What do you need to know about Chevrolet Niva wheels and accessories for them?

Expert: Boris Evgenievich Kononov

*Review of the best according to the editors of expertology.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.

The Russian SUV Chevrolet Niva is highly popular among domestic motorists. One of the reasons for stable demand is high traffic. In addition, the machine is unpretentious in maintenance and has an affordable price. In order for a car to realize its full potential, it is important to choose the right tires. It is best to do this taking into account the time of year and the nature of the roads being overcome. With the help of our experts, we will try to determine the range of suitable tires.

What wheels were installed on different car bodies and configurations?

The ride comfort, the condition of the chassis and the further operation of the vehicle depend on the dimensions of the wheels and tires installed on the vehicle.

To ensure the correct operation of the above criteria, vehicle manufacturers provide the recommended parameters of parts, components and assemblies installed on the vehicle in the vehicle operating instructions. The same applies to the Niva Chevrolet.

AvtoVAZ recommends the following wheel and tire sizes with appropriate air pressure.

Advice. It is not recommended to install alloy wheels that are too large on a Chevrolet Niva; this may cause problems with the operation of the vehicle’s chassis.

The speed index is an important parameter when selecting tires. Depending on the speed at which the car moves, wheels with a certain index are selected:

• Q – up to 160 km/h;
• S – no more than 180 km/h;
• T – up to 190 km/h.

As for the load capacity of the car, before installing the wheels, you need to check the markings on the tire. It corresponds to 85, 88, 92. The minimum carrying capacity of the car is 515 kg, corresponding to index 88.

Maximum wheel size without lifting Niva Chevrolet

Tire marking numbers indicate the following indicators:

• Tire width. The value is indicated in millimeters.
• The height of the tire as a percentage of the width.
• Tire inner diameter.

The maximum total height of a wheel that can be installed without any problems is 31 inches. According to reviews from car owners, the following standard sizes can be installed without lifting:

• Sixteen-inch: 265\75\16 - 31.6", 285\70\16 - 31.7".
• Seventeen-inch: 205\60\17 - 31.4", 265/70/17 - 31.6", 235\85\16 - 31.7".

Dimensions of standard wheels

A peculiarity of domestic car models, including the Chevrolet Niva, is the lack of individual wheels for a specific year of manufacture of the car.

Common wheel sizes for Niva Chevrolet:

• rim width 8 inches;
• rim diameter 15 inches;
• offset ET40 – distance between the plane of fastening and symmetry.

Failure to comply with these parameters may result in:

• rapid wear of mechanical parts and components of the vehicle chassis;
• Excessive load on the wheel arches of a car and their breakdown, for example, the use of wheels with a dimension greater than R16 and a high rubber profile, will negatively affect the condition of the fender liner. Its surface will be erased. On the Internet you can see a large number of photos devoted to this topic.

Advice. Before purchasing a new wheel, it is better to consult an experienced specialist.

Another important parameter is the bolt pattern or drilling of the disk. It is designated by the Latin letters PCD. For Niva Chevrolet it is installed by the manufacturer with dimensions 5x139.7. The number 5 means that the disk is fixed to the hub with five bolts, which are located on a circle, and the distance between adjacent fastening bolts corresponds to 139.7 mm.

The center hole (DIA) of the rim is 98.5mm. Therefore, when choosing a wheel, you need to pay special attention to this parameter, since a discrepancy from the standard even by 1 mm will certainly affect the quality of the disk fastening to the hub. After some time, due to a loose fit, the hub will simply wear off.

And the last no less important parameter is the ET offset, which should not exceed a value of 40. Otherwise, this will lead to failure of the internal bearing. The most acceptable offset for the Niva Chevrolet is ET35.

Profile height

The height of the rubber profile affects the comfort, rigidity, reliability of the car and the load.

Increasing the height makes the car more comfortable and softer, and increases the landing position. But when the permissible height is exceeded, controllability deteriorates, braking distance increases, fuel consumption increases, and additional load appears on the vehicle’s chassis.

Reducing the profile height improves the car's handling, but the car becomes stiffer and the ride less comfortable. In addition, the risk of puncture increases.

