Which wheels to choose for Niva: sizes and characteristics

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.

Winter tires for Niva

When winter comes, car enthusiasts begin to think about re-shoeing their car, choosing winter tires of the appropriate size. To do this, you need to consider the most popular tire models for the domestic Chevrolet Niva SUV, which are famous for their high quality.

Winter tire for Niva car

According to experts, all-season tires are a risky option, especially in those areas where winter temperatures reach less than ten degrees Celsius.

Note!

In severe frosts, all-season tires behave inadequately and you need to drive very carefully. Therefore, many manufacturers urge car owners to buy winter tires, either studded or even Velcro.

Tires for lifting and without

The cornerstone of the tire selection issue is the need for additional modifications. There are a number of proposals that fit perfectly onto a standard VAZ 21214 car wheel and do not require widening of wheel arches, etc. work. It is important to understand which tires require mandatory lifting, and which ones will become like native tires on your Niva without any problems.

If you are one of those drivers who don’t need an extra headache, then the almost standard version of tires like 205/70 R15 or 205/75 R15 is exactly your choice. Having a large profile width and height, they absolutely painlessly replace standard wheels, seriously adding cross-country ability and aesthetic power to your iron horse. If you select tires for standard rims, then the 215/65 R16 option is perfect; a further increase in the tire profile, even by reducing the radial diameter, will certainly lead to rubber rubbing during deep turns on the wheel arch protectors (we are talking about 215/75 R15 and higher , it’s better not to install such wheels without modifications).

Some tire options can only be installed by widening the arches

Lifting slightly expands the range of choices and also significantly increases the cross-country ability of your car. A spartan kit that allows you to raise the height of the suspension costs about 4 thousand rubles and is easy to install with your own hands right in the garage thanks to detailed instructions. The clearance of the VAZ 2121 increases and it becomes possible to install really serious off-road tires (235/70 R16, 235/75 R15 or 240/80 R15).

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.

Choosing between MT and AT

A couple of words should also be said about the correct marking of tires for the VAZ 21214. Initially, it comes in several types:

• universal, AT (from the English word All Terrain - Any Terrain), well suited for cases when the driver travels more on an asphalt road and to a lesser extent off-road;
• mud, MT (from the English word Mud Terrain - Mud Terrain), this is already heavy Russian off-road, swamps, sandy surfaces, etc.

The problem of choice is that normal off-road tires on the VAZ 2121 are only good off-road. You can’t really accelerate with it on an asphalt road; it consumes extremely quickly and uneconomically on hard asphalt, has an extended braking distance, and performs poorly in cornering and handling. But all this only applies to city roads and highways; on muddy and swampy terrain, MT tires simply flourish, allowing you to confidently storm even the most unrealistic obstacles for conventional AT wheels.

The main differences between mud tires on the VAZ 2121:

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• increased off-road capability of the vehicle;
• special tread pattern, more reminiscent of a tractor, special rubber edging;
• a special rubber compound that provides increased softness (VAZ 21214 mud tires can also be operated with reduced pressure and can easily withstand collisions with rocks, towing on clay, sand, mud, etc.);
• self-cleaning anti-pollution system;
• increased fuel consumption.

In the Mud Terrain tire class for VAZ 21214 (Lada 4×4) there are a number of special offers. For example, mud tires for the Niva labeled Lite are the simplest, they can withstand forced driving on asphalt most easily, but do not have a deep enough and complex tread pattern. Classic - for lovers of rational choice and a whole bunch of specialized rubber: Extreme - the deepest tread with large and sparse patterns; A special shape of the pattern, as well as Modern - well-proven in handling on asphalt roads.

The best studded tires for Niva 4x4

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV

For those who want to get the maximum level of comfort and safety from winter tires, it’s hard to think of a better option than this. This tire took first place in the ratings of studded models from the Za Rulem publication in 2018 and 2022, and consistently outperformed all its competitors on snow, ice and asphalt surfaces. She has the shortest braking distance, fastest acceleration and best handling on ice of all competitors. On snowy roads it also handles better than anyone in both tests. In terms of other indicators, she is in the top three. On our website, Finnish tires have a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars based on 23 reviews, which means that the vast majority of buyers give them the highest ratings.

Reviews of Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV

Continental IceContact 2 SUV

Conti took an honorable second place in the rating of the magazine “Behind the Wheel” for 2022 among the options for studded winter tires for crossovers. It gave way only to the development from Nokian, which was discussed above. The same tire was able to beat the winner and all other participants on the ice circle and in terms of acceleration time on snow, showing the best result. It has impressive braking and handling characteristics on ice. It also distinguished itself as the quietest studded tire. Despite not the best results in snowdrifts and on asphalt, site users rated it even higher than our leader - 4.7 points out of 5 based on 52 reviews.

Reviews of Continental IceContact 2 SUV

Hankook Winter i*Pike RS2 W429

This tire has not reached the heights in the ratings and cannot boast of the best results. However, it has the most balanced characteristics, closest to the very top lines. In addition, the tire costs a little less than the two previous models. It is consistently good both on the ice circle, and in passing snowdrifts, and in braking on “white” roads. It also boasts very quiet operation and is loved by car owners - on the website they give it 4.2 points out of 5 based on 49 reviews.

