Selection of tires for VAZ-2121 (NIVA) - all seasons, all roads, tips, best models to buy

January 22, 2015 Lada.Online 1 160 986 46

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.

Dimensions of wheels (tires and rims) installed on the car and their acceptable analogues

* 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 5½ J and a rim offset of 48 - 58 mm. It is allowed to use winter tires (M+S) of the above dimensions and index Q with a corresponding limitation of the maximum vehicle speed (up to 160 km/h).

Standard wheels for the Urban package

WHEEL MOUNTING (wheel nut size)

Rearranging wheels

To ensure uniform wear, the manufacturer recommends rearranging the wheels (including the spare) every 10 thousand km in accordance with the diagram presented.

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General background information

Ranges of possible values ​​for tires and wheels VAZ 2121 Niva 1989.
Tires

Wheel disks

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Expert advice

When choosing tires for a car, you must first follow the manufacturer's instructions. Ask yourself a few questions.

• On what roads will the car be primarily used?
• Do you need increased cross-country ability?
• How much of the route will be city roads and how much will be highways?
• Will the vehicle carry heavy loads?

The answers to these and similar questions will help determine which tire parameters you need to pay special attention to.

How to choose the right wheels for a VAZ 2121 Niva 1989?

3 types of rims:

• Stamped (economical price category) - made from a sheet of iron by stamping on a press.
• Light alloy - manufactured by casting (more reliable than stamped ones).
• Forged (the highest quality and more expensive than the previous ones) - made from light alloys by stamping at high temperatures.

The choice depends on financial capabilities. However, it should be borne in mind that the quality of the road surface on which you have to drive every day must also be taken into account.

So, if it gets into a hole, a stamped disk will bend and will not cause harm to the tire, but a forged or cast one can cut it. There is a possibility that the cast disc may burst or crack.

It should also be noted that repairing “stamping” wheels is cheaper than repairing cast or forged wheels. But wheels with high-quality cast and forged disks kill the suspension less, because lighter and have more perfect geometry (better balanced).

The same wheels may or may not rub with tires on the same car - wheel alignment adjustment will help here.

What is the tire pressure?

It is the driver's responsibility to constantly monitor tire pressure. This will avoid standard problems associated with vehicle operation. An abnormal pressure value often causes:

• deterioration of management;
• uneven tread wear.

Often the car owner independently reduces the pressure in the wheels of his own vehicle. This reduces the load on the suspension, and the car “passes” various road irregularities an order of magnitude easier. But it is worth noting: a decrease in pressure even by 0.1 MPa leads to serious problems. The main ones include:

• increased fuel consumption;
• rapid wear of the outer tread segments;
• the car becomes less maneuverable.

An overinflated wheel causes no less problems. The central part of the cylinder begins to wear off quickly. In addition, at ambient temperatures of more than 60 degrees Celsius, the tire may simply explode. Which will lead to driving into the oncoming lane.

What tires to install on Niva

The classic SUV VAZ 2121 and its subsequent modifications have acceptable driving characteristics and cross-country ability. Widespread use and the desire to improve the car’s performance raises the question of which wheels are best to put on the Niva for greater comfort and improved quality of the car.

In addition to the stock wheels for the 2121 model and its modifications, you can choose several decent options of a suitable size. Wide arches allow you to install wheels with a larger contact patch.

Choosing tires: where to start?

Why change tires at all? An experienced VAZ 2121 driver does not have such questions. Nivovod begins to think about replacing tires not because of a good life, nor in search of extreme sports or unusual sensations. The thing is that all-season factory tires 185/70 R16, being the result of compromises, unification and budgetary frameworks, turn out to be a very mediocre assistant both on the city highway, and when driving off-road, and in winter.

