The best off-road tires for Niva of various modifications, sizes and models

For its exceptional cross-country ability in various types of off-road conditions, the Chevrolet Niva has gained enormous popularity among Russian SUVs. For excellent cross-country ability, it is not enough to have all-wheel drive; a significant role in this is also played by the traction of the wheels with the ground. Even with all-wheel drive, if there is no tread, the car will not be able to overcome mud obstacles, and if it does, it will cost enormous effort. Therefore, mud tires for the Chevrolet Niva 15 radius were developed specifically for such purposes.

Mud “slippers” for Nivka - how to choose, review of models

I think it’s no secret to anyone that the overwhelming majority of people in the regions drive Nivas or UAZs.
These are 2 icons of the Russian automobile industry, who have long proven to everyone that they are simply created for our off-road conditions. However, you shouldn’t think that if you bought a Niva, you can immediately drive far with it)) Not at all. In order for Nivko to become a truly prepared SUV, it needs to be properly “shod.” What kind of tires come from the factory? It seems like a regular Kama-232 size 185/75R16. The tread of this tire instantly becomes clogged with mud, as soon as you drive out into even light muddy conditions. And this size is very mediocre, the car’s seating position is low, almost “puzoterka”. And you can do wow. How to do this - read on))

Now the choice is simply huge, many manufacturers compete in the niche of mud tires. But first you need to decide on several points:

• 1. Will you do a suspension lift?

• 2. Will you be cutting the arches?

• 3. How do you plan to use the car (what percentage of driving is on asphalt and off-road)?

• 4. Will you be able to spend extra money on buying new 15″ wheels from Chevy Niva?

• 5. Based on all of the above, we will choose tires

The suspension lift on the Niva allows you to install tires of increased diameter, which means that the ground clearance can be significantly increased compared to the standard one. Lift kits are sold everywhere, they cost 3-4 thousand and with your own hands, if you have them sharpened properly, you can do a standard suspension lift of 5 cm.

Cutting the arches is a more extreme option, so to speak; most often they are cut when they install really huge tires over 29″. If your car is new, then you are unlikely to want to cut it. Therefore, the only option left is the elevator (see above). Thanks to the lift alone, you can fit 215/75R15 tires. But this will already be cool compared to standard tires.

If you can spend 10 thousand rubles on new 15-inch wheels, then the number of tire options will expand significantly. I know from my friends - they all installed wheels on 15″ rims on a regular Niva. Why - read on.

So, the easiest option to improve the off-road characteristics of your Niva is to install sneakers larger than the standard ones - 205/70/R16. Tires of this size will fit on Nivko without any lifts or other modifications. One of the popular tires of this size is the domestic Kama Flame - it’s inexpensive for the money and rides more or less in the mud. But, of course, if you evaluate the off-road properties of the Kama Flame on a 10-point scale, you can give no more than 5. Because there are options that are many times cooler.

Remember what I said about my fellow hunters who spared no expense and bought 15-inch wheels? Well, they installed aggressive Cordiant Offroad mud tires on them, the size is just perfect - 205/70/R15. And all because there are no suitable “Kordikov” for 16 wheels. It's a pity, of course, but what can you do? But on the Cordas we drove through real mud, the tires are good for everyone - they are inexpensive (when compared with imported analogues), and wear-resistant, they ride great everywhere. I just don’t recommend using it in winter, otherwise you’ll be like a cow on ice.

Next, if you have an old Nyvka and don’t mind converting it for off-road use, then grab the angle grinder and go ahead and cut the wheel arches. You can also make a suspension lift for the heap. And then you will have a wide choice of real wheels for extreme sports enthusiasts - sizes 235/75/R15 and even larger.

By the way, size 235/75/R15, if converted to inches, will be equal to 28.9″. Almost 29 inches! These are the tires that are installed on the new Niva “Lynx”. Therefore, if you need real off-road sneakers and you want to make a “rogue” out of the Niva, then you definitely need to set the size to at least 235/75/R15/

And there’s plenty to choose from:

Cordiant Offroad - tires in this size will cost you 4,000 rubles apiece. An excellent choice in my opinion. You can read the review and see photos by clicking on the link. In general, we can say that this is perhaps the most popular tire in villages and villages, as many as Nivasov has seen - all of them on Kordikas. Apparently the tires really are on fire, since so many people are cutting them through the mud.

