will need an aggressive model installed on standard stampings. Serious lugs combined with rolled steel provide decent grip and minimal likelihood of damage to the sidewall when hitting an obstacle.

The most popular solutions for 3 and 5 door Niva on the market are the following tires:

• KAMA Euro LCV;
• Rossava LTW;
• Good Year Cargo Ultra Grip;
• NOKIAN WRC3;
• Gislaved Nord Frost 100;
• Kumho KW 7400.

The choice of tire type depends on the area where the vehicle is used. When asking whether it is necessary to install studs on a Niva, you should refer to the use of a car. If driving is carried out in the city, where the roads are normally cleaned and there are no strong sweeps, installing studded versions is unprofitable. Thanks to all-wheel drive, the car velcros out even from difficult sections of the road.

It's another matter when the car is racing in deep snow. Here the presence of metal inserts will not be unnecessary.

Wheels for Niva - from small to large

Absolutely every driver has at least once had the thought that it’s time to get bigger wheels. Because the stock Nyvka is, of course, good, but as they say - more wheels - more possibilities. Therefore, let’s figure out what a driver will have to face in order to install tires of a larger diameter and, in general, whether it’s worth doing.

Basically, here we will collect all your questions and answers to them.

Is it worth switching to 15-inch wheels?

I think you know that most tire drivers are switching from standard 16″ wheels to 15″ ones. For what? The answer is prosaic - the choice of tires with a 15″ fit is many times greater than for 16. That’s why they switch, because they want to install a meaner rubber, but with 16″ options the cat cried. No, of course, if you drive a Kama Flame, then leave the standard wheels. But I think you will soon feel that you should at least install Cordiant.

What is the maximum tire size for a Niva without modifications (lift, cutting arches)?

If the car is new, then few people will want to cut the arches - this is a fact. So the answer is this: the maximum you can set is 215-75-R15. I have this one on my Shevik, which is stock, by the way. However, there’s an immediate counter-question here: what kind of wheels to take for these tires, because everything is right next to each other, and if you get smart about the takeoff, the tires will rub against the wheel arch liners. The answer is that you need to take wheels with an offset of 40, or at least 35.

So if you are looking towards 235 tires, then get ready to prepare the car, cut arches, lift, change the main pairs, etc. Do you need it? An increase of 1.5 cm in ground clearance, and work per million. It makes sense to use 235 tires only when you are planning to seriously offroad. And if you simply want to put the biggest wheels possible on your Nivko without any modifications, then your choice is 215-75-R15.

What disc offset will be optimal for Niva chassis parts?

The basic rule is “wider and larger wheels - less offset”, but within reasonable limits. Because many people like to set the offset to zero and the car will be very unstable on sharp turns and big tires. Maintain balance))

Therefore, if you decide to change the stock wheels (and this is what 99 percent of drivers decide to do after their first rides), then you will have to take different wheels, with a smaller offset. Larger tire diameter means shorter disc offset. But you need to maintain a balance, strive to be closer to ET58. Why is this necessary? The answer is the closer the offset is to ideal, the better for your suspension and bearings.

And therefore, on wheels 205/70/R15 (most often nivovods install Cordiant Off Road in this size and do it right) you need wheels with an offset of 48. You can put thirty-fifths, but these will be better. The car will be intact.

Well, if you decide to set the maximum without modifications to 215/75/R15, then reduce the ET to 35 and it will be normal. If you put it on wheels with forty-eighth, there is a possibility of wiping.

“Sneakers” of this size are considered almost ideal for a stock Niva - there is no need to take separate wheels, the dynamics are normal, the size is slightly larger than the standard one, there is no need to cut/lift anything. If you are not going to do much “bezdorov”, but purely for mushrooms, berries, fishing, hunting, and not particularly drilling, then the choice can be considered ideal.

As for the wheels, the answer is 40-45 offset, forty-five is better, of course. Closer to the recommended one is better for the machine. Put more and it will wipe with the steering wheel turned out.

Reviews

This is not the first Niva in my experience, I have tested a variety of models. There were all sorts of tires: K-156, Kama 232, Bear, Cordiant off-road, BFG KM2. The last option performed best, but not everyone can afford its cost.

Taking into account the configuration of the course, I began to find a candidate. Elected Federal Couragia m/t. I estimated the price for it and couldn’t find anything else, I took it in the amount of 235/75 15. And I’ll tell you, friends, it was not in vain that I suspended my choice on it.

Arkady, 43 years old.

I have never used extreme mud tires - it’s not my thing. But active recreation is the norm, so there is a need for similar tires. Since the spring of 2015, I also have Cordiant off Road in size 215/75R15.

