What tires to put on the off-road field?

• January 30, 2019
• Cars
• Victoria Slaviy

In Russia, the roads leave much to be desired, and therefore an SUV is a common vehicle. Nowadays it is very popular in society. This is due to the fact that car owners want to stand out on the road, choosing a bulky SUV as their main vehicle or using it for its intended purpose, but off-road.

It's comfortable and fashionable!

Despite the huge range of SUVs (both foreign and Russian), ours are widely popular, especially for the Niva and UAZ brands. There are simple explanations for this:

• Affordable price. A new domestic SUV often costs the same as a used foreign car.
• No maintenance problems.
• You can always find spare parts. Unlike foreign cars, there are always spare parts for our SUVs (both new and used).
• They are in many ways not inferior to foreign SUVs, and sometimes even superior to them, because Russian SUVs are produced specifically for driving on impassable roads.

The most popular domestic SUV today is the VAZ-2121 Niva. It differs from its predecessors in its good price/quality ratio, as well as excellent off-road performance. In order for a car to perform well in difficult conditions, simple all-season tires will not do. That is why the owner is faced with the question of which off-road wheels for the Niva-2121 are best to choose.

SUV tire manufacturers

The above options are suitable for model 2121 and the entire model range - VAZ-21213 and 21214.

215/75 R15

Without any modifications, but provided that the disc is selected correctly, it is recommended to install tires with a diameter of 27-28 inches and an offset of 35-58 mm. In some cases, wheels may touch the fender liners:

• when the machine is overloaded;
• at the extreme points of the suspension travel;
• when driving over bumps.

But these disadvantages associated with the 215/75 R15 size are not critical compared to the advantages that the driver receives:

• better maneuverability;
• fuel economy;
• no need for lifting.

We recommend using the following tire models:

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

The first two samples are all-season tires and their size corresponds to the wheel arches of the Niva, as well as the design features of the suspension. The Kumho and Cordiant brands belong to the off-road class, their element is dirt and potholes. The last pair are winter wheels for driving in deep snow and ice.

For those who intend to further increase the cross-country ability of their “jeep” for fishing or hunting, we can recommend these particular sizes. But the car will have to be slightly altered, namely, lifting the suspension and widening the wheel arches.

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The Togliatti plant produces special lifting kits that allow you to lower the wheel axle by 40 mm. This will be enough to install and operate 235/75 R15. The kit includes:

• spring spacers;
• spacers for ball joint;
• upgraded spring cups;
• reinforced longitudinal rods;
• cross rod.

The process leaves the factory shock absorbers and springs in place. But the work of adjusting the size of the required tire on the Niva cannot yet be considered completed. The updated design will not allow you to achieve full power and acceleration dynamics.

The solution to the problem lies on the surface: you need to change the main pairs of the rear and front gearboxes from the factory number 3.9 to 4.44. As a result, in addition to increasing dynamics, excess load is removed from the engine and clutch.

Another important point. Do not forget about such a parameter as wheel offset. To increase it, craftsmen use special spacers made of light and durable aluminum alloy. The part is mounted directly onto a standard hub.

With such modernization, the hub assembly experiences increased loads, so experts recommend installing hubs with double-row bearings in the steering knuckle. Despite the simplicity of modernization, it requires a certain investment of money to purchase not only rubber, but also the necessary parts.

The domestic auto industry, after more than fifty years, continues to firmly hold a leading position in the car markets. The VAZ family has a very reasonable price, and these cars are quite easy to maintain.

Huge demand has appeared for the Soviet SUV VAZ-2121, as well as its analogues. This type of VAZ has achieved enormous success in world motorsport, setting unattainable records. This car model is very actively exported to European countries and beyond.

Car owners who do not have much experience in servicing this type of car quite often encounter various problems associated with the operation and repair of the Niva. One of these common problems is determining the tire size for Niva 2121.

The Niva body is considered original if it has not been lifted and has “original” wheel arches. The manufacturer equips such cars with the VLI-5 brand of rubber. The performance of this tire is 175/80 R16. However, this type of rubber has not performed very well. Among the most common comments:

• when driving a car at a speed of more than 60 km/h, on a flat asphalt road, increased noise will be observed;
• in the cold season, the elasticity of rubber decreases;
• I have a camera;
• Poor handling on a flat asphalt road.