Kumho Road Venture M/T71 - price tag for 1 cylinder is 4,700 rubles. A little more expensive, but I’ll say right away - the tire is just a beast, it has a very large tread pattern, plus it slowly wears out on the asphalt, and it kneads the dirt just flawlessly. The rubber is soft, which will be a plus when overcoming swampy areas and places with muddy soil (spring fields, for example). Just lower the tire pressure to 0.8 atmospheres and the permeability of the rubber will increase significantly. It is considered one of the best Mud Terrain tires.

What to look for when buying SUV tires

SUVs are versatile and can carry a large number of passengers, plus haul a heavy load on a tow bar.

So if you have an SUV, you can hook up an RV, camper, or trailer to it.

A set of good, reliable tires with an aggressive tread pattern will allow you to haul more weight more efficiently and improve the functionality of your SUV.

Tire size

If you're simply replacing your SUV's old, worn tires with new ones, pay attention to the size of your original tires. The tire must match the wheel rim

The tire must fit the wheel rim.

You can find your tire size on the sidewall of the rubber.

For example, 245/65R17 means that the tire width is 245mm and its height is 65% of its width.

To find out what size is right for your SUV, you can also refer to your vehicle's owner's manual.

Load capacity

Perhaps one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing new SUV tires is their load capacity.

Each tire can support a certain maximum weight.

The load index can be found on the sidewall of the tire in the form of a number or letter designation from A to F.

Tread pattern

There are three types of tread patterns on SUV tires: symmetrical, unidirectional and asymmetrical.

Symmetrical patterns are likely a better option because they have a longer lifespan and wear more evenly over time.

Treads with a unidirectional pattern tend to wear out faster.

The asymmetrical tread pattern is a mixture of the previous two and increases the effectiveness of the traction control system.

Features and purpose of mud tires

The main thing that distinguishes tires for driving on mud is their special pattern with large, deep lugs. Similar wheels can be seen on a tractor.

Thanks to the large distance between the tread elements, the tires are independently cleaned of dirt.

Mud tires are made of harder rubber. This provides them with high off-road durability.

Unlike standard ones, they do not tear when exposed to stones and other hard elements.

Typically, mud tires are higher than standard tires. They provide greater ground clearance and make it easier to overcome high obstacles.

With off-road tires you can easily get out of a muddy rut. However, they are not intended for permanent use on asphalt.

Mud tires on hard surfaces have three serious disadvantages:

• High noise level.
• Poor handling.
• Accelerated tread wear.

Therefore, installing such tires on a Chevrolet Niva only makes sense for those who constantly have to drive off-road. For use in urban conditions, it is better to buy road tires.

Dimension

Mud tires for the Niva Chevrolet 15 radius are the most optimal choice for a car with a basic suspension. The use of such tires does not require its modernization or lifting. They can be installed on both stamped and cast disks. The height of the tires installed on the wheels will be 26-28 inches, while the wheels will provide good cross-country ability without affecting handling.

If you need to conquer serious off-road conditions, then you will need mud tires for the Chevrolet Niva 16 radius. They have a height of 28-29.5 inches and a large contact area with the surface.

Types of mud tires

Depending on the type of tread and purpose, SUV tires are divided into 3 classes:

• HT (short for Highway terrain or Half Terrain - tires for highways and poor quality asphalt roads. It can be used on dirt roads, but it will be difficult to overcome off-road on it. But such tires do not make noise and have a speed limit of 180 km/h. Therefore, these tires are bought by those who drive mainly on asphalt.
• AT (short for All Terrain) are tires designed for asphalt, dirt and light off-road use. Manufacturers recommend different mileage ratios on hard and unpaved surfaces: 60/40, 50/50, 40/60. This is a good tire for those who have to drive in rural areas. The AT tire tread provides average off-road capability.
• MT (short for Mud Terrain) is a tire with an aggressive profile that is designed exclusively for driving on dirt and off-road. Although you can find MT tires with a speed rating of R (160 km/h), their use on asphalt is not recommended. These tires are designed to take you off-road and reveal the potential of your car there.

