Everything about mud tires on Chevrolet Niva - detailed analysis of manufacturers

Mud tires for Niva

Mud tires are all-season tires for SUVs, in this case for the Niva. These tires are designed for use on powerful and off-road vehicles, such as the VAZ-2121, in the most extreme conditions: completely off-road, on dirt roads, country roads, forest roads, and in wild nature.

Mud wheels on Niva

The Niva is equipped with classic mud tires, characterized by a rather large tread pattern and powerful lateral lugs. It is soft enough, which is necessary for adhesion to surfaces in off-road conditions. It is used by motorists in cases where they drive about 80 percent of their journey on mud and dirt roads and only about 20 percent on highways and city roads. When using these tires on asphalt, they wear out extremely quickly. On asphalt, almost all models of mud tires are characterized by increased noise.

Niva behavior in winter on all-season tires

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.

Advantages and types of mud tires for Niva

Mud tires for Niva come in the following variants:

• A/T tires are universal rubber designed for movement on both asphalt surfaces and various light off-road options. Tires of this type have a moderately aggressive tread pattern and protected sidewalls. Tires are suitable for asphalt, dirt roads, sand, stone, snow. They get stuck in deep ruts and clay. This is an ideal option for drivers who mostly drive on city roads and occasionally go off-road.
• M/T tires are a more classic version of mud tires. They have a tractor-type tread and fairly powerful side lugs. These tires are much more difficult to clog with dirt than regular ones and tend to self-clean when driving. They are much harder than All Terrain tires and perform poorly on asphalt and highways (they wear out quickly), as well as on ice. These tires are perfect for off-road driving, mud, rough roads, and solid snow.
• Extreme tires. This includes tires for tractors and special equipment. They have a diagonal cord design, their tread pattern is quite thin and quite large. Tires have a center track. The size range of the vast majority of these tire models starts from 29-31 inches. Some Niva owners install tires up to 31 inches in size, first changing a number of car structures, for example, filing the wheel arches. In addition to mud, these tires also work well on rocks and clay; they can also be used on asphalt.

Features and purpose of mud tires

The main thing that distinguishes tires for driving on mud is their special pattern with large, deep lugs. Similar wheels can be seen on a tractor.

Thanks to the large distance between the tread elements, the tires are independently cleaned of dirt.

Mud tires are made of harder rubber. This provides them with high off-road durability.

Unlike standard ones, they do not tear when exposed to stones and other hard elements.

Typically, mud tires are higher than standard tires. They provide greater ground clearance and make it easier to overcome high obstacles.

With off-road tires you can easily get out of a muddy rut. However, they are not intended for permanent use on asphalt.

Mud tires on hard surfaces have three serious disadvantages:

• High noise level.
• Poor handling.
• Accelerated tread wear.

Therefore, installing such tires on a Chevrolet Niva only makes sense for those who constantly have to drive off-road. For use in urban conditions, it is better to buy road tires.

The most effective tires for off-road driving on the Niva

The most effective options for off-road wheels for the Niva are the following models:

• Ya-569 Medved is a budget-class model made in Russia; the price of these tires starts from 3,700 rubles*. Installation does not require adjusting the arches to the tire size. This tire is quite suitable for winter conditions: it is quite soft in the cold and performs well in the snow. The tires of this model pass ice and summer asphalt quite poorly, showing poor handling. Available in a single standard size 235/75 R15;
• Cordiant off Road are also domestically produced M/T tires. It can be used both on asphalt and off-road. Cost per unit from 4000 rubles*. These tires tolerate asphalt well. Available in standard size 225/75 with dimensions R16-R15;
• Hankook Dynapro MT RT03 M/T tires, produced in size 235/75 R15, prices start from 4,500 rubles*. For installation on the Niva, a 5 cm mini-lift is used. On asphalt, the tires of this model show high wear resistance and are perfectly cleaned off-road. The tires are equipped with holes for self-studding and are very soft;
• Kumho Road Venture mt kl71 – M/T tires made in Korea, characterized by a rather aggressive tread pattern. Available in size 235/75 R15 (28.9 inches). The cost starts from 5800 rubles*. They are distinguished by good self-cleaning even in clay, the tread is quite large with large distances between the blocks. The rubber is quite soft, the sidewalls cling well to the ground, and there are lateral lugs. It wears off quite quickly on asphalt;
• BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 is considered one of the most successful choices of mud tires. For Niva, size 215/75 R15 is suitable (cost from 5,200 rubles*). The tires do not wear out on asphalt and are quite durable and self-clean well;
• Federal Couragia m/t is one of the standards of mud M/T tires; its tread is as close as possible to extreme. This rubber has lateral lugs and fairly large self-cleaning tread blocks. It is very soft and squishes very well in liquid mud. For the Niva, the standard size is 205/80/R16 (28.9 inches), its cost starts from 4,200 rubles*. The option is less common than other tires with the traditional Niva size 15, but is welcomed among supporters of installing mud tires on the Niva 4x4 size R16;
• Simex Extreme/Jungle Trekker is an extreme type of off-road tires that is installed on a Niva after lifting and cutting arches, replacing pairs and other modifications to the car. Installed in standard size 320 x 95 R15, cost per unit starts from 12,000 rubles*. The model is professional, passes well through clay, and the tread has a high degree of self-cleaning. The tread has a directional off-road type pattern. It is one of the most optimal options for mud tires for Niva 4x4;
• Forward Safari 500 is a domestic model of extreme tires for installation on the Niva, which requires a significant lift. On the VAZ-2121 it is installed in standard size 235/75 R15, the cost of which starts from 4900 rubles* per unit. Installation of this size requires spacers. Rubber is hard, quite heavy, and self-cleaning well.

Forward Safari 500

Sizes with 15 and 16 diameter discs

Depending on the diameter of the “native” Chevrolet Niva wheels, you can install R15 and R16 tires on the car. It should be taken into account that the height of mud tires is higher than standard ones.

You won't find tires lower than 225/75 R15. However, the space under the Niva's wings is not designed to accommodate nineteen-inch wheels. Therefore, you will have to raise the car a little by doing a “lifting”.

For this purpose, special kits are sold, including some suspension parts and special spacers for springs. As a result, you will get an SUV with increased cross-country ability and increased ground clearance.

Help: there is another way to increase the space for installing wheels - changing the design of the arches. However, this method requires welding and high bodywork skills. Therefore, most car owners prefer lifting.

But you can’t do without cutting the arches when installing R16 mud tires. Their outer diameter exceeds 20 inches, so the rubber will rub against the wheel arches even with the suspension raised.

Off-road tires 215 75 15 for the domestic car "Niva" 21213

For the VAZ-2121 car, the non-standard tire size is tires for size 15 wheels, namely 205/70 R15 or 205/75 R15. When switching to these sizes, the choice becomes more extensive, the width and height of the profile increases, cross-country ability and grip on the road surface increase.

Car owners who install off-road tires of this size on their Niva recommend the following models:

Goodyear Wrangler A/T Adventure

• The Goodyear Wrangler A/T Adventure is great for off-road use, with large tread blocks and deep drainage channels for fairly quick and effective self-cleaning. The tires have a reinforced frame, and powerful sidewalls greatly increase resistance to deformation. The rubber has a special composition of silicon and polymers, which reduces noise and vibration during movement and also extends its service life. The price is about 7,000 rubles* per unit;
• YaShZ Ya-569 are also off-road tires of size 15, installed on the Niva. They have a special tread pattern with characteristic sharp edges, allowing the tread to cut through a layer of dirt and thereby provide outstanding cross-country ability. There are large channels between the tread blocks that allow the tire to quickly clean itself. The tires have a reinforced frame and sidewalls, which provide resistance to deformation and additional stability. The price per unit is from 7,000 rubles. It is one of the most passable off-road tire options for the Niva.

Choosing between MT and AT

A couple of words should also be said about the correct marking of tires for the VAZ 21214. Initially, it comes in several types:

• universal, AT (from the English word All Terrain - Any Terrain), well suited for cases when the driver travels more on an asphalt road and to a lesser extent off-road;
• mud, MT (from the English word Mud Terrain - Mud Terrain), this is already heavy Russian off-road, swamps, sandy surfaces, etc.