However, despite the above disadvantages, there are a number of advantages. The main positive aspects are:

• Clay and wet sections of the road can be easily overcome; off-road;
• affordable price.

Today there are enough alternatives, so everyone can choose a worthy option for themselves.

The standard wheel size is R16. The rim offset does not exceed 58 millimeters. You can also install other models with a smaller size on the car - R15. They are in great demand in mountainous areas.

The rubber is thick, so there is no damage to the disc. The tires provide excellent shock absorption when the car moves over large potholes or pits.

On the Niva 2121 you can install wheels from the Chevrolet Niva, without any additional work. You can also install high profile wheels, size 215 R15. The tire offset should not exceed 40 millimeters.

You can install wheels with a large radius, but to avoid touching the fender liners, you need to choose the right size of the disk and tire. Typically, such work is performed during tuning operations.

A new model, available in several versions. The dimensions remained unchanged. Exactly the same as a regular Niva, R16 wheels are used. The main one is 185 / 75 / R16.

To make it easier to choose the wheel size for Niva Urban, we provide a summary table of popular parameters.

In the factory configuration, the car is equipped with disks, which are fastened with five bolts.

• Circle diameter – 139.7 mm;
• Bolts M12x1.25 mm;
• Departure ET58;
• The diameter of the hub hole is 98.5 mm.

Where to start when choosing tires?

All-season tires installed at the factory, 185/72 R16, are quite budget-friendly, uncompromising tires, since they can be driven both in the city and in the countryside at any time of the year.

But many fans and car enthusiasts of the VAZ-2121, when choosing off-road wheels for a Niva, have to replace the factory tires with new ones, choosing them personally for themselves. They pay attention to the following points:

• where and how the owner of the Niva will drive, that is, on the road or off-road;
• is the driver ready to make some modifications to the car in order to install this or that tire (sometimes it is necessary to enlarge the wheel arches, bend the sides outward or raise the body above the frame);
• it all depends on the budget and the amount that the car owner is willing to spend (from 3 to 12 thousand rubles);
• carefully approach the choice of tire manufacturer.

And, of course, you should know about tire markings. Everyone knows that when marking three parameters are used, for example: 185/70 R16. 185 is the width of the tire, 70 is the height, and R16 is the diameter of the rim in inches. And of course the following indicators: MS - all-season, AT - universal, MT - mud. Let's consider the question in more detail.

Types of SUV tires

Any manufacturer gives clear instructions and recommendations on what tire size is suitable for a specific car brand. The factory size for Niva is 175/80 R16, but there is a selection of interchangeable parameters. When selecting tires for R16 wheels, car owners are faced with the problem of an insufficiently wide selection of tires.

The most popular of them are 185/75 R16, 175/80 R16 or 215/65 R16. Often, as an alternative, SUV owners use R15 wheels for their car, which are installed on the Niva without additional modifications. Tires for R15 wheels have a much wider range. The maximum tire size for such wheels for Niva is 215/75 R15.

Let's consider such parameters as the radial size of the disk, the height and width of the tire.

As for the disk size for the Niva. Wheels of 15 and 16 inches can be installed on any car from the Niv family; they are interchangeable in mounting dimensions. On R15 tires, the Niva takes on a more stylish look; due to the smaller rim size, the car will be more comfortable on uneven roads.

Tire height. Installing smaller tires on a car will reduce ride quality and cause rapid wear. Increasing the height of the tire will entail an increase in the load on the rims and chassis of the car, and the car will become stiffer. Positive quality - the car's handling will improve, reactions to the steering wheel will become faster and clearer.

Increasing tire width has both pros and cons. Wide tires improve the contact of the tire with the road, increase the acceleration speed of the car, and the stability of the car. The disadvantages are that the sprung weight of the car increases, fuel consumption increases, and the price category of such tires is much higher.

Niva is a car that has a relatively low price, excellent cross-country ability, and is suitable for driving in any conditions. Niva tires have a wide range. Before purchasing and choosing tires, you need to decide for what purpose you are using your car.

