The well-known VAZ-2121 Niva car has managed to establish itself as one of the most popular SUVs, characterized by an excellent price/quality ratio and high off-road performance.
And Niva owners often face difficulties in selecting the appropriate tires, because the car is bought mainly for driving in difficult terrain, and the all-season tires installed by the manufacturer are not at all suitable for such harsh conditions.
Niva and dirt - romance
It is very important to approach the choice of tires with caution, because not every model can be installed on a car without appropriate modifications and lifting, so you cannot do without knowledge of tire markings and what sizes can be installed, both with and without lifting. Let's start with the fact that the standard tire size is 175/80 R16 and 185/75 R16 , and most VAZ-2121 owners switch from 16 to 15 wheels, because there are quite a lot of choices, especially models with an aggressive tread for driving in conditions off-road.
A few links on the topic for reference:
- All-season tires: why are they bought in Russia if in fact they are useless?
- Rain tires: features of this rubber and difference from ordinary summer tires
- Road tires - which drivers need them?
- Universal summer tires for off-road and asphalt
- Summer off-road mud tires - what's good for mud?
- Reinforced tires with run flat technology - cool technology or marketing perversion?
Which all-season vehicle for Niva 4x4 is better?
It is a well-known fact that you can’t install winter tires in the summer, as they will begin to melt due to high temperatures, and in the winter you can’t install summer tires, because you can’t avoid trouble on the road in icy conditions. All-season optimal tires size r16 for Niva 21213 4x4. The main manufacturers of all-season 4x4 tires are: Kumho (South Korea), Cordiant, and domestic ones: Belshina OJSC and Nizhnekamskshina. The latter brand is widely known throughout Russia.
The Cordiant brand produces all-season tires for Niva in 15 and 16 inches. Thanks to the solid base of all-season wheels of sizes r15 and r16, the model is protected from any minor damage. According to reviews from car owners of 4x4 size r16 all-season vehicles using this type, they talk about the following advantages: cross-country ability, accessibility and softness when driving in any weather.
Another tire model is Toyo Open Country A/T Plus. This tire is suitable for both off-road and asphalt roads. The cost of tires is about 4000 rubles. Due to the wide drainage channels existing in these tires, moisture and dirt are easily removed.
When choosing an all-season tire, it is better to follow the recommendations from the manufacturer and do not forget that such tires will have to be changed more often than summer or winter tires.
The main differences between all-season wheels and summer and winter tires
Many beginners, as well as experienced drivers, often wonder what all-season tires to put on the Niva to ensure safety and a comfortable ride. To understand the difference between winter tires and summer tires, you must first determine the main characteristics of each product.
How to distinguish summer models from winter ones
Chemical and physical properties
A winter tire feels much softer to the touch than a summer tire because it contains a huge amount of rubber. This tire becomes even softer, increasing traction.
During the summer season, the tires do not heat up even if the temperature outside is high. In winter, summer wheels become stiffer. As a result, the contact patch with the road is significantly reduced and vehicle controllability deteriorates.
Tread pattern
It is possible to distinguish winter/summer developments by the pattern and direction of the tread. The winter version is equipped with an element with a complex shape, but the summer version has a large area. They also lack slats.
It is impossible to achieve all of the above characteristics in one tread pattern, so the manufacturer, when releasing each of its models, focuses on its strongest aspects.
Markings and symbols
A label with symbols will allow you to easily determine the characteristics of the product. All information is indicated on the side of the tire:
In addition to this information, the official manufacturer indicates the following:
Winter tires for Niva 4×4
With the onset of winter, the owner of a Niva 4×4 is thinking about winter tires for his car, since the car’s behavior on the road will depend on the quality of the winter wheels. Let's consider suitable winter tire models for car 21213.
Toyo Taiers 215 x 65 x 16
Let's focus on the foreign model of winter tires - Toyo Taiers 215 x 65 x 16, since the most positive reviews are about it. The manufacturer of these winter tires is Japan. The size of components with a diameter of r16 on wheels 15 gives the Niva 4x4 car stability in winter. These winter tires for your car have a regular tread. Tires last for at least three seasons, or even more. On the plus side: the tires behave confidently on ice, but on the minus side: on wet snow the car starts to slip. One can argue that you should use only manufacturer's tires on Niva 4x4, however, car enthusiasts complain that winter tires manufactured by the manufacturer are not safe on the road. The Toyo Taiers 215x 65x16 model during operation does not affect the amount of fuel consumed by the car.
