Wheels for the Niva (VAZ 2121): what tires should the Niva have?

Lada Niva (VAZ 2121) is a domestic SUV that can drive almost anywhere; these cars have been produced for more than 40 years, and it has almost no equal on off-road terrain. Especially if you choose the right wheels for the Niva. After all, the right tires for a Niva are already half the success of a car off-road.

Although they are outdated in appearance, they do their job perfectly. You won’t find a better car for hunting or fishing trips. Nivas are good because they are unpretentious and inexpensive to maintain. The price of the Niva is not particularly high, especially if we consider used cars; in general, you can buy a domestic SUV for little money. Today we will deal with such issues as the correct choice of tires for the Niva, what sizes should be, and so on.

Standard wheels for Niva

If you don’t do a lift, then the Niva will have standard arches, so only standard wheels with standard tires will fit here. Initially, the factory installs wheels with VLI-5 R16 175/80 tires. Basic tires are not a particularly good option; they have the following disadvantages:

• if the car drives on a hard road at a speed of more than 60 km/h, then the noise from the tires will be normally audible;
• in winter, rubber becomes less elastic;
• the base tires are tube tires, which can also be considered a disadvantage;
• Handling on a flat road leaves much to be desired.

But this tire also has its advantages: it rides well on wet off-road conditions, especially on clay. And the most important advantage is the low price of these tires for Niva. But for those who have the money and the desire to install more serious tires on the Niva, there are many interesting alternative options.

Rating of the best summer tires for Chevrolet Niva

The tire models included in the rating are distinguished by their versatility.

They can be used to travel along the roads of a metropolis, travel to the village or to the country.

These tires maintain their performance on asphalt and dirt tracks.

Nokian Tires Nordman SX2

Description of the tire. The peculiarity of this model from the Finnish manufacturer is its low noise level, resistance to aquaplaning, and stable control when driving at speed.

The drainage channels located in the center are equipped with miniature round-shaped recesses.

Thanks to them, the air flow generated during movement reduces the speed of movement and, accordingly, produces less noise.

The original shape of the walls of numerous grooves eliminates the displacement of contact spots when in contact with the road, thereby improving the directional stability of the car.

Wide slots in the shoulder areas of a complex configuration help quickly remove dirt and water from the contact area between the wheel and the track.

Large areas of the outer blocks play the role of lugs and improve the vehicle's cross-country ability.

Pros of Nokian Tires Nordman SX2

1. Resistant to aquaplaning.
2. Confident movement on average off-road conditions.
3. Excellent interaction with the steering wheel.
4. Not afraid of ruts.
5. Low noise tires.
6. Excellent grip.
7. Economical tires - reduced fuel consumption.

Cons of Nokian Tires Nordman SX2

1. Increased wear in hot weather and when driving at high speed.

To reduce wear, experienced car enthusiasts recommend slightly overinflating the tires by about 0.3 atm. In general, users are satisfied with this model.

Viatti Bosco A/T

Description of the tire. A tire from domestic manufacturers for SUVs, i.e. it is quite suitable for installation on a Niva Chevrolet.

The rubber mixture used in the production of the model is made using a unique technology.

It can change its density depending on temperature, maintaining performance in hot and cold weather.

The original inclined shape of the protrusions of the walls of the longitudinal channels helps reduce noise when the car is moving.

The tread with an asymmetrical pattern is divided into five blocks, each of which has its own purpose. Central - responsible for directional stability.

Wide outer zones help to hold the car when changing lanes, turning, and also contribute to good handling of the Niva Chevrolet.

Pros of Viatti Bosco A/T

1. Excellent driving performance when traveling around the city.
2. Good driving performance – off-road.
3. Resistant to shock loads.
4. Handling: 5+.
5. Good grip.
6. Safe braking.

Cons of Viatti Bosco A/T

1. Increased noise on rough asphalt roads.

As the owners say, this model is a great option for a reasonable price.

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.