Parameters of standard nuts

A special feature of wheel nuts is their special thread, which differs from standard ones. For Niva Chevrolet, M12x1.25mm nuts are provided. Due to the slight discrepancy with the standard pitch (1.75), a self-tightening effect appears when the wheel rotates.

Therefore, a larger thread pitch will not work. Factory original nuts are made using a special technique. When screwed onto the studs, they come out on the other side, and the internal cavity has the shape of a cone. It was the use of cone nuts that made it possible to achieve a certain result:

• the hole is centered;
• The wheel rim fits tightly to the hub.

Nuts on a Niva car are:

• Open – with a through hole.
• Closed – eliminate the possibility of the studs passing through the internal cavity of the nut.

For Niva Chevrolet, closed type fasteners are used. They are tightened with a regular 19 mm wheel wrench. Standard products are chrome plated and made of steel with carbon components.

Characteristics of alloy wheels for Chevrolet Niva

The wheel for the Chevrolet Niva weighs 29.7 kilograms. The disc itself reaches 11.4 kg. It turns out that the tire weighs 18.3 kilograms. The width of the wheel is 243-244 millimeters, and the height is 745-750 millimeters.

Important!

If, after purchasing the disk, it becomes clear that the centering rings do not match, you should not be upset, you just need to buy them in an additional required size.

For the Chevrolet Niva SUV, you need to buy wheels of such a size that the wheels do not touch the body, do not spoil the brake system, and their centering ring must coincide with the hub. In this case, you need to know the factory parameters of the machine in order to choose the right wheels.

What kind of disks can be installed?

The manufacturer recommends installing R16 standard wheels. It is allowed to mount smaller wheels R15 on the car. It’s easier to choose tires for this size; there are plenty to choose from compared to 16-inch wheels.

The depth of the body arch of the Chevrolet Niva allows the driver to install 17-inch cast wheels on the car. Correct installation of wider wheels will allow you to:

• improve directional stability and vehicle control;
• reduce braking distance in case of unexpected braking;
• increase the vehicle's maneuverability in off-road conditions.

It is worth noting the negative aspects of such a replacement:

• the likelihood of damage to the integrity of the disc increases when the tire is damaged, for example, from a side impact;
• the smoothness of the ride decreases, the movement on it becomes harsher, and vibration increases.

Which tires to choose for a Chevrolet Niva

There is no clear answer here. For each owner, the best option will be the one that suits his driving style and the characteristics of the car. Some prefer road models, while others opt for all-season options such as KShZ K-139. If the owner often goes off-road, then it is better to take AT tires. You can find out more about which wheels are installed in different conditions.

Summer tires

Obviously, it is necessary to install harder tires for the summer. The optimal tire in this case is Cordiant Comfort PS-400, which has excellent properties and a developed tread that allows you to drive off the asphalt. In addition, the tires have excellent puncture resistance due to their good rigidity. You will also be pleased with the cost of the model, which is around 2000 rubles apiece.

Another excellent option is Kama Euro 129. This is a two-layer tire with an asymmetrical pattern and can withstand hydroplaning well. At the same time, the cost of one tire is 1.5-2000 rubles.

Supporters of advanced technologies can recommend Yokohama A349A tires. Multiple drainage channels eliminate aquaplaning even at high speeds. Moreover, this tire is able to guarantee excellent acoustic comfort and provides excellent stability when driving on rough terrain. The asking price is 5,000 rubles per wheel.

Winter tires

During sub-zero temperatures, summer tires become dull and do not provide proper grip. Moreover, the braking distance with such a kit will be much longer, which could potentially lead to an emergency. Therefore, for the winter period it is necessary to install special soft tires with a developed tread pattern.

For mild winters, the recommended model is the Michelin Latitude Alpin. Snow tires are designed specifically for all-wheel drive vehicles and have a unique tread pattern that effectively removes dirt and snow (thereby providing excellent resistance to soaping). Additional benefits include excellent sidewall rigidity and excellent wear resistance. The downside is the high cost - around 7 thousand rubles per wheel.