The most famous domestic company that produces MT tires for the Chevrolet Niva is “Bear”. This brand offers mud tires made of high-strength rubber, which are not inferior to many foreign analogues.

Reviews of the best brands: popular options for summer and winter tires

Tires for a car are the most important structural unit necessary for the full functioning of the vehicle - you should not skimp on the quality of these components.

Read more: How to choose tires for rims

When choosing new tires, you should follow the pricing policy of dealer products - a high-quality tire will cost around +/- 15% of this cost, which is explained by the markup for the brand and the cost of transporting the product to the point of sale. The obviously low price of analogues of original components is a discrepancy between the rubber and the declared technical characteristics or an improper storage method, which leads to a deterioration in the quality of the products.

In order for the tires to last longer and ensure uniform adhesion to the road surface, it is recommended to calibrate the slopes when changing a set of tires or every six months. Balancing the ramps consists of diagnosing the trajectory of the wheel and identifying deviated vectors relative to the radius of movement, as well as leveling the ramp by installing weights under the cord of the product.

Comparison table of the most popular tires for Chevrolet Cruze:

Which mud tires are best for a Chevrolet Niva in size?

When selecting suitable mud wheels, even if conversion is planned, Chevrolet owners need to focus on the car parameters that were initially set at the factory. The stock equipment is standard and it is this that determines the possible choice of tire sizes.

The manufacturer equips the car with wheels (alloys are no exception) capable of supporting wheels of a slightly larger diameter than those installed at the factory. And no lifting is required. The standard solution for a crossover is sizes 205/70/R15 or 215/75/R15. Any tire with a 16-inch diameter is suitable, of which there are more than fifteen-inch versions on the market.

Large inch tires easily fit both steel and alloy wheels. In this case, the wheels can reach a height of 26 to 28 inches. Wheels of similar sizes are good for moderate off-road conditions and standard dirt roads in the rural areas of the Middle Zone or the South. And, as noted above, they do not require additional manipulations from the owner in the form of lifting.

Operation in more extreme conditions will require mounting the wheels higher. Most often, tires are installed with a height of up to 29.5 inches, capable of overcoming most types of dirt, but they already require lifting the car. The offset of such wheels reaches 35 millimeters, and as for the diameter, it can equally be either 15 or 16.

Some owners install 31-inch tires. Tires of this height are capable of passing through terrain where there is not even a hint of a path and perform well in the Far North. But the standard size 31/10.5(9.5)/R15 will require a serious reconstruction of the Niva, including not only lifting, but also alteration of the body. As for the diameter of the rims, such extreme wheels are usually installed on the R15.

Large tires are perfectly compatible with standard wheels. An excellent choice without installing a lift would be tires 205 75 15 or 205 70 15 or wheels with a radius of 16, the height of such tires will be 26-28 inches. This type of wheels will perform well both in light off-road conditions and in city conditions.

If you still need to overcome serious obstacles, it is better to install 28-29.5 inch tires on the Chevrolet Niva, but then you will need to lift the SUV.

Depending on the diameter of the “native” Chevrolet Niva wheels, you can install R15 and R16 tires on the car. It should be taken into account that the height of mud tires is higher than standard ones.

You won't find tires lower than 225/75 R15. However, the space under the Niva's wings is not designed to accommodate nineteen-inch wheels. Therefore, you will have to raise the car a little by doing a “lifting”.

Reviews

I installed Simex Extreme Trekker extreme wheels. Of course, they are expensive and I had to redo the car a little, but they are worth it. I do extreme off-roading and the tires cope with it completely.

Vadim, 29 years old:

I spent a long time choosing between Cordiant and “Bear”. In the end, I chose the second option and have never regretted it - truly legendary tires! The price is the same.