Off-road variant of Cordiant

Here you already have to choose tires for yourself, based on a number of basic parameters:

in what operating conditions will the future wheels be used, whether the car will have to cut through asphalt road surfaces or more, after all, off-road; how far the driver is ready to go in the matter of tuning his iron horse, will the owner’s heart tremble to send his brand new VAZ 21214 under the knife (some tire sizes require widening the wheel arches or bending their sides outward, lifting the suspension, as well as lifting the body of the VAZ 21214 directly above the frame ); based on the budget (a lift kit costs about 3-4 thousand rubles, it can be easily installed even in your garage, a completely acceptable set of tires can cost 3.5-4.5 thousand rubles, and the most “juicy” offers reach up to amounts of 8-12 thousand

rubles); take a thorough look at the offers of various brands (it’s worth paying attention to already proven brands, since good tires are not just a beautiful tread pattern, but also the correct chemical composition. And you can be sure that you won’t get a “pig in a poke” only by trusting a manufacturer with a good reputation).

You can’t do without basic knowledge of tire labeling. Typically, the name of the tire indicates three main parameters (for example, 185/70 R16). Where 185 is the tire width in mm, 70 is the profile height expressed as a percentage of the width and R16 is the radial diameter of the rim in inches. There is also almost a dozen additional information, incl. regarding the type of tire (M+S - all-season, AT or MT, these abbreviations are discussed in more detail below), manufacturer, operational and technical characteristics, braking coefficient (A - good, B - acceptable, C - so-so) and much more.

What tire sizes are installed on the Niva?

A wide number of modifications of the Niva car are usually equipped with one type of tire: 185/75 R16. The standard size provides the necessary cross-country ability and acceleration of the vehicle on different road surfaces. Users prefer to replace their original wheels with similar ones of different dimensions, arguing that the action is due to improved driving characteristics and design.

For such purposes, the plant provides information on the tolerances of tires suitable for Niva without modification of the suspension or body:

• 175/80 R16;
• 205/70 or 75 R16;
• 215/65 R16;
• 195/75 R15;
• 205/70 R15;
• 215/70 R15.

The manufacturer limited the maximum wheel width to 215 mm. The size is set justifiably. Since the car belongs to the off-road class, installing larger ramps can greatly reduce cross-country ability, increase the load on the hub units and increase fuel consumption.

TOP 3 best summer tires for Chevrolet Niva for 2021-2022 in terms of price/quality

High-quality and passable tires for Niva do not have to be expensive. The lines of many well-known brands have affordable, but excellent quality tires that will make the car maneuverable and passable, and the owner will be able to enjoy stable handling on any road/off-road and in any weather.

Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 215/70 R16 100H

The manufacturer classifies this tire as a product for SUVs/station wagons, which includes the Niva.

Due to the improved composition of the rubber compound, the tire lasts much longer and is resistant to stretching and tearing.

The tread maintains its integrity even under continuous exposure to aggressive road surfaces and sudden temperature changes.

The tread pattern also deserves attention. Its design makes the Niva as stable and controllable as possible in any weather.

Wide lamellas provide reliable grip on the road, and wide transverse drainage grooves efficiently remove moisture to quickly dry the contact patch.

Specifications:

• profile width/height 215/70 mm;
• maximum speed 210 km/h;
• load up to 800 kg.

pros

• the car is passable even on wet ground;
• reasonable price;
• high resistance to damage due to the durable sidewall;
• high acoustic comfort;
• increased resistance of blocks to abrasive wear.

Minuses

• some users find the rubber too hard;
• The noise level increases on poor road surfaces.

Cordiant Comfort 2 SUV 215/70 R16 104T

The new model of summer tires is designed for compact crossovers and shows excellent traction and grip properties on any road surface..

These rubber characteristics are maintained not only on dry or wet asphalt, but also when traveling on dirt roads, mud and wet grass. Increased control precision and reduced braking distance are ensured by a special rubber compound and unique tread pattern.

The shoulder areas of the tread have an increased width . Due to this, the blocks boast increased rigidity.

This feature is very useful when maneuvering, because traction and excellent directional stability are maintained even when maneuvering even at high speeds or on wet asphalt.

Specifications:

• profile width/height 215/70 mm;
• maximum speed 190 km/h;
• load up to 900 kg.

pros

• excellent quality at an adequate price;
• moderate noise level;
• excellent road holding on dry and wet asphalt;
• strong sidewall increases impact resistance;
• good cross-country ability on dirt roads.

Minuses

• in heavy rain, controllability is slightly lost;
• With constant off-road travel, abrasion resistance decreases.