Another high-quality Velcro is the Nokian Hakkapelita R. The developed tread guarantees excellent traction even on deep snow, and low rolling resistance has a positive effect on fuel consumption (the driver saves up to 0.5 liters per 100 km). The manufacturer also claims increased wear resistance, which extends the service life of the model. But you have to pay for it - up to 7,500 rubles apiece.

For harsh winters with lots of snow and ice, the Continental General Tire Altimax Arctic model is suitable. Special RCT technology ensures maximum efficiency both in the city and on snow-covered roads outside of it. The soft compound does not tan even at very low temperatures, which means that the tire fully retains its functionality. In addition, the tire has the option of additionally installing studs, which allows you to make it a truly “evil” rubber. The cost of the model ranges between 6-7 thousand rubles.

Among the budget options, it is worth noting the Amtel NordMaster ST-310 model. The cost of the wheel is 3 thousand rubles, and among the advantages they note excellent grip when moving on ice (thanks to spikes) and excellent wear resistance. The disadvantages include the increased noise of the kit.

All-season

This option is only suitable for leisurely movement. All-season tires behave worse than specialized tires (summer or winter). Among the popular options, it is worth noting the Maxxis mt 762 bighorn. The model allows you to ride all year round, as well as go on serious off-road conditions.

Other options include the Cooper Discovery STT. The advantages of the tire are its amazing rigidity (guaranteeing excellent wear resistance), developed tread (allowing you to drive off-road), as well as a special mixture composition (performing well in any temperature conditions). The disadvantage of the model is the rather high price - from 7 thousand rubles.

Off-road

If the owner of a Chevrolet Niva is a fan of off-road forays, then you can install Cordiant Offroad or Kama Flame MT tires. Both options provide excellent mud traction, self-clean well, and are able to successfully resist punctures. Although these kits are positioned as all-terrain kits, moving on asphalt over 80 km/h causes discomfort. Rubber is clearly audible in the cabin and annoys the driver. But these are professional kits that have a narrow focus.

Maximum and minimum possible parameters of non-standard disks

Some car owners strive to install beautiful wheels of a larger size on their car than those supplied by the manufacturer. The Nyva Chevrolet body allows this to be done thanks to the design of the car's wheel arches. Wheel sizes that do not require modifications to the body are considered 215/75 with a minimum offset of 35.

If the driver has installed a tire with a profile over 215mm, then the arches will have to be trimmed a little, and the ET offset should exceed 58mm. The most optimal reach size is 40-45. Therefore, when planning the installation of new wheels and tires, you need to carefully study this issue. To do this, special websites are offered to help the car enthusiast, where on videos and photos you can see in detail the entire procedure from choosing a wheel to replacing it.

Properly selected wheels and tires are the key to stable vehicle performance on the road.

Standard tire sizes

Shniva's designers provided for the installation of two wheel rim options - 15 and 16 inches. Considering the size of the wheel arches, two sizes of tires can be installed on the car:

• 205/75 R15;
• 215/65 R16.

With such dimensions, the manufacturer guarantees that there will be no problems when driving on the highway, off-road, or even when hanging the car diagonally.

However, small deviations are quite acceptable. Thus, road tires 215/75 R15 fit freely under the wheel arches and do not touch the wheel arches or body parts when turning the steering wheel completely or driving over potholes and potholes.

However, installing “mud” tires of this size can already cause problems. At a certain position of the wheels, the side lugs can catch on the fender liners or bumper. In the extreme positions of the steering wheel, the 225/75 R16 tires also behave. However, many car owners also install wider or taller tires.

Profile width

Parameters such as controllability and safety depend on the width of the profile.

Increasing the profile width improves vehicle handling, especially at high speed, reduces braking distance, and enhances directional stability. At the same time, high-profile tires are more expensive and increase the risk of aquaplaning and fuel consumption.

Reducing the profile width improves traction on snowy roads or in ruts and reduces fuel consumption. The disadvantages of a narrow tire include worse handling, decreased stability, and increased braking distance. It is highly not recommended to install tires already recommended by the manufacturer.