If you look at the main qualities, then everything is fine. The price tag is completely adequate for these tires; they don’t get washed away in mud, so it’s easy to get to the required space. Well, you can install it without an elevator or modifications.

I’m not an extreme sports enthusiast, deliberately finding the deepest viscous mud is not my thing, but I don’t disdain fishing and hunting, as well as other outdoor activities. Here she shows herself unsurpassed.

Source: rus-avtomir.ru

Tires for Niva by manufacturer

The Niva owner can choose from a fairly extensive list of the best tires of different types and price categories. These are domestic wheels produced by Nizhnekamsk, Kirov, Barnaul, Altai, Volzhsky (Volturi) factories. As well as foreign ones, including Chinese Stalkers. Much depends on the modification on which they plan to install wheels - 3D, Bronto, Urban or some other.

Tires produced by Belshina were originally intended for agricultural machinery, so they are installed only on lifted vehicles. They also install “extreme” category tires with a size of 30 inches or more, as well as those intended for UAZ. Wheels for UAZ are produced by Russian factories.

How to choose tires for Niva

Tanks (in our case, Nivas) are not afraid of dirt. Accordingly, the choice of tires for a Russian SUV should be carefully thought out and justified.

Selection options

We bring to your attention several important characteristics that need to be taken into account when choosing tires to replace the factory set:

1. Operating conditions (smooth and high-quality asphalt pavement within the city or typical off-road conditions).
2. The need for additional modifications, in particular widening the wheel arches or bending the sides outward.
3. Technical characteristics (pattern, height, tread width) and offers from leading manufacturers.
4. Seasonality – all-season option or double set for summer and winter.
5. Estimated budget.

When choosing tires for the Niva, you need to take into account the operating conditions

Summer-winter or all-season

An all-season or summer-winter option is the first stumbling block. Winter tires are soft and resistant to sub-zero air temperatures.

It is important that tires do not tan in the cold. Otherwise, the likelihood of an accident increases

The main quality of winter tires is excellent grip on snowy or icy road surfaces.

The summer version, on the contrary, should be hard and resistant to wear. The rubber used to make summer tires is characterized by high resistance to elevated temperatures. Do not forget that the temperature of the asphalt pavement in the open sun can reach 50–55 °C.

The chemical compositions used for the manufacture of all-season tires are characterized by average statistical parameters. These tires perform well both in summer and winter. But with a strong increase in air temperature and heating of the road surface, tire wear increases. At the same time, an all-season vehicle is not the best option for driving on snow-covered or icy roads.

MT or AT

The next selection criterion is universal or mud tires.

AT (All Terrain) is a universal type of tire that is distinguished by an increased level of cross-country ability and a special tread structure. Bulky blocks with wide grooves promote rapid self-cleaning of the wheels. When operating in urban environments, the noise level may increase.

MT (Mud Terrain) – marking mark for mud tires. Such tires are used for cars that are driven off-road and on poor quality dirt roads. Distinctive features of MT tires are large grooves and a powerful pattern. “Evil” tires, as mud tires are often called, are unsuitable for use within the city. On a smooth, high-quality asphalt surface, there is an increase in noise and rapid wear of the rubber. Driving speed and driving comfort are low.

Distinctive features of MT tires are large ditches and powerful tread.

Tires for lifting and without

What is a lift and why is it needed? A lift is a modification of the suspension: trimming wheel arches, installing spring blocks with a large number of turns, installing spacers for ball joints, etc. Such manipulations allow you to replace the base rubber with a higher and wider profile.

Tires without a “lift” can be safely called the best option for motorists who are satisfied with the basic equipment or replacement options that do not require additional modifications.

Rubber MT and AT

There are two main types for Niva/

1. A.T. The tire is a universal type, the abbreviation stands for All Terrain or in Russian “any terrain”. An excellent option if the car is primarily used in the city and occasionally goes off-road.
2. MT. The abbreviation after decoding translates as “mud terrain” - it’s easy to guess that this is a mud type of tire. The best option for off-road use, hunting trips, fishing trips, etc.

Mud tires have one significant drawback: it is optimal to use them only off-road. This tire is contraindicated on asphalt. Firstly, acceleration dynamics are significantly reduced, secondly, severe wear is observed on the asphalt surface, and thirdly, the braking distance increases. In addition, mud tires have a negative impact on handling when cornering at speed.

Off-road tires

Another thing is the lack of a road. Here, such tires allow you to easily tackle any dirt.

You can distinguish mud tires by their characteristic features:

• large and clear tread pattern (reminiscent of tractor wheels);
• softness (a special rubber compound is used;
• protection against pollution (self-cleaning).