Reviews of Hankook Winter i*Pike RS2 W429

Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic SUV

This tire from an American manufacturer leaves its competitors far behind in terms of cross-country ability in snowy areas. The tire's directional stability on a snowy track also turned out to be the best. Other characteristics may not be among the best, but they also deserve praise: grip on ice, response to steering wheel turns on “white surfaces”, economy - all at an acceptable level. Site users often choose this option - on the site, based on the results of 218 reviews, customers rate it 4.4 points out of 5 possible.

Reviews of Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic SUV

Yokohama iceGUARD iG65

The main advantage of the Japanese studded tire is its undeniable handling when performing extreme maneuvers during tests in 2020. This means that it will definitely not let you down during an emergency when you need to quickly go around an obstacle. Also, the tire will easily remove the car from deep snow debris. It brakes well on a wet highway and accelerates on ice, but it noticeably loses in handling and braking on icy surfaces. This is an extremely popular tire option among users - they regularly give it five stars and its overall rating, based on the results of 30 reviews, confidently remains at 4.5 stars out of a possible 5.

Reviews of Yokohama iceGUARD iG65

A couple of worthy candidates

In the end, how can we do without a few specific examples? Moreover, the experience of domestic nivovods, and not only them (there is a club of VAZ 2121 fans even in Japan) is very rich and people are not at all lazy to share with a friend a couple of useful tips on purchasing. We will start from different price ranges.

3,500-4,500 rubles. The minimum red price tag, for which it is quite possible to find a number of worthy offers for the VAZ 21214 The same “Bear” of the Y-569 series (good off-road, but extremely susceptible to wear on summer asphalt and absolutely uncontrollable on ice), Cordiant “off road” - here the problems with the asphalt road are less pronounced. All these are domestic manufacturers with good reputations).

8,000-12,000 rubles. For American quality on the domestic Niva you will have to pay about 8 thousand “wooden” ones; the BF GOODRICH brand, the Mud Terrain series of types KM1 and KM2, have proven themselves to be excellent. The price, of course, bites, but the cross-country ability really justifies the stated price tag. Well, from “Olympus” the most expensive offers are waving at us extreme tires from Silverstone such as MT-117 (but they are only suitable for off-road driving; on asphalt this “treasure” simply wears out ungodly quickly).

What kind of off-road tire is there?

All off-road tires for Niva and other cars of this class are divided into three large categories:

1. N/T – road;
2. M/T – mud;
3. A/T – all-terrain.

These icons can be seen on the sidewall - where the tire's production date and country of origin are indicated.

Mud-Terrain is M/T

If you are faced with the question of which wheels are best to install on the Niva for driving on muddy ruts, you definitely need to take the M/T.

They have the most aggressive tread and the highest level of noise and vibration, so for highway driving - at least for a long time - they will be uncomfortable. But on harsh off-road conditions they simply have no value.

For the track you need road tires that provide both higher grip on the asphalt and high speed. But off-road, such tires have poor traction and are quickly damaged, since their sidewalls are very soft.

All-terrain tires are the golden mean when a car can spend an equal amount of time both on asphalt and on country roads. Most often, A/T tires for Niva are the best choice.

There are also models that combine A/T and M/T qualities, and you see one of them in the photo above.

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.

Reviews

This is not the first Niva in my practice, I 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 price.

Taking into account the change in course, I began to look for an alternative. I chose Federal Couragia m/t. I figured out the price for it and didn’t look for anything else, took it in size 235/75 15. And I’ll tell you, friends, it was not for nothing that I chose 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 such 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 quite reasonable for these tires; they don’t get washed out in the mud, so it’s easy to get to the right place. Yes, and it can be installed without an elevator or modifications.

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

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The VAZ-2121, also known as the famous Niva, is rightfully considered one of the most popular and sought-after domestically produced SUVs. It is valued for its unpretentiousness, convenience, ease of operation and maneuverability. Many Niva owners install so-called mud tires on their wheels, which will be discussed in this article.

Off-road tires 215 75 15 for the domestic car "Niva" 21213

For the VAZ-2121 car, the non-standard tire size is tires for size 15 wheels, namely 205/70 R15 or 205/75 R15. When switching to these sizes, the choice becomes more extensive, the width and height of the profile increases, cross-country ability and grip on the road surface increase.

Car owners who install off-road tires of this size on their Niva recommend the following models:

Goodyear Wrangler A/T Adventure

• The Goodyear Wrangler A/T Adventure is great for off-road use, with large tread blocks and deep drainage channels for fairly quick and effective self-cleaning. The tires have a reinforced frame, and powerful sidewalls greatly increase resistance to deformation. The rubber has a special composition of silicon and polymers, which reduces noise and vibration during movement and also extends its service life. The price is about 7,000 rubles* per unit;
• YaShZ Ya-569 are also off-road tires of size 15, installed on the Niva. They have a special tread pattern with characteristic sharp edges, allowing the tread to cut through a layer of dirt and thereby provide outstanding cross-country ability. There are large channels between the tread blocks that allow the tire to quickly clean itself. The tires have a reinforced frame and sidewalls, which provide resistance to deformation and additional stability. The price per unit is from 7,000 rubles. It is one of the most passable off-road tire options for the Niva.

YaShZ Ya-569