The problem of choice is that normal off-road tires on the VAZ 2121 are only good off-road. You can’t really accelerate with it on an asphalt road; it consumes extremely quickly and uneconomically on hard asphalt, has an extended braking distance, and performs poorly in cornering and handling. But all this only applies to city roads and highways; on muddy and swampy terrain, MT tires simply flourish, allowing you to confidently storm even the most unrealistic obstacles for conventional AT wheels.

The main differences between mud tires on the VAZ 2121:

• increased off-road capability of the vehicle;
• special tread pattern, more reminiscent of a tractor, special rubber edging;
• a special rubber compound that provides increased softness (VAZ 21214 mud tires can also be operated with reduced pressure and can easily withstand collisions with rocks, towing on clay, sand, mud, etc.);
• self-cleaning anti-pollution system;
• increased fuel consumption.

In the Mud Terrain tire class for VAZ 21214 (Lada 4×4) there are a number of special offers. For example, mud tires for the Niva labeled Lite are the simplest, they can withstand forced driving on asphalt most easily, but do not have a deep enough and complex tread pattern. Classic - for lovers of rational choice and a whole bunch of specialized rubber: Extreme - the deepest tread with large and sparse patterns; A special shape of the pattern, as well as Modern - well-proven in handling on asphalt roads.

Which tires are better to put on the Niva 2121 - MT or AT?

The choice of the type of off-road tires for a Niva M/T or A/T directly depends on the type of roads on which the car owner will drive more often.

A/Ts are good for rural conditions and occasional off-road trips. In conditions of viscous clay and swamps, these tires can simply get stuck. Each model has its own recommendations for the ratio of asphalt and off-road - 50/50, 60/40, 40/60, etc.

A/T tires

M/T are more suitable for unpaved and off-road conditions. They are characterized by high noise on asphalt roads, long braking distances on asphalt, comparatively worse handling when driving only on asphalt road surfaces, and wear out and wear out extremely quickly. These tires show excellent driving performance in mud.

What's the difference

In addition to the difference in the purpose of roads and handling in certain conditions, tires differ in tread pattern. A/T have a medium aggressive tread pattern. M/Ts have a more powerful and aggressive tread pattern, which provides them with greater cross-country ability in mud.

Mud tires are an indispensable option for those owners of the Niva car who have to travel in the absence of roads, along rural, country roads, dirt roads, and forest clearings. These tires are indispensable for tourists, hunters, fishermen and travelers. They are an excellent way out of situations where ordinary wheels are powerless.

*Prices are valid for February 2022

Cars that feel equally comfortable both on city asphalt and in its complete absence have always been popular in our country. The reason for this, to put it mildly, is the unsatisfactory condition of roads even in large cities - let alone the provinces.

Even though our market is simply flooded with foreign-made SUVs, Russian Nivas (together with UAZs) create worthy competition for them. They themselves are cheaper, and spare parts are easier to buy and replace.

As for cross-country ability, in this they are not inferior to polished “foreigners” at all - they only need the right tires.

Let's look at how to choose wheels for an off-road Niva, but first let's look at their sizes.

Why you shouldn't ride on asphalt with off-road tires

The coefficient of adhesion to asphalt of all off-road tires, regardless of price and manufacturer, is inferior to road tires. As a result, the braking distance increases, the risk of skidding increases and controllability deteriorates. These factors must be taken into account when driving into the city on mud tires.

Another reason why you should not use mud tires on the track is purely economic. Off-road tires are much more expensive than traditional tires and wear out quickly on asphalt. Therefore, before trips to the city and, especially, long trips along the highway, it is advisable to “change” the car to road tires that correspond to the season.

Tire sizes for Niva (VAZ) of different models

Despite the fact that the Niva does not have a reinforced frame or a solid front axle, it still belongs to the category of SUVs, not SUVs, and copes well even with complete off-road conditions.

Although this concept can be completely different: a dirt village road without covering; mountainous terrain; deep ruts that become impassable after rain; a swamp where the soil is peaty and quite loose.

Car enthusiasts are faced with all these options:

• fans of recreation in the forest and mountains,
• participants of berry and mushroom marathons,
• lovers of summer and winter fishing.

When purchasing a car, which is designed to help overcome all the hardships of active recreation, the owner first of all strives to test it in the harsh realities of the local terrain.

To avoid disappointment at the very first difficulties, it is advisable to immediately take care of choosing good tires after purchasing a car. The one that is produced in Russia, unlike the Niva itself, does not belong to this category, and cannot compete with imported ones at all.

