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.

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.

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.

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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.

What is better: summer - winter or all-season?

When choosing a tire, you must be guided by the weather conditions in which the tires will be used. They are made from different materials.

For winter, soft rubber is used, resistant to sub-zero temperatures, which has a high level of grip on icy and wet roads.

Summer tires are made from durable hard rubber, which is resistant to high temperatures.

All-season tires consist of chemical compounds that reach average parameters, which guarantee adequate density in summer and grip on slippery roads in winter. All-season tires have a characteristic tread structure that allows you to cope with snow in winter and ensures safety in conditions of heavy rain or icy roads.

The most acceptable option for harsh winters is the option of winter - summer tires according to the season. All-season tires may behave inappropriately in severe frosts and you need to drive very carefully.

Since Niva cars come from the factory by default only with all-season tires K 156-1 from the Kirov Tire Plant, the question of alternatives arises. Many Niva drivers prefer to choose the best rollers for the conditions in which their SUV will be used. Therefore, if you want to replace the standard with more suitable tires, advice will not be superfluous due to the abundance of choice and prices of such products.

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When looking for all-season tires, you should pay attention to the following criteria:

• weather conditions of product operation;
• temperature regime;
• presence of precipitation;
• road conditions;
• using the machine for heavy loads.

We will not take into account driving speeds; an SUV is not a sports car.

For the eldest of the Niv 2121 family, lighter tires are preferable due to lower power. Niva 21213 is equipped with a more powerful engine and a 5-speed gearbox. Larger sneakers are suitable for it - 205/70/R15, or Kama 232. The differences between 2121 and 2131 are that the latter has an injector and 21213 from 21214 too. This will not significantly affect the choice of shoes.

For the cold season, you should choose softer tires. This will give better grip on snow and ice, and they will cling to the asphalt well, which will keep the car’s handling at the proper level. And it is better to give preference to wider wheels due to the larger contact patch between the tire and the road surface. At the same time, a slight increase in fuel consumption is a small price to pay for the stability of the car.

It is not forbidden to use a car with “original” tires off-road; on compacted snow, the car obediently follows the turn of the steering wheel. Shallow mud and muddy dirt roads will not cause any inconvenience in driving. But ice and swampy terrain will help replace the standard with Kama Flame 515.

This model is available in studded and studless versions, 15 and 16 inches. Deep, loose snow is her element, ice and mud rides are more confident than on the Kirovskaya 185/75/R16. The price of Flame is very reasonable. And the resource is considerable - 70-80 thousand km.

The market offers an abundance of different brands, several domestic, many Chinese, and some European ones. Of the domestic ones, Kama Flame wins in terms of price/quality ratio. The products of the Volzhsky tire plant Voltyre are also in use. Chinese rubber is the leader in the number of brands producing it. The price varies accordingly.

When choosing tires for the winter, use the table above. In addition, it is allowed to use winter tires (MS) of the above dimensions and index Q with a corresponding limitation of the maximum vehicle speed (up to 160 km/h).

Choose winter tires on your Lada 4×4 that are as narrow as possible so that the pressure of the car on the surface is greater, this will improve traction. Also remember that wide tires are more sensitive to the ruts on the road.

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 their Lada 4×4.

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 Lada 4×4 with big wheels, but don’t want to cut the arches? The maximum tire size for a Lada 4×4 without modifications is 215/75 R15, and the rims must have an offset of 40, otherwise the tires will touch the fender liners. Finally, install alloy wheels on your Lada 4×4 and you will get a stylish SUV!

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

When installing tires or wheels that differ in parameters from those recommended by the factory, you can:

• be refused warranty repair of the chassis;
• be stopped by a traffic police inspector, who has the right to draw up a report on the car’s non-compliance with the requirements of the Technical Regulations;
• fail to pass technical inspection.

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.

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