R15 tires with size 215/75

These tires fit into the Niva without any modifications at all, but only if the right disc is selected. The tires need to be 27-28 inches, and the offset should be 35-58 mm. But sometimes it is possible that the wheels will touch the fender liners, especially if:

• the car is heavily loaded;
• The car drives over strong bumps that the suspension reaches the extreme points of its travel.

But what advantages do you get when you put R15 215/75 tires on the Niva:

• cross-country ability becomes better;
• fuel consumption decreases;
• there is no need to do lifting.

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With this dimension, you can choose tires from this list:

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

Dunlop Grandtrek AT3 and Yokohama Geolandar are all-season tires that fit perfectly into the wheel arches of the Niva, and they also go well with the Niva suspension. Kumho and Cordiant are off-road brands that are great for dirt and more serious off-road riding. Nokian Hakkapeliitta SUV 7 and Michelin Latitude X-ice North are winter tires that are great for driving on ice and deep snow, which is insurmountable for sedans.

Eventually

Instead of standard tires, you can put more serious tires on the Niva. It is possible to install off-road mud tires without modifications, and it will be quite bearable, but it is possible to make a lift and some other modifications to the suspension and install real off-road tires on the Niva, after which off-road driving will become a pleasure.

Next is a video about wheels on a Niva with normal tires:

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.

Recommended size of Niva 4x4 wheels and tires

Tire size with load capacity and speed indexes*

185/75 R16 92Q 95T

Allowed to be installed in operation

195/70 R15 92Q, T

205/70 R15 95Q, S, T

• * Speed ​​indices: Q – up to 160 km/h, S – up to 180 km/h, T – up to 190 km/h. Load capacity indices: 85 – 515 kg, 88 – 560 kg, 92 – 630 kg, 95 – 690 kg.
• **Rim offset (ET) is the distance from the mating plane of the disc to the middle of the rim.
• In operation, it is allowed to install wheels with a rim width of 5 1/2J and a rim offset of 48-58 mm.
• R is not a radius, but a designation of the radius of the tire, and the number is the diameter of the rim in inches.

About winter tires for Niva

When choosing tires for the winter, use the table above. In addition, it is allowed to use winter tires (M+S) of the above dimensions and index Q with a corresponding limitation of the maximum vehicle speed (up to 160 km/h).

Choose winter tires for your Niva that are as narrow as possible so that the pressure of the car on the surface is greater, this will improve traction. Also remember that wide tires are more sensitive to the ruts on the road.

Rating of the best winter non-studded tires for Niva Chevrolet

Velcro tires provide confident grip on the winter road due to pronounced contact blocks and special rubber production technologies for the cold season.

Viatti Bosco S/T V-526

Description of the tire. The tread pattern of these Velcro tires is equipped with a large number of multi-directional sipes.

With their sharp edges they cling to the winter road, providing high-quality grip.

The curved shape of the blocks also enhances the grip properties of the rubber.

The curved grooves of the various blocks are interconnected, which allows you to quickly throw out slurry from the contact area.

Polymer additives introduced into the rubber mixture make it possible to maintain performance characteristics at low temperatures.

Pros of Viatti Bosco S/T V-526

1. Soft, elastic rubber.
2. Reasonable cost.
3. Excellent balancing.
4. Holds course well.

Cons of Viatti Bosco S/T V-526

1. Heavy tires.

Hankook Tire DynaPro i*cept RW08

Description of the tire. This model of studless winter tires with a symmetrical directional pattern has good grip properties.

For its production, a high silicon content is used, which improves such characteristics.

The middle block helps the car maintain directional stability. Shoulder areas of increased rigidity with deep grooves hold the Niva Chevrolet during cornering.

The grooves of the blocks, extending onto the sides of the tire, remove water and snow slurry from under the contact zone of the tire and the track.

A well-developed network of drainage system channels allows the driver not to be afraid of hydroplaning.

Pros of Hankook Tire DynaPro i*cept RW08

1. Confidently “rows” through the snow, slushy snow.
2. Excellent grip on the road surface.
3. Predictable control.
4. He behaves normally on the ice.
5. No hydroplaning.