Let's highlight two categories: the first - you use the Niva in exclusively urban conditions, then you need to choose tires for highway use, the second - mud tires for impassable roads.

Tires that are labeled Highway Terrain (H/T) and High Performance (H/P) are classified as tires suitable for driving on asphalt. Such tires are installed by car owners of premium cars that are practically never used in off-road conditions.

All Terrain (A/T) tires are considered universal tires. The tread pattern of these tires has bulky blocks that separate wide channels, which accompanies the self-cleaning of the wheels and increases the level of cross-country ability. When driving on asphalt with such tires, the noise level may increase slightly.

Tires marked Mud Terrain (M/T) are mud tires intended for poor quality dirt roads or off-road conditions. The tread of such tires is distinguished by powerful patterns and large grooves, which contributes to a high level of self-cleaning. Such tires are practically unsuitable for driving on asphalt.

Tires with a rough tread pattern are excellent for driving in off-road conditions, increase the cross-country ability of a car, but are actually not suitable for driving around the city, reducing the comfort and controllability of the car.

Let's look at manufacturers of tires for SUVs.

Cordiant is a modern domestic tire manufacturer. Tires are characterized by independence from temperature indicators and individual tread configuration. The Off Road model is designed for complete off-road use and has high cross-country ability in swampy and sandy areas.

Amtel is a company that specializes in all-season tires for SUVs. The tires are distinguished by a powerful tread that ensures vehicle stability, excellent road traction, and are effective in both snowy and rainy weather due to wide and deep grooves.

BF Goodrich is an American company. The range includes All Terrain T/A KO and Mud Terrain T/A KM models, which are suitable for Niva. Both models are designed for muddy, rocky, impassable roads. Thanks to the latest technologies, the tires of this company are additionally protected from punctures and impacts.

The Cooper manufacturer has off-road tires in its range. The Discoverer S/T and Discoverer STT models provide excellent handling in difficult conditions. The Discoverer A/T and Discoverer LT are versatile tires that are suitable for both road and dirt roads.

Michelin is a US tire company. The benchmark for off-road tires today is the BF Goodrich Macadam. It has a serrated tread that provides excellent maneuverability on slippery, difficult-to-pass dirt roads. Winter Michelin Latitude Alpins have proven themselves well in conditions of constant weather changes.

Maxxis International is a Taiwanese company and is one of the largest tire manufacturers. Models M-8060 Trepador and MAXXIS MT-762 are perfectly adapted for mud roads, have an aggressive tread pattern, and self-clean well. The MT-753 and MA-751 models are designed with a special design that ensures a comfortable and safe ride both on paved roads and in light off-road conditions.

As you can see, the tire supply market today is diverse, and it is difficult to single out one leader. Tires from domestic manufacturers have an acceptable price range. If we talk about imported tires, then their pricing policy is much higher.

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VAZ Cars of the VAZ family have not ceased to please domestic car enthusiasts for about fifty years, and no matter what words they remember our assemblers, the majority continue to drive these unpretentious cars. Affordable price and good maintainability are the main arguments in favor of the Russian automobile industry.

The VAZ-2121 SUV and its modifications are in considerable demand. International success in motorsport, world records and exports to many foreign countries - these achievements speak for themselves. Inexperienced owners often face the problem of determining the tire size on a Niva car when replacing them, let's try to figure it out.

The base body is considered to be one that has not been subjected to lifting and has standard wheel arches. At the factory, the cars are equipped with VLI-5 tires with indicators of 175/80 R16. It must be said that this is not a very good option and it has very conflicting reviews:

• increased noise when driving on a hard surface at speeds over 60 km/h;
• at low temperatures loses elasticity;
• the big drawback is the presence of a camera;
• poor handling on clean asphalt.

Its high ability to overcome wet off-road conditions, especially on clay soils, is also noted. Another plus is the low price. The number of disadvantages of rubber outweighs its positive qualities. This is why most owners decide to use alternative options, especially since the possibilities for this exist.

The Russian SUV Niva is very popular among Russian car enthusiasts. All models of this machine are constantly exported abroad. Its positive qualities have long been appreciated by European countries.