In turn, mud tires for Niva are divided as follows:

As a rule, many motorists limit themselves to the choice of all-season tires for the Niva, considering them the best option.

Also, in harsh winter conditions, you can consider a winter set with spikes. Usually a standard size is used for these purposes, primarily because it is cheaper. Otherwise, the preference for studded, summer and all-season tires is not much different from that for passenger cars.

Which wheels are better to install on Lada 4×4

The choice of tires for R16 wheels is not large; most often they choose sizes 185/75 R16, 175/80 R16, or 215/65 R16. Due to the paucity of choice, many SUV owners install R15 wheels on their Lada 4×4.

R15 wheels can be borrowed from Chevrolet Niva wheels, which fit without modifications. Thus, the choice of tires will increase significantly and you will be able to choose the appropriate tires for certain operating conditions. In addition, a car with such wheels will look more stylish. In addition to standard tires for R15 wheels, you can install 205/75 R15 tires.

Do you dream of a Lada 4×4 with big wheels, but don’t want to cut the arches? The maximum tire size for a Lada 4×4 without modifications is 215/75 R15, and the rims must have an offset of 40, otherwise the tires will touch the fender liners. Finally, install alloy wheels on your Lada 4×4 and you will get a stylish SUV!

When choosing wheels, you should take into account the full diameter of the wheel; it should not differ much from the standard one. Compatibility table for Lada 4×4 tires and wheels:

Green indicates the minimum deviation of the wheel diameter (up to 3 mm); Orange indicates a diameter deviation from 3 to 6 mm.

Don't forget about the rim width:

When installing tires or wheels that differ in parameters

from those recommended by the factory, you can:

• be refused warranty repair of the chassis;
• be stopped by a traffic police inspector, who has the right to draw up a report on the car’s non-compliance with the requirements of the Technical Regulations;
• fail to pass technical inspection.

Price for a set of winter tires

The market offers an abundance of different brands, several domestic, many Chinese, and some European ones. Of the domestic ones, Kama Flame wins in terms of price/quality ratio. The products of the Volzhsky tire plant Voltyre are also in use. Chinese rubber is the leader in the number of brands producing it. The price varies accordingly.

Some drivers also use used tires. For example, the Kirov all-season tire has a reserve of body thickness and you can deepen the tread without damaging the rubber and extend its service life.

Choosing tires: where to start?

Why change tires at all? An experienced VAZ 2121 driver does not have such questions. Nivovod begins to think about replacing tires not because of a good life, nor in search of extreme sports or unusual sensations. The thing is that all-season factory tires 185/70 R16, being the result of compromises, unification and budgetary frameworks, turn out to be a very mediocre assistant both on the city highway, and when driving off-road, and in winter.

Off-road variant of Cordiant

Here you already have to choose tires for yourself, based on a number of basic parameters:

in what operating conditions will the future wheels be used, whether the car will have to cut through asphalt road surfaces or more, after all, off-road; how far the driver is ready to go in the matter of tuning his iron horse, will the owner’s heart tremble to send his brand new VAZ 21214 under the knife (some tire sizes require widening the wheel arches or bending their sides outward, lifting the suspension, as well as lifting the body of the VAZ 21214 directly above the frame ); based on the budget (a lift kit costs about 3-4 thousand rubles, it can be easily installed even in your garage, a completely acceptable set of tires can cost 3.5-4.5 thousand rubles, and the most “juicy” offers reach up to amounts of 8-12 thousand

rubles); take a thorough look at the offers of various brands (it’s worth paying attention to already proven brands, since good tires are not just a beautiful tread pattern, but also the correct chemical composition. And you can be sure that you won’t get a “pig in a poke” only by trusting a manufacturer with a good reputation).

You can’t do without basic knowledge of tire labeling. Typically, the name of the tire indicates three main parameters (for example, 185/70 R16). Where 185 is the tire width in mm, 70 is the profile height expressed as a percentage of the width and R16 is the radial diameter of the rim in inches. There is also almost a dozen additional information, incl. regarding the type of tire (M+S - all-season, AT or MT, these abbreviations are discussed in more detail below), manufacturer, operational and technical characteristics, braking coefficient (A - good, B - acceptable, C - so-so) and much more.

Effect of wheel and tire sizes

Depending on what wheel size is installed on the Niva 2121, driving characteristics can change dramatically, and an important factor is understanding what is generally required from the car. By increasing the wheel diameter, qualities such as car style, road holding, comfort when driving on a flat surface and control accuracy will improve.

