Selection of tires for VAZ-2121 (NIVA) - all seasons, all roads, tips, best models to buy

• January 30, 2019
• Cars
• Victoria Slaviy

In Russia, the roads leave much to be desired, and therefore an SUV is a common vehicle. Nowadays it is very popular in society. This is due to the fact that car owners want to stand out on the road, choosing a bulky SUV as their main vehicle or using it for its intended purpose, but off-road.

It's comfortable and fashionable!

Despite the huge range of SUVs (both foreign and Russian), ours are widely popular, especially for the Niva and UAZ brands. There are simple explanations for this:

• Affordable price. A new domestic SUV often costs the same as a used foreign car.
• No maintenance problems.
• You can always find spare parts. Unlike foreign cars, there are always spare parts for our SUVs (both new and used).
• They are in many ways not inferior to foreign SUVs, and sometimes even superior to them, because Russian SUVs are produced specifically for driving on impassable roads.

The most popular domestic SUV today is the VAZ-2121 Niva. It differs from its predecessors in its good price/quality ratio, as well as excellent off-road performance. In order for a car to perform well in difficult conditions, simple all-season tires will not do. That is why the owner is faced with the question of which off-road wheels for the Niva-2121 are best to choose.

SUV tire manufacturers

The above options are suitable for model 2121 and the entire model range - VAZ-21213 and 21214.

215/75 R15

Without any modifications, but provided that the disc is selected correctly, it is recommended to install tires with a diameter of 27-28 inches and an offset of 35-58 mm. In some cases, wheels may touch the fender liners:

• when the machine is overloaded;
• at the extreme points of the suspension travel;
• when driving over bumps.

But these disadvantages associated with the 215/75 R15 size are not critical compared to the advantages that the driver receives:

• better maneuverability;
• fuel economy;
• no need for lifting.

We recommend using the following tire models:

• Dunlop Grandtrek AT3;
• Yokohama Geolandar;
• Cordiant Off Road;
• Kumho Road Venture;
• Nokian Hakkapeliitta SUV 7;
• Michelin Latitude X-ice North.

The first two samples are all-season tires and their size corresponds to the wheel arches of the Niva, as well as the design features of the suspension. The Kumho and Cordiant brands belong to the off-road class, their element is dirt and potholes. The last pair are winter wheels for driving in deep snow and ice.

For those who intend to further increase the cross-country ability of their “jeep” for fishing or hunting, we can recommend these particular sizes. But the car will have to be slightly altered, namely, lifting the suspension and widening the wheel arches.

Also interesting: Do-it-yourself Niva 2121 elevator: drawings, dimensions

The Togliatti plant produces special lifting kits that allow you to lower the wheel axle by 40 mm. This will be enough to install and operate 235/75 R15. The kit includes:

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

The process leaves the factory shock absorbers and springs in place. But the work of adjusting the size of the required tire on the Niva cannot yet be considered completed. The updated design will not allow you to achieve full power and acceleration dynamics.

The solution to the problem lies on the surface: you need to change the main pairs of the rear and front gearboxes from the factory number 3.9 to 4.44. As a result, in addition to increasing dynamics, excess load is removed from the engine and clutch.

Another important point. Do not forget about such a parameter as wheel offset. To increase it, craftsmen use special spacers made of light and durable aluminum alloy. The part is mounted directly onto a standard hub.

With such modernization, the hub assembly experiences increased loads, so experts recommend installing hubs with double-row bearings in the steering knuckle. Despite the simplicity of modernization, it requires a certain investment of money to purchase not only rubber, but also the necessary parts.

The domestic auto industry, after more than fifty years, continues to firmly hold a leading position in the car markets. The VAZ family has a very reasonable price, and these cars are quite easy to maintain.

Huge demand has appeared for the Soviet SUV VAZ-2121, as well as its analogues. This type of VAZ has achieved enormous success in world motorsport, setting unattainable records. This car model is very actively exported to European countries and beyond.