The cars are equipped at the factory with a variety of wheels and rims. For each model, you can choose the right size depending on the operating conditions.

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 Lada 4×4; only in this case the manufacturer guarantees the service life of chassis and suspension components and assemblies. 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.

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.

The smaller the unsprung mass (this includes the mass 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 modifications to the Lada 4×4 can be found in the tuning category and by content.

Keywords: 4x4 wheels | 4x4 tires | Lada 4x4 urban

Should you modify your car?

When choosing tires, as mentioned earlier, owners are faced with the question of improving their car. It depends on the choice of tires.

Among the tires that the market offers, a large number have a standard wheel, and therefore they can be installed without additional modifications. The most important thing here is to understand whether you will need to resort to lifting or not.

Most car enthusiasts will say that you shouldn’t add unnecessary problems to yourself and it’s easier to put standard off-road wheels on the Niva (205/70 R15 or 205/75 R15). Due to the fact that the car has a significant arch width and height, they can easily be installed on your car.

Other options for increasing the tire profile will result in you having to resort to lifting. You can make these changes either yourself or contact a specialist. Thanks to the high ground clearance, the service is possible, and VAZ-2121 owners can install really more serious tires on their car (235/70 R16, 235/75 R16 or 240/80 R16).

Selecting tires by parameters

Recommendations from the manufacturer. Depending on the modification of the Chevrolet Niva, R15 or R16 wheels are installed on the factory assembly line. Therefore, before going to a car store, you should find out the equipment of your iron horse. The most common tire sizes are:

1. 205/70R15;
2. 205/75R15;
3. 215/75R15;
4. 215/65R16.

Seasonality. For different times of the year, you should select seasonal “shoes” for the Chevrolet Niva.

1. Summer tires behave well in the warm season, allowing the driver to enjoy a fast ride. It is quiet and has good rolling power.
2. Winter tires are indispensable when operating a car on snowy or icy roads. Friction models are recommended for the southern regions of the country, and for northern routes it is better to prefer tires with studs.
3. For those who like to ride through meadows and forests, special mud tires are recommended. It features an aggressive deep tread that is easy to clean off the ground. The only disadvantage of special tires will be noise on asphalt.

Also interesting: How to eliminate vibration in the transfer case of a VAZ-21213
Speed ​​and load index. Many Chevrolet Niv owners use their cars as workhorses. Some reckless drivers are trying to set a speed record on paved highways. Therefore, when choosing tires, you should pay attention to the speed and load index.

1. Speed ​​characteristics are encrypted in letter designation (Latin letters). For example, “T” indicates a top speed of 190 km/h, and “V” allows you to accelerate to 240 km/h.
2. The Chevrolet Niva can be seriously loaded, but only if you have the appropriate tires. The load index has a digital designation. If with the marking “60” the maximum weight per wheel is 250 kg, then with “113” this value will increase to 1150 kg.

We have selected the 14 best tires for the Chevrolet Niva for review. All models are sold in auto stores in our country. When distributing places, the editors of the journal expertology took expert opinions as a basis, taking into account the reviews of Russian crop farmers.

When choosing tires for a car, you should remember their intended purpose. Ground clearance, comfort, noise level and cross-country ability depend on a number of parameters.

What to choose: MT or AT

Let's look at this tire marking for the VAZ 2121. So:

• AT - universal tires. Perfect for driving on asphalt and less so for off-road driving.
• MT - mud tires. Ideal for Russian impassable roads.

The choice comes down to where you prefer to drive. Normal tires on the off-road wheels on the Niva are excellent for off-road use, but you can’t accelerate on it on asphalt: it has a poor braking distance, it behaves unsteadily when cornering, and wears out very quickly on rough surfaces. Off-road, it behaves much more confidently, allowing the driver to overcome even the most impassable obstacles. This cannot be achieved on conventional wheels with AT tires.

Types of mud tires for the Niva car

• Cheap and cheerful. This is about the Ya-569 “Bear” tires. “Mishka” will cost you less than 4,000 rubles. Tires are good because they are suitable for our winters. They feel confident in the snow. But in icy conditions it can let you down. Therefore, under such conditions it is better to choose something else.
• Off-road mid-level, this is Cordiant off Road. For 4 rubles you get tires on which you can drive off-road and not be nervous on the asphalt. The car will need a small "Lift". This will be beneficial, as you will get +3 cm to the ground clearance.