In the minds of many Chevrolet Niva drivers, it is already invariably associated with the image of an SUV capable of conquering almost any off-road terrain. At the same time, the car is actually capable of overcoming almost any obstacles, thanks to the presence of permanent all-wheel drive on all four wheels and an engine of sufficient power. But, in order to fully realize all the capabilities of the car, it is necessary, first of all, to ensure reliable traction of the wheels with the surface. And to do this, you should install wheels on it that have a large tread. The best choice would be to use special mud tires, which can be selected for wheels of any size.

There are several types of tires that are used on a car depending on the season of operation and type of surface:

Each type of tire allows you to provide optimal traction under certain conditions. Mud is no exception. It is used by car owners exclusively for driving in off-road conditions. This is not necessarily dirt; these include sand, marshy areas and similar soils when a special tread pattern and its size are required. The use of this type of rubber allows you to increase cross-country ability by 40% compared to standard ones. In addition, there are several more advantages:

• Increased ground clearance due to tread height
• No dirt sticking
• Maximum grip
• Tire wear resistance
• Smooth running due to high radius.

But at the same time, some disadvantages inherent in such rubber should be taken into account:

• Maximum speed limit
• Increased fuel consumption
• Difficult to install on disks

The third drawback is relatively controversial, since it can be eliminated by using specialized tools or carrying out work in a specialized service station.

All terrain tire manufacturers

The following models are most in demand for the Chevrolet Niva:

• Medved I-569 are budget mud tires, the installation of which does not require modification of the wheel arches. Before installing Medved 235/75 R15, it is enough to do a light lifting. This soft rubber performs well in mud and snow. However, on summer asphalt or ice the car becomes almost uncontrollable. The price starts from 3700 rubles.
• Cordiant off Road is another Russian-made mud tire. Unlike the Bear, these tires perform well on asphalt. Its size (225/75 R16) allows it to be used on a Chevrolet Niva after a light lift. Price - from 4000 rubles.
• Hankook Dynapro are optimal tires that wear out slowly on asphalt and are capable of pulling a car out of muddy clay or black soil. Installation of these tires (235/75R 15) requires only a small lift. Hankook price - 4500 rubles. The tires are equipped with holes for studs.
• Kumho Road Venture is a tire with an aggressive tread designed for professional off-road racing. The side lugs grip the dirt securely. However, on asphalt these tires wear out very quickly. Size 235/75 R15 does not require modification of the Niva's wheel arches. The price of one tire is 5800 rubles.
• The BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain is a true mud tire that wears slowly on asphalt. For a lifted Niva, size 215/75 R15 is suitable. After reworking the arches, you can install 240/80 R15. The price of one tire is 7,100 rubles.

Which size is better to choose

First of all, you should remember that universal tires, which are installed from the factory, perform very mediocre on and off the track. An experienced car owner approaches the choice based on several conditions:

1. Conditions (road surface);
2. The presence or absence of tuning (lifting, widening of wheel arches);
3. Price;
4. Manufacturer's authority.

Together with the above list, it is necessary to decide on the parameters that were written above. But not every buyer can take into account so many indicators at the same time, so let’s conditionally divide tires into two categories: some are more suitable for urban conditions and the highway, while others are adapted for off-road use.

There are several types of tires that are designed for off-road driving:

1. Tires marked as H/T are intended for use in areas with minor off-road conditions. Such tires can withstand loads much greater than standard ones.
2. Tires marked A/T have excellent cross-country ability, both off-road and on roads where there is asphalt. It gives the car excellent stability while driving.
3. Tires marked M/T are classified as extreme types. It is used where there is really severe off-road conditions.

It is used only in off-road conditions, and if you drive it on an asphalt area, this can lead to such factors as:

• Increased noise
• The tread will wear out quickly
• Poor vehicle control

Based on what is said above, we can conclude that the best option would be to use a second type of tire for standard wheels, namely A/T. Another mistake would be if different tires are used on the front and rear axles.

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.