Car owners who do not have much experience in servicing this type of car quite often encounter various problems associated with the operation and repair of the Niva. One of these common problems is determining the tire size for Niva 2121.

The Niva body is considered original if it has not been lifted and has “original” wheel arches. The manufacturer equips such cars with the VLI-5 brand of rubber. The performance of this tire is 175/80 R16. However, this type of rubber has not performed very well. Among the most common comments:

• when driving a car at a speed of more than 60 km/h, on a flat asphalt road, increased noise will be observed;
• in the cold season, the elasticity of rubber decreases;
• I have a camera;
• Poor handling on a flat asphalt road.

However, despite the above disadvantages, there are a number of advantages. The main positive aspects are:

• Clay and wet sections of the road can be easily overcome; off-road;
• affordable price.

Today there are enough alternatives, so everyone can choose a worthy option for themselves.

The standard wheel size is R16. The rim offset does not exceed 58 millimeters. You can also install other models with a smaller size on the car - R15. They are in great demand in mountainous areas.

The rubber is thick, so there is no damage to the disc. The tires provide excellent shock absorption when the car moves over large potholes or pits.

On the Niva 2121 you can install wheels from the Chevrolet Niva, without any additional work. You can also install high profile wheels, size 215 R15. The tire offset should not exceed 40 millimeters.

You can install wheels with a large radius, but to avoid touching the fender liners, you need to choose the right size of the disk and tire. Typically, such work is performed during tuning operations.

A new model, available in several versions. The dimensions remained unchanged. Exactly the same as a regular Niva, R16 wheels are used. The main one is 185 / 75 / R16.

To make it easier to choose the wheel size for Niva Urban, we provide a summary table of popular parameters.

In the factory configuration, the car is equipped with disks, which are fastened with five bolts.

• Circle diameter – 139.7 mm;
• Bolts M12x1.25 mm;
• Departure ET58;
• The diameter of the hub hole is 98.5 mm.

Where to start when choosing tires?

All-season tires installed at the factory, 185/72 R16, are quite budget-friendly, uncompromising tires, since they can be driven both in the city and in the countryside at any time of the year.

But many fans and car enthusiasts of the VAZ-2121, when choosing off-road wheels for a Niva, have to replace the factory tires with new ones, choosing them personally for themselves. They pay attention to the following points:

• where and how the owner of the Niva will drive, that is, on the road or off-road;
• is the driver ready to make some modifications to the car in order to install this or that tire (sometimes it is necessary to enlarge the wheel arches, bend the sides outward or raise the body above the frame);
• it all depends on the budget and the amount that the car owner is willing to spend (from 3 to 12 thousand rubles);
• carefully approach the choice of tire manufacturer.

And, of course, you should know about tire markings. Everyone knows that when marking three parameters are used, for example: 185/70 R16. 185 is the width of the tire, 70 is the height, and R16 is the diameter of the rim in inches. And of course the following indicators: MS - all-season, AT - universal, MT - mud. Let's consider the question in more detail.

How to choose tires for the Niva and what sizes of tires come from the Niva assembly line?

Despite the fact that the Niva car is presented in a wide range of modifications, all models are equipped with one tire size: 185/75 R16. It is these tires that provide the necessary cross-country ability of the tire on different types of road surfaces.

But many car owners prefer to replace factory wheels with tires from other brands to improve the appearance of the vehicle and increase its technical characteristics.

It should be remembered that the maximum wheel width should be no more than 215 mm. This is quite reasonable, since installing larger tires will increase fuel consumption, increase the load on the stepped units and have a negative impact on cross-country ability.

In addition to the standard size, when choosing tires for the Niva, pay attention to several more important parameters:

• Seasonality . To make summer and winter tires, different types of rubber compounds are used, which differ in their level of hardness. Due to this, the tire maintains its performance characteristics even in hot weather and at extremely low temperatures.
• Presence of thorns . Studded tires are installed not only for winter travel. If the car owner often drives off-road or in mud, it is also worth giving preference to studded tires. For urban conditions, the use of such tires is unprofitable.
• Quality of moisture removal . The drainage system of the tire is responsible for this criterion. It is important that there are deep and wide grooves between the tread blocks, which remove moisture from the contact patch and provide excellent traction even with wet grass, mud and puddles.