If your budget allows, then, of course, it is better to buy winter tires from foreign manufacturers. However, among domestic ones there are popular models: Cordiant, Kama, Amtel, Rosava and Belshina (the last two models of tires from a Ukrainian manufacturer and a Belarusian one).
Kumho I'Zen KW22
Another modern model of winter tires Kumho I'Zen KW22 for Niva 4x4, made in China. Winter tires have a universal tread; the car performs well on both ice and snow. This is inexpensive for Niva 4x4 winter tires. The cost is 2990-3600 rubles depending on the size of the product. For example, for 15-inch tires, a Niva 4x4 car owner will pay an average of 2,900 rubles. , and for 16-inch Niva 21213 tires the car owner will pay 3,600 rubles. According to reviews from car owners, the tires are excellent, although there is one drawback that sometimes the studs fall out. Moreover, such winter tires are suitable for those who do not want to drive on the roads, as the studs wear out less often.
Amtel NordMaster ST-310
There is an even cheaper option: Amtel NordMaster ST-310. Prices for such winter tires are around 2000 rubles. What should you expect from tires of this price? Firstly, when the speed exceeds 70 km/h, the lack of tires manifests itself - noise. However, there are also a lot of advantages - the stability of the car, since you can brake from speed on ice or wet snow, and excellent cross-country characteristics. Still more suitable for driving on asphalt than in snowdrifts.
In any case, before purchasing winter tires for Niva 4x4, you should carefully study the manufacturer and read about it on the forums.
TOP 3 best all-season tires for Chevrolet Niva
All-season tires are good because they have consistently high-quality grip on the road in all climatic conditions. It should be remembered that in heavy ice or snow, tires will not be able to demonstrate the same grip properties as winter tires. But for mild winters such tires are ideal.
Nitto Dura Grappler 215/70 R16 100H
Based on the rubber compound and tread design, this tire is suitable for powerful cars, pickups and SUVs..
At the same time, the tire is more suitable for driving around the city, although it will cope well with light off-road conditions. An additional steel cord is installed in the sidewalls, which increases the tire's resistance to mechanical damage, tearing and stretching.
This significantly extends the life of the tires, but at the same time the weight of the tires themselves increases significantly.
The rubber mixture consists of special components that increase the product’s resistance to mechanical damage.
Under the tread there is a breaker, which is also reinforced with steel cord . This increases the vehicle's load-carrying capacity and improves the traction properties of the tire.
Specifications:
- profile width/height 215/70 mm;
- maximum speed 210 km/h;
- load up to 800 kg.
pros
- high quality at reasonable cost;
- stable handling and directional stability in any weather;
- reinforced design increases wear resistance;
- comfortable noise level;
- beautiful tread pattern.
Minuses
- the tread gets clogged very quickly with small stones;
- increases fuel consumption.
MAXXIS Bravo AT-771 205/75 R15 97T
High-quality all-season tire designed for all-wheel drive vehicles.
The model features a large and aggressive tread design that was specifically created for off-road use.
The tread blocks are located with variable pitch to increase traction properties and reduce noise effect. Four annular U-shaped grooves and lugs are located in the shoulder area.
They perfectly remove moisture from the contact patch, so the car is practically not susceptible to hydroplaning..
The rubber mixture contains special additives that increase wear resistance and the contact patch.
It is thanks to this feature that tires can boast excellent handling and predictable behavior in all weather conditions and regardless of the condition of the road surface.
Specifications:
- profile width/height 205/70 mm;
- maximum speed 190 km/h;
- load up to 730 kg.
pros
- high level of acoustic comfort;
- excellent cross-country ability on mud, asphalt and light off-road;
- sufficient level of strength;
- reasonable price for most users;
- The soft rubber compound makes it easy to overcome obstacles.
Minuses
- not very high wear resistance;
- weak sidewall design.
Triangle Group TR292 215/75 R15 100/97S
An all-season tire designed specifically for SUVs, so each of its characteristics is aimed at maximum handling stability, predictable road behavior and good cross-country ability on any road..
The rubber compound consists of components that allow the tires to be used in almost any weather.
This same characteristic is supported by the innovative tread pattern . Its running part consists of large blocks. Their special arrangement allows you to increase the contact patch and guarantees excellent traction properties.
Numerous drainage grooves located between the tread elements efficiently remove moisture and minimize the effect of aquaplaning.
Specifications:
- profile width/height 215/75 mm;
- maximum speed 180 km/h;
- load up to 800 kg.
pros
- low noise level;
- low cost with excellent performance characteristics;
- increased wear resistance of the rubber compound;
- confident and predictable handling on dry and wet roads;
- perfectly balanced technical characteristics.