Continental ContiPremiumContact 5 215/70 R16 100H

The summer tire was originally created for passenger cars, but in terms of size and technical characteristics it is suitable even for crossovers and SUVs of medium power.

The tire can significantly reduce braking distances on wet and dry roads, and the car will boast improved rolling resistance and increased handling.

The manufacturer relied on massive tread grooves in the shoulder area . This design was borrowed from sports tires, so the tire boasts excellent grip even at high speeds, when entering tight turns and performing other maneuvers.

The unique design of the lamellas allows not only to shorten the braking distance, but also to increase the level of acoustic comfort in the cabin.

Specifications:

• profile width/height 215/70 mm;
• maximum speed 210 km/h;
• load up to 800 kg.

pros

• fairly low noise level;
• excellent handling, which does not depend on the condition of the road surface;
• the tire perfectly absorbs road irregularities;
• copes well with the effect of aquaplaning;
• excellent adhesion properties.

Minuses

• not very strong sidewalls;
• Aggressive driving increases wear and tear.

What tires are installed on the Niva 2121

For the very first version of the Niva, the plant recommends using 175/80 R16 tires. The narrow version of the tires provides the best traction in mud and easily copes with snow. Increasing the tread width leads to improved appearance, but entails a decrease in vehicle performance. Due to the design features of the chassis, the car clings worse to slippery areas and floats on clay.

Acceptable wheel sizes:

• 205/70 or 75 R16;
• 215/65 R16;
• 195/75 R15;
• 205/70 R15.

Also, some car enthusiasts install tires up to 225 or even 235 profile. This is possible by replacing standard wheels with modifications with a larger offset.

All wheel parameters

In addition to the bolt pattern, when choosing new wheels, they look at the following parameters:

• offset (distance from the hub to the center of the disk along the width);
• landing size;
• radius and diameter (in inches, affects the choice of tires);
• hub (mounting hole) size in inches.

Do not confuse the characteristics of the disc with the characteristics of the tire. The latter, in terms of dimensions (width and diameter), depend on the parameters of the disk, and also have their own specific ones. These include, for example, the profile height.

The appearance of a car is, in a way, the face of its driver. If the car is constantly dirty and unkempt, then most likely its owner is not very tidy either. If the car shines and its appearance is striking, then the owner of the vehicle clearly loves his things and values ​​them. One of the good ways to refresh and improve the appearance of your car is to change wheels. But in order to carry out this operation successfully, you need to know what a Niva-Chevrolet bolt pattern with a 15 radius is, for example, etc.

What kind of tires can be installed on Niva 2131

The updated version differs from the original in having a longer body and a raised, stout ride height. Otherwise, typical components and assemblies are used here. Due to the increased weight of the car, the model is equipped with 185/75 R16 rollers from the assembly line. Thanks to their mass, the slightly widened slopes work stably on hard and pliable surfaces.

Acceptable sizes are similar to previous generations:

• 175/80 R16;
• 205/70 or 75 R16;
• 215/65 R16;
• 195/75 R15;
• 205/70 R15;
• 215/70 R15.

At the same time, some car enthusiasts insist on compatibility with 235/75 R15 tires. The only caveat is the purchase of rims of non-standard size and design.

Tire sizes - popular misconceptions and reality

Some things sound boring and are difficult to remember, but you need to know them. Especially for car enthusiasts. Especially those who consider themselves experts and have their own opinion on any matter. The devil is in the details, and this article is about one such detail.

There is no radius on a tire

Many people now won’t even understand what I’m getting at. “Well, radius, so what? I have 195-65R15 wheels, radius 15, it’s all written down, why are you being clever?!” That's what I'm being smart about. R15 has nothing to do with radius. Neither R nor 15.

Nowadays you can find a lot of information on the Internet, but such little things as the marking of car tires are not among the most popular. We’d rather discuss engine power or the number of goodies in the cabin, right? And we’ll leave the choice of wheels to the store manager. Well, or we’ll ask a friend. He definitely knows! He already has his third car!

In fact, it won’t hurt to understand these boring numbers even just for general development. Moreover, this will both help save money and influence the behavior of the car, but more on that later. For now, it’s a pure educational program, so that later we can understand each other well.

