What tires to put on the Niva: rating of the best models 2021

Factory tire parameters

Not all Russian roads have smooth and high-quality surfaces. We are not talking about large cities with a population of over a million, although here too there are often unpleasant “surprises” on the roads in the form of potholes and other irregularities. Today we are talking about the outback and country roads. Off-road requires an appropriate level of car. VAZ-2121 is the optimal vehicle for off-road driving.

VAZ-2121 is the best car for Russian off-road

Relatively comfortable off-road driving and driver safety depend on the technical characteristics of the car. Tires play an important role in driving a vehicle. The vast majority of VAZ-2121 are produced with factory tires VLI-5 R16 175/80. Basic tires have many disadvantages:

• poor handling on flat road surfaces;
• increased noise at speeds of 60 km/h or more;
• loss of elasticity and softness at sub-zero air temperatures.

Recommended size of Niva 4x4 wheels and tires

Tire size with load capacity and speed indexes*

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.

Tire sizes and specifications

So, let's figure out what tires can be installed on the Niva. The standard tire size for the VAZ-2121 is 175/80 R16. Finding replacement narrow and tall tires with a diameter (not to be confused with a radius!) of 16 inches will not be easy. But it's worth a try.

According to reviews from motorists, the basic 16-inch tires for the Niva can be replaced with the following options:

• Hankook Winter Ipike;
• Nokian WRC3;
• Michelin Agilis X-ice North;
• Kama Euro LCV;
• Nokian Hakkapeliita C Cargo;
• Amtel K182A;
• Cordiant Business;
• Continental VanContact.

Many owners of domestic SUVs install R15-sized wheels on their cars. Such a replacement does not require additional modifications or changes. The main advantage is a large selection of tires with a diameter of 15 inches. So, for the Niva you can use the following tire models:

• Yokohama F700Z;
• Amtel NordMaster;
• Toyo Observe Gsi-5;
• Tunga Nordway;
• Gislaved NordFrost 100;
• Cordiant SnowCross;
• Cordiant Off Road;
• Kumho KW 7400;
• Nokian Nordman RS, etc.

Which wheels are better to install on a Niva?

The choice of tires for R16 wheels is not large; most often they choose sizes 185/75 R16, 175/80 R16, or 215/65 R16. Due to the paucity of choice, many SUV owners install R15 wheels on the Niva.

R15 wheels can be borrowed from Chevrolet Niva wheels, which fit without modifications. Thus, the choice of tires will increase significantly and you will be able to choose the appropriate tires for certain operating conditions. In addition, a car with such wheels will look more stylish. In addition to standard tires for R15 wheels, you can install 205/75 R15 tires.

Do you dream of a Niva with big wheels , but are not going to cut the arches? The maximum tire size for a Niva without modifications is 215/75 R15, and the wheels must have an offset of 40, otherwise the tires will touch the fender liners. Finally, install alloy wheels on the Niva and you will get a stylish SUV!

When choosing wheels, you should take into account the full diameter of the wheel; it should not differ much from the standard one. Compatibility table for Niva 4x4 tires and wheels:

Green indicates the minimum deviation of the wheel diameter (up to 3 mm); Orange indicates a diameter deviation from 3 to 6 mm.

Don't forget about the rim width:

How to choose tires for Niva

Tanks (in our case, Nivas) are not afraid of dirt. Accordingly, the choice of tires for a Russian SUV should be carefully thought out and justified.

Selection options

We bring to your attention several important characteristics that need to be taken into account when choosing tires to replace the factory set:

1. Operating conditions (smooth and high-quality asphalt pavement within the city or typical off-road conditions).
2. The need for additional modifications, in particular widening the wheel arches or bending the sides outward.
3. Technical characteristics (pattern, height, tread width) and offers from leading manufacturers.
4. Seasonality – all-season option or double set for summer and winter.
5. Estimated budget.

When choosing tires for the Niva, you need to take into account the operating conditions

Summer-winter or all-season

An all-season or summer-winter option is the first stumbling block. Winter tires are soft and resistant to sub-zero air temperatures. It is important that tires do not tan in the cold. Otherwise, the likelihood of an accident increases. The main quality of winter tires is excellent grip on snowy or icy road surfaces.

The summer version, on the contrary, should be hard and resistant to wear. The rubber used to make summer tires is characterized by high resistance to elevated temperatures. Do not forget that the temperature of the asphalt pavement in the open sun can reach 50–55 °C.

The chemical compositions used for the manufacture of all-season tires are characterized by average statistical parameters. These tires perform well both in summer and winter. But with a strong increase in air temperature and heating of the road surface, tire wear increases. At the same time, an all-season vehicle is not the best option for driving on snow-covered or icy roads.

MT or AT

The next selection criterion is universal or mud tires.

AT (All Terrain) is a universal type of tire that is distinguished by an increased level of cross-country ability and a special tread structure. Bulky blocks with wide grooves promote rapid self-cleaning of the wheels. When operating in urban environments, the noise level may increase.

MT (Mud Terrain) – marking mark for mud tires. Such tires are used for cars that are driven off-road and on poor quality dirt roads. Distinctive features of MT tires are large grooves and a powerful pattern. “Evil” tires, as mud tires are often called, are unsuitable for use within the city. On a smooth, high-quality asphalt surface, there is an increase in noise and rapid wear of the rubber. Driving speed and driving comfort are low.

Distinctive features of MT tires are large ditches and powerful tread.

Tires for lifting and without

What is a lift and why is it needed? A lift is a modification of the suspension: trimming wheel arches, installing spring blocks with a large number of turns, installing spacers for ball joints, etc. Such manipulations allow you to replace the base rubber with a higher and wider profile.

