Wheel size is one of the main factors that significantly affects the behavior of a car on the road. Each manufacturer indicates the acceptable sizes of tires and wheels; this list consists of several options. Do you know what other tires and wheels are suitable for Chevrolet (LADA) Niva besides those specified by the manufacturer?
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.
| Tire sizes | Load Index | Speed index | Disc width, inch | Reach ET, mm | Air pressure in the wheel, MPa | |
| Front | Rear | |||||
| Original | ||||||
| R16 185/75 | 92Q | 95T | 5.0 J | 58 | 0,21 | 0,19 |
| Acceptable from other manufacturers | ||||||
| R15 205/70 | 95Q (S, T) | 6; 6.5J | 40 | 0.19 | 0.19 | |
| R18 175/80 | 88Q | 95T | 5; 5.5 J | 48-58 | 0.21 | 0.19 |
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.
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.
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.
Selection of all-season tires
All-season tires differ from others in their tread. The whole secret is that the inner side of such a tire is used for driving on loose snow, and the outer side is used to drain water from the tire contact patch to ensure better traction. When choosing, special attention should be paid to the composition of all-season tires installed on the Chevrolet Niva.
Hard tires are suitable for summer use, reducing wear. The soft one performs better in winter for traveling on snowy and icy roads. Rubber with medium hardness at a medium level will cope with its task at any time of the year. The composition of all-season tires is selected in such a way that they do not harden in cold weather and do not blur in summer. With all this, it is not subject to rapid wear when driving on a dry road and is relatively safe when traveling on snow or ice.
When choosing all-season tires, it’s easy to navigate if you know the main markings on the sides of the rubber:
The last two designations are used by manufacturers for summer tires.
According to various tests that are regularly carried out by authoritative publications, the same thing is confirmed every year: a high-quality all-season tire cannot be cheap. All-season tires have a number of significant disadvantages:
- high noise level;
- increased fuel consumption;
- reduction in dynamic characteristics;
- increased wear.
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.
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.
Owner reviews
I discovered the STT Discoverer for the first time this year. Now I’m driving happy, because the tires paddle perfectly even in serious mud. Yes, at high temperatures and long driving on the highway they float a little, but the Niva is not created for this. Besides, I rarely travel like this. Some will say that the price is high. But if you count two sets (summer + winter), then the claim becomes unclear.
I’ve been driving the Amtelach Nord-Master for three years now. In winter, of course. Very good tires, especially considering their cost. Because for 12 thousand you can put shoes on a car for five years. And even driving on ice is very confident. When fishing, I feel simply irreplaceable - where others give up, my Niva drives very confidently. Yes, there are problems with noise, but in the Chevrolet line this is not the most comfortable model, and it was created for something else. So I'm willing to put up with these disadvantages in favor of the advantages.
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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.
How much do tires cost on a Chevrolet Niva?
Below is a table of options with prices, including both the cheapest and most expensive models.
| Name | Minimum cost (RUB, piece) |
| Barguzin | 3500 |
| Kama Euro | 1500 |
| Cordiant Comfort | 2000 |
| Lassa | 2500 |
| Hankuk | 3500 |
| Cooper Discovery STT | 7500 |
| Michelin Latitude Alpine | 7000 |
| Continental General Tire Altimax Arctic | 6500 |
| Nokian Hakkapelita R | 7500 |
| Amtel NordMaster ST-310 | 3000 |
| Yokohama A349A | 5000 |