The only downside of the increased diameter is driving on a dirt or rocky road: the Niva will shake and create inconvenience for the driver and passengers. By increasing the wheel width, all of the above qualities will be repeated, and the vehicle’s grip on the road and noise absorption will also improve.

The downside to using wide wheels is that tire wear will increase and fuel consumption will be higher. So you should choose the wheel size for the Niva 2121 carefully and take into account the terrain where the car will be used.

What pressure should be set in tires

Setting normal tire pressure will reduce vehicle maintenance costs by reducing fuel consumption and tire wear. In addition, the driving safety and maneuverability of the vehicle depend on the tire pressure.

The tire pressure for cars with an R 15 rim should be 1.9 kg/cm², and for a R16 rim, slightly higher than 2.0 kg/cm². On Chevrolet Niva cars with 4x4 axles in off-road conditions, as well as in winter when driving on loose snow, you can reduce the pressure to 1.2-1.5 kg/cm². On a flat, high-speed highway, many increase tire pressure by 0.1-0.2 kg/², although this leads to stiffer car suspension and reduces ride comfort.

Using a vehicle with tire pressures other than normal can lead to the following consequences:

• Increased wear on the vehicle's suspension and chassis parts.
• Driving on a flat tire will increase gas mileage because the tire has more contact with the road surface and the engine needs to develop more power. Due to this, tire wear will increase.
• With high tire pressure, contact with the road decreases and driving becomes unsafe, especially in winter.

The best off-road tires for Niva: test results

In search of the best tires for an SUV, let's turn to the test conducted in 2022 in South Africa by 4x4 magazine, and maybe its results will help you choose off-road tires for the Niva.

There were 17 participants from 16 manufacturers in the tests, each of which presented the best models in their lines.

Tests were conducted in 5 categories:

1. Braking on asphalt;
2. Braking on gravel;
3. Traction force on sand;
4. Traction on gravel;
5. Overcoming the climb.

Basically, A/T took part in the competition, and these, by the way, are the best summer tires for the Chevrolet Niva.

So, let’s get acquainted with the models that hit the top ten:

10 – Velocity Raptor A/T

The Korean company TiAuto entered three of its models into the competition. In addition to Velocity, this is also the GT Radial, which rose a notch higher, as well as Hankook, which became only 14th. Velocity is unlikely to be found in Russian stores, so it’s not worth talking about them.

9 – GT Radial Adventuro A/T3

But domestic car enthusiasts are quite familiar with the GT Radial. And although there was no particular enthusiasm for this brand among them - at least in passenger sizes, here it showed itself quite well, taking the golden mean in the final table.

True, the indicators were unstable - if in other disciplines it was in the middle or closer to the tail, then in the traction test in sand it became third, behind only two brands, which in the end became winners.

8 – Firestone Destination AT

The brand of this tire belongs to the Japanese corporation Bridgestone, but for European countries it is produced in Spain and Hungary. In braking on asphalt and gravel, it showed perhaps the worst results, but in traction on gravel it was third.

7 – Dunlop Grandtrek AT3G

Dunlop is the only company to present two Grandtrek models for testing, which have different designs. AT3 G is a three-ply tire.

In the final table, it took seventh place, right after its “relative” – the two-layer AT3 M (with an increased load index). It showed the best results in braking efficiency - both on the highway and on gravel roads.

6 – Dunlop AT3 M

The two-ply Grandtrek, made using new technology, showed, although not the highest, but quite decent results, bypassing the three-ply tires of its own brand in all tests.

When braking on asphalt, this tire generally became the first, leaving far behind even the models that won in terms of all indicators.

5 – Michelin LTX A/T2

The Michelin tire ultimately showed good results, but was only 14th in braking on asphalt. She was best able to overcome the climb, which is why she ended up in 5th place.

4 – Bridgestone Dueler A/T D694

In all competitions, the Japanese Bridgestone was in 7th and 8th place, helped only by its amazing ability to go uphill.

3 – Continental CrossContact AT

The respected Continental, a regular at all kinds of test drives and often its winner, took the honorable third place. Here the tire managed to take third place, although it showed extremely unstable results.

When braking on asphalt it was generally 10th, on gravel it was 4th, and on sand it was 8th. But in the draft effort, the Continental became the first, which saved its position.

2 – Goodyear AT Adventure

The second prize-winner also did not shine in all categories. I was 12th in braking on asphalt and 9th on gravel, including in traction.

But the Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure had no equal in traction on sand, and the tire showed the best results. On the uphill climb, he became second, behind only General, who became the winner.

1 – General Grabber AT3

They say the winners are not judged. And yet, the gold medalist showed rather mediocre results in many disciplines. He was first only in climbing and second in both types of traction.