Tires without a “lift” can be safely called the best option for motorists who are satisfied with the basic equipment or replacement options that do not require additional modifications.

Where is rubber made?

Which plant produces rubber?
The production of special lifting kits is carried out in Tolyatti. Thanks to these developments, the wheel axle is reduced to as much as 40 mm. Installing this tire size on the Niva 2121 is very easy and simple. This procedure can be performed independently without the help of specialists.

After completing the work, it is not recommended to touch the shock absorbers and springs. This action will not help in adjusting the required tire size on the Niva 2121 car. After all, in fact, the product will not provide the expected power and speed.

Note!

To prevent the wheels from coming off in the middle of the road, you need to use special spacers. They are created using aluminum.

With this improvement, the hub assembly will have an increased load. For this reason, experienced auto mechanics recommend installing hubs that have double-row bearings in the steering knuckle. Despite the ease of installation, it will require certain material costs for the purchase of rubber and related spare parts.

You might be interested in this About tires for BelAZ - diameter and weight

Lifting kit:

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

If you install this kit correctly, the shock absorbers and springs will fit as they should.

But this does not end with just installing this kit. To ensure a comfortable/safe ride, some replacements still need to be made. The manufacturer recommends that Niva car owners replace the front or rear gearbox pairs if they are damaged. If they come from the factory at 3.9, then in the future you need to set them to 4.44. This option increases the acceleration dynamics. Consequently, the additional load on the motor and clutch is reduced.

The best summer tires for Niva

Summer tires must withstand high temperatures and be resistant to wear. However, for regions with frequent precipitation, when the asphalt surface is constantly wet, too hard rubber is not suitable. Hard tires have poor grip on wet asphalt.

So, when choosing a summer tire set, the climatic features of the region and the technical characteristics of the car are taken into account. The size must comply with the recommendations of the vehicle manufacturer, but the tread pattern and tire width can be selected at your discretion.

Nizhnekamskshina Kama-232

Nizhnekamskshina Kama-232 has good lateral and linear grip.
What tires should I put on the VAZ-2121 in the summer? According to reviews from avid supporters of the domestic automobile industry, the Niva performs well with Nizhnekamskshina Kama-232 all-season tires. The design of the model is radial, the sealing method is tubeless, there are no studs. R15 wheels are fitted with 205/70R15 tires, and R16 wheels are fitted with 185/75R16 tires.

Nizhnekamskshina Kama-232 – standard tires. With this modification, “re-shoeing” the car for the summer is not required. High directional stability is ensured by the wide central part of the all-season vehicle.

The linear pattern with Z-shaped blocks provides excellent lateral and linear grip, while the type of road surface does not play a special role.

Pros:

• strength and reliability;
• relative noiselessness;
• good vehicle handling on dry or wet road surfaces;
• low fuel consumption.

Minuses:

• relatively low degree of wear resistance;
• Despite the manufacturer's statements about all-season use, it is not suitable for driving on icy roads.

The best winter tires

Native tires for the winter are not the best solution for the Niva. Still, in winter, when the road is covered with ice or strewn with snow, driving a car requires a lot of experience, skills and professionalism of the driver. Of course, it is easier to drive a car when it is “shod” in the appropriate “sneakers”. We are talking about car tires for winter use.

Hankook Tire i*pike RW11 175/80 R16 91T

Hankook Tire i*pike RW11 175/80 R16 91T has a unique design.
Hankook Tire i*pike RW11 175/80 R16 91T studded tires are suitable for crossovers, SUVs and SUV cars. The model has been awarded the Nordic Swan environmental label. Has a V-format tread pattern. There is no hydroplaning due to the rapid removal of water and mud. Low noise production and increased traction and grip qualities are the result of using an optimized stud arrangement. This model is characterized by a 6-row arrangement of studs.

Hankook Tire i*pike RW11 175/80 R16 91T has a unique design. Ribbed grooves increase maximum traction on snow and ice. Side slots ensure rapid removal of moisture and snow mass.

Pros:

• excellent grip on road surfaces, including snowy or icy ones;
• quiet running;
• strength and reliability;
• softness;
• good wear resistance.

Minuses:

• At high speed, skidding is possible when entering a turn;
• not suitable for extreme driving.

The best off-road tires

Among the off-road vehicles of the domestic and foreign auto industry, the all-terrain Lada (Niva) 4x4 is highly popular among motorists. The car performs well not only on smooth or compacted road surfaces, but also in off-road conditions. The main thing is to choose the right all-terrain tires.

Nizhnekamskshina Kama-Flame

Nizhnekamskshina Kama-Flame holds the road well.
Russian off-road conditions require “toothed” tires. This is how you can characterize Kama-Flame car tires. The tires performed well in a mess of melted snow, water and clods of mud. They are distinguished by their reliability and versatility, and are easily “adapted” to any weather conditions of Russia’s changeable climate. Ideal for driving a car in some outback, where you can only dream of roads with high-quality surfaces.

Nizhnekamskshina Kama-Flame is installed on R16 wheels. Thanks to the continuous contact patch with the road, the likelihood of hydroplaning and sliding is reduced.

Increased grip is provided by 3D siping of the tires.

Pros:

• softness;
• strength and reliability;
• holds the road well;
• reasonable price.

Minuses:

• noisiness;
• rapid wear;
• increase in braking distance.

What does the size of tires and wheels affect?

Increasing disc diameter

The smaller the unsprung masses

(this includes a lot 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 improvements to the Niva 4x4 can be found in the tuning category and by content.