So, 195/65R15. Classic case. Let's squat down next to our car. The first number is the width of the running part of the tire, roughly speaking, the tread width. Expressed in millimeters. That is 195 mm. - this is the width of your wheel. Most people have no problems understanding this figure.

The fraction 65 is the profile size. Expressed as a percentage of the width. Not in millimeters! The profile is the part of the tire that “sticks out above the rim.” Sidewall. That is, the height of this sidewall will be 195x65% = 125.75 mm. Not 65 mm. And not anything else. Moreover, from this diagram it clearly follows that the height of 65% with a width of 195 will be one, but if the tire is marked (conditionally) 225/65R15, it will be completely different! 225x65%=146.25 mm. Although the numbers 65 are the same!

R is the radial design of the tire, or more precisely, the way the metal cord is laid inside it. Once upon a time, the tire design involved diagonal laying, but that was a long time ago. Nowadays you almost never see “bias” tires, they are all radial, and the letter R will not tell anyone anything new, it will only cause controversy about the notorious radius...

And finally, the number 15. This is the diameter. The diameter of the tire seat, the inner diameter, the part that comes into contact with the disc. Expressed in inches. 1 inch = 2.54 cm. That is, 15x2.54 = 38.1 cm This is also the outer diameter of the disk, if anyone hasn’t guessed...

Which tires can be installed and which cannot?

And then the fun begins. We can play with these numbers if we want to put other tires (rims) on the car. Ideally, the main thing is that the overall diameter does not differ, or differs slightly. Example.

The 195/65R15 wheel has the following overall diameter: 38.1 cm - inside, plus 125.75 mm x2 = 251.5 mm (there is a profile at both the top and bottom). Let's convert to centimeters for simplicity, it turns out 38.1 cm + 25.15 cm = 63.25 cm. That's how it is! This is the total diameter of the wheel.

Now, if you want to install other wheels, the car owner must understand the following: automakers understand this figure the same way as we do. Taking into account the wheel diameter, the suspension, braking system and body are designed. Therefore, for the same car model (for example, for a Volkswagen Polo sedan), three wheel sizes are officially allowed. The simplest version is content with 175/70R14 (total diameter 60.06 cm), 185/60R15 (60.3 cm) and 195/55R15 (59.55 cm).

It turns out that the “14 wheel” is BIGGER, albeit slightly, than the 15 wheel in the case of 195/55. This relates to the question raised above, about putting on bigger wheels for the winter. Everything needs to be calculated carefully. Will a larger diameter number mean a larger wheel size overall? Not always.

List of the best winter tires for Niva

The purchase of winter tires should be based on the area of ​​use of the vehicle. If the machine is used primarily for hunting and fishing, you will need an aggressive model installed on standard stampings. Serious lugs combined with rolled steel provide decent grip and minimal likelihood of damage to the sidewall when hitting an obstacle.

If you use a car in urban conditions, there is no need to buy aggressive winter tires. Here it is better to use European-type winter models. Thanks to the 4x4 drive, the car quickly gets out of the way and does not slip on ice. And if you put it on alloy wheels, it will add an excellent appearance.

The most popular solutions for 3 and 5 door Niva on the market are the following tires:

• KAMA Euro LCV;
• Rossava LTW;
• Good Year Cargo Ultra Grip;
• NOKIAN WRC3;
• Gislaved Nord Frost 100;
• Kumho KW 7400.

Is it necessary to install studded tires on a Niva?

It's another matter when the car is racing in deep snow. Here the presence of metal inserts will not be unnecessary.

Conclusion

After analyzing all the possible options, we can conclude: for the field, the most suitable option is alloy wheels, 15 - 16 inches in size, with tires whose width will be approximately 60% larger.

At the same time, the weight of the disks should not be too large so that when it falls into a hole, it does not become deformed. Therefore, choose KRAMZ wheels and be confident in your car, both on the road and in off-road conditions.

How to install low pressure tires on a Niva

Basically the sequence of actions looks like this.