Should you modify your car?

When choosing tires, as mentioned earlier, owners are faced with the question of improving their car. It depends on the choice of tires.

Among the tires that the market offers, a large number have a standard wheel, and therefore they can be installed without additional modifications. The most important thing here is to understand whether you will need to resort to lifting or not.

Most car enthusiasts will say that you shouldn’t add unnecessary problems to yourself and it’s easier to put standard off-road wheels on the Niva (205/70 R15 or 205/75 R15). Due to the fact that the car has a significant arch width and height, they can easily be installed on your car.

Other options for increasing the tire profile will result in you having to resort to lifting. You can make these changes either yourself or contact a specialist. Thanks to the high ground clearance, the service is possible, and VAZ-2121 owners can install really more serious tires on their car (235/70 R16, 235/75 R16 or 240/80 R16).

What is the optimal wheel diameter for off-road driving on a domestic SUV?

The best option for moving a vehicle off-road
The original Niva body can be called the one that has not been lifted. Especially in the version if it has “original” wheel arches installed. Basically, cars of this brand are equipped with VLI-5 tires. The indicators for off-road tires of the Niva 2121 brand are 175/80 R16. It should be noted that this type of rubber is not recommended from the best side. Experts have identified several disadvantages that you should pay attention to before purchasing new components:

• When driving at high speeds above 60 km/h, especially on smooth asphalt, noise occurs.
• This tire is not recommended for installation on cars in winter. Any product loses its performance properties. The elasticity of the rubber is significantly reduced, which has an adverse effect on the car when driving on the highway, opening up high speeds.
• Camera installed.
• Poor directional control is observed.

On a note!

However, despite all these negative qualities, there are a number of advantages.

The main advantages include the following:

• Easy off-road/wet asphalt driving.
• Availability.
• Model range of components.

You may be interested in this About winter tires on Priora

Motorists are offered many analogues to ensure safety at any time of the year. Among the huge assortment, it is important to find the appropriate components that will improve directional stability on a dirt road or asphalt.

What to choose: MT or AT

Let's look at this tire marking for the VAZ 2121. So:

• AT - universal tires. Perfect for driving on asphalt and less so for off-road driving.
• MT - mud tires. Ideal for Russian impassable roads.

The choice comes down to where you prefer to drive. Normal tires on the off-road wheels on the Niva are excellent for off-road use, but you can’t accelerate on it on asphalt: it has a poor braking distance, it behaves unsteadily when cornering, and wears out very quickly on rough surfaces. Off-road, it behaves much more confidently, allowing the driver to overcome even the most impassable obstacles. This cannot be achieved on conventional wheels with AT tires.

Which mud tires are better?

Footwear for a car should be selected depending on the operating conditions. Obviously, stock tires are an average choice and if there are increased requirements, they must be replaced. It is best to pay attention to the markings to understand which tires are the best.

If you often have to drive on asphalt, rarely turning off the road, then it is better to take wheels marked A/T (all-terrain). But such all-terrain tires are universal and lose to mud tires.

The latter are always marked M/T, but they come in different types. The inscription M/T Lite denotes a lightweight version with medium-depth checkers and a small pattern. The Classic version is an average option, and the Extreme type is suitable for lovers of serious off-roading.

VAZ 2121

If we are talking about a standard three-door Niva model, then the inexpensive Ya-569 Bear would be a good choice. A classic tire costs about 4 thousand rubles, does not tan in the cold and copes well with snowy surfaces.

Niva 2131

If we are talking about a five-door version, then it is better to install the Hankuk Dinapro MT RT03. This model has many fans around the world. Excellent for moving on asphalt or moving through mud due to its softness and good self-cleaning system.