• Not perfect, but very good - Hankook Dynapro MT RT03. It will cost about 500 rubles more than the previous one. You need a 5 cm lift. And you will get a very decent result on dirt and asphalt.
• More aggressive Kumho Road Venture mt kl71 tires are noticeably more expensive - 5.8 thousand rubles. Protectors allow you to feel confident even where the surface is not even a joke. A light lift or trimming the wheel arches will allow you to enjoy this beauty.
• BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 – from rags to riches for 7 thousand rubles. Almost the standard of the genre among everything that can be put on the Niva. The treads clean well, and it is so difficult to kill a tire on the road that your car is more likely to break down. In general, if you want to get tires that can even get you to Africa, and you don’t spare money for your loved one, buy it with confidence.
• Last on our list is the Federal Couragia m/t mud tire. This is the dirtiest of all existing ones. Only extreme is cooler. It's inexpensive. But it is not suitable for asphalt at all - it wears off quickly.

Choosing off-road tires

These tires have a large pattern on the tread. The rubber is quite soft and, having lugs on the sides, behaves quite boldly and confidently off-road.

It is worth considering that it is most suitable for driving on dirt. It is better to use it as little as possible on asphalt roads, otherwise it will quickly become unusable. Which mud tires for Niva are better? Let's look at the most popular models today and try to understand this issue.

15 inch tires for Niva

The factory installs R15 on 3 trim levels of the Chevrolet Niva. These wheels are suitable for other models and configurations. When using them instead of R16, the manufacturer recommends limiting the maximum speed to 160 km/h.

Due to the availability of winter tires and the inexpediency of overclocking the Niva over 160, the R15 size is popular among owners.

Suitable for all 4x4 and Chevrolet:

For Chevrolet, it is additionally possible to install 225/60R15.

For off-road use, owners choose studded tires from the following brands:

• Kama (515);
• Nokian (Nordman 5, Hakkapeliitta 7 and 8);
• Amtel (NordMaster);
• Cordiant (Snow Cross, Sno-Max, Polar);
• Yokohama (Ice Guard);
• Continental (IceContact);
• Gislaved (Nord Frost);
• Kumho (WinterCraft Ice, I'Zen KW22);
• Matador (Sibir Ice);
• Viatti (brina nordico).

BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2

The best mud tires for Niva. You may have to pay a lot more for it compared to competitors, but believe me, it’s worth it. You can choose any size you want (from 215/75 R15). Tires will cost more than five thousand rubles for lifting vehicles (240/80 R15). The cost of the entire set will cost you seven thousand rubles.

Rubber is universal and quite durable. It will satisfy both the true pro and the novice off-road enthusiast. Therefore, if you are not used to saving on your pet, then this is an excellent option.

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).

Niva 4x4 has increased cross-country ability. Created for rural residents, it has become indispensable for hunters, fishermen, adventure lovers and Niva lovers. Light weight for its class made it the most popular Russian car abroad.

The design of the car has undergone minimal changes since the 1970s. The choice of tires for wheels has increased, which significantly expanded the cross-country ability. Despite the apparent monotony of the range of tires for the Niva, the choice is not easy for owners.

Extreme tires

What Niva fanatic doesn't like extreme driving? The types of tires considered are more suitable for impressive SUVs, since the starting size is 29 inches. They have a fairly large pattern and very powerful lugs, so you can easily get out of ruts. Due to the fact that the wheels are soft, they are completely unsuitable for driving on asphalt roads. The most popular models:

• Simex Extreme;
• Forward Safari 500;
• Silversone MT - 117 XTREME.

Thus, after reading the review of the most popular models of tires for off-road wheels on the Niva, you can decide which ones are suitable for your favorite and the driving style to which you are accustomed. At the same time, experienced drivers do not recommend buying wheels from unverified suppliers, who, as a rule, attract their victims with the favorable price of the product. It is best to buy this type of product in specialized stores, where they will not only provide the necessary documentation, but also give a guarantee for the purchase.

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.

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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.