Minuses
- li>not suitable for traveling in icy conditions;
- not intended for serious off-road travel.
Which wheels are best to install on a Niva 4×4?
As such, there are no separate summer tires for this type of car, that is, in most cases these are factory, standard passenger wheels for driving on asphalt roads.
For winter, the manufacturer offers VLI-10 or Voltyre VLI-5. These are fairly cheap tires and therefore the disadvantages include the short service life of such wheels.
In general, when choosing tires for your Niva 4×4, you should take into account not only prices, but also the area where you will be driving. For example, wide low-profile AT wheels are suitable for all types of surfaces, while narrow wheels are only suitable for asphalt. Pirelli Scorpion Verde tires are suitable for off-road use, and Radial tires for cold climates. The owner of a Niva 4x4 has plenty to choose from, since there are many manufacturers of wheels for such vehicles and for different climatic conditions, both domestic and foreign. Among Russian ones, these are factories in Nizhnekamsk, Kirov, Barnaul and Altai, and among foreign ones, these are at least China and Japan.
Owner reviews
I use the tires as Velcro. In winter, it holds onto the coating well and in the demi-season period as well. Snow is not a hindrance for her; driving on unpaved surfaces is at altitude. I am pleased with the Kama-Flame bast shoes.
The second winter has begun on the Goform W70. Very pleased for the money. It is completely silent and holds the road well. No wear is visible, no hernias appear. I recommend it to everyone, good tires for the money!
Specialization : Graduated from the State Automobile University, worked for 20 years at GAZ-56, now I drive a Zhiguli.
Source
Selection of tires for non-standard wheel sizes
For 15 inch wheels the choice of tires is much larger than for 16 inch ones. According to reviews from Niva 4×4 drivers, the YOKOHAMA 215 r16 (summer tire) model is in demand. These are budget and reliable tires that are suitable for both asphalt and off-road.
They are installed without unnecessary manipulations with the car, that is, lifting is not needed. Although, for tires on 16-inch wheels, lifting is still required. Moreover, whether to install such wheels or not can be decided by answering the question “Is everything okay with the car’s ride?” and if so, then, of course, it is possible. According to reviews of the Niva 4×4 with this tire model, the car drives smoothly and there are no potholes felt. The downside is that the tread on this model is wide and collects all the small stones on the road. The price is in the range of 4700-5000 rubles.
The following tire models are suitable for winter: Nokian Nordman 5 (Finland), Hakkapeliitta 7 and 8. Hakkapeliitta is more expensive than Nordman, but in general both models exceed the price tag of 5,000 thousand rubles.
The Russian manufacturer Cordiant offers a cheaper model for 3,500 rubles. Tires from foreign manufacturers are much more expensive and are not always available in stores. If you only drive in the city, then it is better to buy Kama I-511 tires, and the price is around 3,400 rubles apiece.
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.
Adviсe
In conclusion, let’s say once again about tires for Niva 21213 and which ones are better. Tires for the field in sizes 16 are difficult to obtain and the choice of such wheels is not large and you will have to make a lift to make such wheels fit. Still, when purchasing all-season tires for 4x4 fields, size r16, more often than others, sizes 185/75 R16, 175/80 R16, or 215/65 R16 are purchased. One of the best budget and reliable tires. Winter tires for Niva 4x4 size r16 option from the Nizhnekamsk plant, tires Kama I-511. They were written in more detail in this article above.
Due to the paucity of choice, drivers choose wheels on the r15, as the choice of tires will increase significantly. On r15 you can buy Russian or foreign manufacturers, depending on the budget, these are Kumho (South Korea), Cordiant, and from ours: Belshina OJSC and Nizhnekamskshina. When purchasing mud tires for a 4x4 field, Mud Terrain Lite is perfect.
This is an American manufacturer. If you only drive off-road, then Niva 4x4 Silverstone MT-117 tires will do. When buying winter tires for a Niva 4x4 16, the factory studded tires Voltyre VLI-5 and VLI-10 will go, since they are cheap, but it depends on the area in which you plan to drive. From foreign countries there will be Cordiant Business, Hakkapelitta, Michelin Agilis X-ice North, but again the question is the budget.
For off-road work, special equipment such as an all-terrain vehicle manipulator is used. For digging pits, transportation of oversized cargo, rental for any period. This will save your time, deliver your cargo safely, it is possible to perform several types of work at once and operate it in any conditions.