Niva 21213

There are good budget tires for this model - Cordiant Off-Road. Despite the low price, it provides good performance on almost any surface. When driving on asphalt, it does not wear out, does not harden in the cold, and in deep mud it provides good grip.

Chevy Niva

The joint model of Russian-Korean production does not have such off-road skills, but an option such as the Bridgestone Dueler D673 is perfect for it. They combine good grip and properties with a stylish design with beautiful white lettering on the sides.

Niva Comforcer

A good option is BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain. It is a universal choice for road traffic, as well as for fishing or hunting trips. An excellent safety margin, a developed tread and a good cleaning system allow you to feel confident in any situation.

Niva Safari

For this model, Federal Souragia MT would be a good choice, since they are as close as possible to extreme models. There is a developed tread, large blocks and lugs. So excellent cross-country ability in any conditions is simply guaranteed.

Choosing off-road tires

These tires have a large pattern on the tread. The rubber is quite soft and, having lugs on the sides, behaves quite boldly and confidently off-road.

It is worth considering that it is most suitable for driving on dirt. It is better to use it as little as possible on asphalt roads, otherwise it will quickly become unusable. Which mud tires for Niva are better? Let's look at the most popular models today and try to understand this issue.

Selecting tires by parameters

Recommendations from the manufacturer. 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:

1. 205/70R15;
2. 205/75R15;
3. 215/75R15;
4. 215/65R16.

Seasonality. For different times of the year, you should select seasonal “shoes” for the Chevrolet Niva.

1. Summer tires behave well in the warm season, allowing the driver to enjoy a fast ride. It is quiet and has good rolling power.
2. 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.
3. 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.

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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.

1. 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.
2. 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.

When choosing tires for a car, you should remember their intended purpose. Ground clearance, comfort, noise level and cross-country ability depend on a number of parameters.

BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2

The best mud tires for Niva. You may have to pay a lot more for it compared to competitors, but believe me, it’s worth it. You can choose any size you want (from 215/75 R15). Tires will cost more than five thousand rubles for lifting vehicles (240/80 R15). The cost of the entire set will cost you seven thousand rubles.

Rubber is universal and quite durable. It will satisfy both the true pro and the novice off-road enthusiast. Therefore, if you are not used to saving on your pet, then this is an excellent option.

Extreme tires

What Niva fanatic doesn't like extreme driving? The types of tires considered are more suitable for impressive SUVs, since the starting size is 29 inches. They have a fairly large pattern and very powerful lugs, so you can easily get out of ruts. Due to the fact that the wheels are soft, they are completely unsuitable for driving on asphalt roads. The most popular models:

• Simex Extreme;
• Forward Safari 500;
• Silversone MT - 117 XTREME.

Thus, after reading the review of the most popular models of tires for off-road wheels on the Niva, you can decide which ones are suitable for your favorite and the driving style to which you are accustomed. At the same time, experienced drivers do not recommend buying wheels from unverified suppliers, who, as a rule, attract their victims with the favorable price of the product. It is best to buy this type of product in specialized stores, where they will not only provide the necessary documentation, but also give a guarantee for the purchase.

Why you shouldn't ride on asphalt with off-road tires

The coefficient of adhesion to asphalt of all off-road tires, regardless of price and manufacturer, is inferior to road tires. As a result, the braking distance increases, the risk of skidding increases and controllability deteriorates. These factors must be taken into account when driving into the city on mud tires.

Another reason why you should not use mud tires on the track is purely economic. Off-road tires are much more expensive than traditional tires and wear out quickly on asphalt. Therefore, before trips to the city and, especially, long trips along the highway, it is advisable to “change” the car to road tires that correspond to the season.

Off-road tires for a Chevrolet Niva may well be inexpensive. But you shouldn’t count on a low price when it comes to extreme wheels. Of course, domestic models are mostly cheaper than foreign ones, but this difference is not always great.

Photos of the protectors of each model can be found on the sellers’ websites.

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