Cons of Hankook Tire DynaPro i*cept RW08

1. Noisy tires.

Car enthusiasts note that this model is a suitable option for the price/quality ratio.

Which wheels are better to install on a Niva?

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 the Niva.

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.

Various possible options for Niva of various modifications

In addition to the standard Niva - VAZ 2121, there are also other modifications - VAZ 21213 and 21214. In terms of tires, it doesn’t matter, regardless of the modification, all the options given are suitable for each of the modifications of the Niva.

What does the size of tires and wheels affect?

Increasing disc diameter

The smaller the unsprung masses

(this includes a lot of tires and wheels), the better the car will hold the road and accelerate faster. For example, if you put wheels on a car that are 2 kg lighter each, then acceleration to 100 km/h will be reduced by 0.2 seconds.

As a reminder, for safety and to increase tire life, you should maintain your tires at the recommended pressure. Other improvements to the Niva 4x4 can be found in the tuning category and by content.

So far, 27 tires have been found in the 215/75R15 tire size. The average cost of car pneumatic tires 215/75/15 is 5801 rubles, and the total number of tires for your car is 27 pcs.

If these tire prices do not suit you, look at our website for tires with other sizes suitable for you. Selecting tires and wheels for a car is an incredibly difficult task. Contact our specialists by phone.

Our catalog contains information on almost all tires with a width of 215 mm, a profile of 75 percent and a wheel diameter of 15 inches. To get more information about the selected tire, click on the model name in the table above.

If you are not sure about your tire size, contact our specialists. Each of our operators will help you choose the best tires for your car.

Rating of the best winter studded tires for Niva Chevrolet

Icy roads are a common occurrence in our country. Studded tires will help Niva Chevrolet owners move safely on such roads.

We present the models that Russian drivers liked.

Viatti Bosco Nordico V-523

Description of the tire. This tire ensures confident movement on any type of road in winter.

The presence of wide and deep channels allows you to avoid slipping on a wet snowy road.

Their dimensions make it possible to quickly remove snow trapped in the slots and improve traction properties.

The top layer of tires is made of an elastic rubber compound that does not harden at low temperatures.

The model is studded across the entire tread width, which allows you to confidently “hold” the road when changing lanes and maneuvers.

The middle stiffener, together with the extreme zones of increased density, have a wide contact area.

This allows you to keep directional stability under control and ensure safety when cornering.

Pros of Viatti Bosco Nordico V-523

1. Reliable grip on icy roads and snowy roads.
2. Good maneuverability.
3. Strong sides.
4. Excellent directional stability.
5. Good handling, even at high speed.

Cons of Viatti Bosco Nordico V-523

1. The spikes quickly fly out during intensive use.

Despite the remark, car enthusiasts like the tires and recommend them for purchase.

Dunlop Grandtrek Ice02

Description of the tire. The most popular model of winter tires for off-road vehicles from the British company.

Its symmetrical directional pattern ensures confident movement on winter roads with any surface.

The contact spots of the shoulder areas do not deform under load thanks to the installed jumpers between them, which significantly improves traction.

The original structure of the Miura-Ori Z-shaped sipes allows the load to be evenly distributed over the entire tread area, thereby reducing tire wear.

When they come into contact with the road surface, they open up, increasing the traction area and enhancing the quality of braking.

An effective drainage system includes wide multidirectional grooves that ensure timely removal of snow, slurry, and water from under the tire.

The high quality material of the studs makes their service life long.

Pros of Dunlop Grandtrek Ice02

1. Excellent handling on asphalt, ice and snow.
2. Excellent maneuverability.
3. Firmly placed spikes.
4. Prevents skidding.
5. High quality braking.

Cons of Dunlop Grandtrek Ice02

1. Increased noise.

Users are unanimously positive about this model of studded tires. The noise that some drivers complain about disappears after running in (400 - 600 km).