1. Production of drawings. Serious remodeling begins with design. Any mistake can cause unnecessary costs.
2. Body modification. Arches are cut out, bridge fastenings are strengthened.
3. Complete transmission replacement. Installing huge, heavy wheels overloads the gearbox and gearboxes.
4. Installation of a new suspension adjusted to wide rims.
5. Installation of wheels and decorative elements.
6. Running in the car.

A similar sequence is standard when converting any domestic car to low pressure cylinders.

Specialization : Graduated from the State Automobile University, worked for 20 years at GAZ-56, now I drive a Zhiguli.

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Price for a set of winter tires

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.

Some drivers also use used tires. For example, the Kirov all-season tire has a reserve of body thickness and you can deepen the tread without damaging the rubber and extend its service life.

Tires, wheels for Lada 4x4 (Lada 4x4)

The domestic SUV Lada 4x4 is famous for the fact that it can overcome any off-road conditions, especially with correctly selected and installed wheels. With different tire and wheel sizes, this car looks completely different. With standard wheels of small diameter, it will easily fit into the urban look, and if the driver has the desire or need to pave a road where there is none, there are no limits for this car.

The main thing is to know the recommended tire and wheel sizes, determine your expectations from this vehicle, and find out the condition of the roads in the area in which it is operated.

What tire and wheel sizes are recommended in KOLOBOX for Lada 4×4?

The size of rims and tires depends on the year of manufacture of the car and its modification. Niva has been produced since 1984 and is an off-road veteran. The table shows the wheel sizes of this car depending on the listed parameters.

For the Lada Niva 4x4 SUV, the following tire sizes are possible: diameter 15 and 16 inches, width varies from 175 to 215 mm, and profile (width to height) from 65 to 80%. But depending on the area in which this car is operated, drivers set different sizes.

What tires are suitable for a Lada 4×4 car in the winter?

Many Lada 4x4 car owners remove standard 16-inch wheels and install 15-inch ones in order to expand the choice of tires. Wheels from a Chevrolet Niva are suitable for 15-inch wheels. Installation is possible without modifications.

When choosing a winter set of tires, you need to decide on their type: should you install studded or friction tires? Many Niva owners answer this question simply: definitely studded, because the car is off-road. But the decision must be individual and depends on the weather conditions of a particular region.

These and many other models can be installed on the Lada 4x4, depending on personal preferences.

KOLOBOX specialists will answer all your questions and select winter tires for the Niva that will meet all the necessary requirements.

What tires are suitable for a Lada 4×4 car in the summer?

Many Lada 4x4 car owners equip their car with various tire options, with which the car looks the most advantageous and has a high level of cross-country ability.

With a diameter of 15 inches, it is possible to install tires with dimensions 215/75 (width and profile, respectively). No modifications are required. The disc offset should be ET 35-58, and the tires should be 27-28 inches. If the vehicle is overloaded or driven over rough terrain, the tires will rub against the wheel arches, which will wear out the tires.

But there are also a lot of positive aspects: fuel consumption is reduced, the ability to overcome any terrain increases, and there is no need for lifting.

This size is available in many brands. Some of them:

What wheels are recommended for a Lada 4×4?

To correctly select wheel rims for Lada 4x4, you need to know their parameters:

• Type bolt pattern: five mounting holes located on the circumference of a disk with a diameter of 139.7 mm.
• Offset with tire size 205/70 R15 - ET 40, with 195/70 R15 - ET 45, with tire size 175/80 R16 - ET 48-58.

What pressure is recommended for Lada 4×4 tires?

The manufacturer specifies recommendations regarding tire pressure for Lada Niva 4x4, depending on the wheel size:

• If the tires of this car have a formula of 175/80 (width and profile, respectively) with a diameter of 16 inches and 185/75 with the same diameter, the pressure in the front wheels should be 2.1 Atm, and in the rear 1.9 Atm.
• If the tires are marked 195/70 with a diameter of 15 inches and 205/70 with the same diameter, then the pressure in the front and rear wheels is 1.9 Atm.

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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. A special all-season tire for an SUV can really make your car a universal vehicle, but at the same time the fuel consumption of the car will increase, the dynamics and comfort will decrease when driving on asphalt, and tire wear will accelerate.

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.