The situation with braking was much worse, since the results were only 9 on gravel and 12 on asphalt.

Using this test as an example, we were once again convinced that it is impossible to judge anything unambiguously

When choosing which mud tires to put on your Niva, take into account the conditions in which they will most often have to work.

Only in this case, even a high price will not reduce your joy from the purchase, because a properly shod car will become a reliable assistant not only on the road surface, but also where there is no trace of it.

Tire sizes - popular misconceptions and reality

Some things sound boring and are difficult to remember, but you need to know them. Especially for car enthusiasts. Especially those who consider themselves experts and have their own opinion on any matter. The devil is in the details, and this article is about one such detail.

There is no radius on a tire

Many people now won’t even understand what I’m getting at. “Well, radius, so what? I have 195-65R15 wheels, radius 15, it’s all written down, why are you being clever?!” That's what I'm being smart about. R15 has nothing to do with radius. Neither R nor 15.

Nowadays you can find a lot of information on the Internet, but such little things as the marking of car tires are not among the most popular. We’d rather discuss engine power or the number of goodies in the cabin, right? And we’ll leave the choice of wheels to the store manager. Well, or we’ll ask a friend. He definitely knows! He already has his third car!

In fact, it won’t hurt to understand these boring numbers even just for general development. Moreover, this will both help save money and influence the behavior of the car, but more on that later. For now, it’s a pure educational program, so that later we can understand each other well.

So, 195/65R15. Classic case. Let's squat down next to our car. The first number is the width of the running part of the tire, roughly speaking, the tread width. Expressed in millimeters. That is 195 mm. - this is the width of your wheel. Most people have no problems understanding this figure.

The fraction 65 is the profile size. Expressed as a percentage of the width. Not in millimeters! The profile is the part of the tire that “sticks out above the rim.” Sidewall. That is, the height of this sidewall will be 195x65% = 125.75 mm. Not 65 mm. And not anything else. Moreover, from this diagram it clearly follows that the height of 65% with a width of 195 will be one, but if the tire is marked (conditionally) 225/65R15, it will be completely different! 225x65%=146.25 mm. Although the numbers 65 are the same!

R is the radial design of the tire, or more precisely, the way the metal cord is laid inside it. Once upon a time, the tire design involved diagonal laying, but that was a long time ago. Nowadays you almost never see “bias” tires, they are all radial, and the letter R will not tell anyone anything new, it will only cause controversy about the notorious radius...

And finally, the number 15. This is the diameter. The diameter of the tire seat, the inner diameter, the part that comes into contact with the disc. Expressed in inches. 1 inch = 2.54 cm. That is, 15x2.54 = 38.1 cm This is also the outer diameter of the disk, if anyone hasn’t guessed...

Which tires can be installed and which cannot?

And then the fun begins. We can play with these numbers if we want to put other tires (rims) on the car. Ideally, the main thing is that the overall diameter does not differ, or differs slightly. Example.

The 195/65R15 wheel has the following overall diameter: 38.1 cm - inside, plus 125.75 mm x2 = 251.5 mm (there is a profile at both the top and bottom). Let's convert to centimeters for simplicity, it turns out 38.1 cm + 25.15 cm = 63.25 cm. That's how it is! This is the total diameter of the wheel.

Now, if you want to install other wheels, the car owner must understand the following: automakers understand this figure the same way as we do. Taking into account the wheel diameter, the suspension, braking system and body are designed. Therefore, for the same car model (for example, for a Volkswagen Polo sedan), three wheel sizes are officially allowed. The simplest version is content with 175/70R14 (total diameter 60.06 cm), 185/60R15 (60.3 cm) and 195/55R15 (59.55 cm).

It turns out that the “14 wheel” is BIGGER, albeit slightly, than the 15 wheel in the case of 195/55. This relates to the question raised above, about putting on bigger wheels for the winter. Everything needs to be calculated carefully. Will a larger diameter number mean a larger wheel size overall? Not always.

How to install low pressure tires on a Niva

The installation of low-pressure cylinders on the Niva is accompanied by significant modifications to the suspension and body panels of the car. The transmission and chassis are also affected. Basically the sequence of actions looks like this.

1. Production of drawings. Serious remodeling begins with design. Any mistake can cause unnecessary costs.
2. Body modification. Arches are cut out, bridge fastenings are strengthened.
3. Complete transmission replacement. Installing huge, heavy wheels overloads the gearbox and gearboxes.
4. Installation of a new suspension adjusted to wide rims.
5. Installation of wheels and decorative elements.
6. Running in the car.

A similar sequence is standard when converting any domestic car to low pressure cylinders.