First, let's find out which wheels can be installed on a Niva without cutting the arches in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, and then we'll go through the tire models.

VAZ-21214 (LADA 4×4)

This model is one of the few that was produced for export. It was also supplied to Japan, which is why it is right-hand drive. And this is the only Russian car allowed into the country, which is the queen of the global automobile industry.

For reference: On a Niva 4x4, regardless of the model and restyling, all four wheels are driven and must have the same profile.

That is, the car has all-wheel drive. Which wheels are suitable:

Factory parameters are 175/80 R16.

VAZ-21213

The name Taiga, which this model initially received, never caught on. Although the car itself is quite popular, it has been produced since 1994, and became the prototype for many export models. The wheels on Niva 21213 are the same as those on the previous model.

VAZ-21215

This car with a diesel engine from Peugeot was produced only until 2007. It was also exported, so small batches were produced and better assembled than for the domestic market. Nevertheless, such Nivas also run along our roads.

Factory dimensions: 175/80 R16.

Niva 2121

This Niva model went into mass production back in the late 70s, and over such a long period of time it has proven its right to life. No matter how much motorists scold AvtoVAZ assemblers, many people drive exactly this version. Tires for Niva 2121 will have the same dimensions.

From the factory: 175/80 R16.

VAZ-212180 “Fora”

This Niva model was called Fora for its body lengthened by 30 cm, increased width of door openings and a wider rear seat than other models. Among other things, the “handicap” also affected the size of the wheels - 15-inch ones are no longer installed here.

Factory tires: 175/80/R16, 205/75 R16.

Tires with dimensions 215/70 R16 are suitable for replacement.

Niva 2131

Another extended model, but with 5 doors. Its popularity, judging by the copies sold, has not yet surpassed the VAZ-2121, but is already close to it.

Factory tire size is 175/80R16.

Niva 2123

The production of a pilot batch of this car was carried out in 2002. However, it ended up in the series when, due to financial difficulties, the production license was sold to General Motors.

As a result, a Chevrolet badge began to appear on the car’s bumper. This also affected the size of the wheels.

Chevrolet Niva

Later, the Americans made some changes to the design of the VAZ-2123, due to which it began to be considered a different model and received the proud prefix Chevrolet to the name Niva.

Chevrolet Niva FAM-1 (VAZ-21236)

In 2006, a new Chevrolet Niva model was released, now with an Opel engine. However, after a couple of years it was discontinued. What wheels should I put on the Niva Chevrolet FAM-1? The same as the predecessor.

The factory installs tires with the following dimensions:

Replacement tire sizes:

Chevrolet Niva Trophy

Previous Chevy Niva models were not adapted to off-road conditions in the same way as the Trophy model.

There are many features used here that help you drive on bad roads: a snorkel that protects the car from water hammer when driving through water, a chain tensioner that has become mechanical (it was hydraulic), transmission breathers under the hood and much more.

Factory tires:

Chevrolet Niva after restyling

In 2009, the Chevrolet Niva was updated, which was worked on by Italian designers. This mainly affected the appearance - the car began to look the way it is customary in the orderly ranks of General Motors. The wheels for the Chevrolet Niva remain the same.

Some readers are interested in what large wheels can be installed on a Niva? If you cut the bridge and remove the arches, you can get such a miracle of technology as in the photo. But first, think carefully: is this necessary, and how much will it cost?

Some people believe that the best wheels on a Niva can be removed from a tractor

Legal consequences of changing wheels or what the traffic police think

Driving a car with large wheels can be divided into two situations:

• Traffic on the highway . Rules of traffic regulations in the “Basic provisions for the approval of vehicles for operation” Section 5 “Wheels and tires” clause 5.4. The admission of vehicles with tires that do not match the vehicle model in size or permissible load is limited. As a result, the car owner may receive a warning or a fine of 500 rubles in accordance with Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, Part 1. Also, enlarging the wheels will lead to distortion of the speedometer, since the tachometer is structurally designed for a different diameter. This can lead to unknowing speeding and a fine of 500 to 2,500 rubles;
• Passing maintenance. A twofold situation is possible, but numerous Niva owners, when replacing the wheel diameter from standard to 29, usually do not experience difficulties during passage, with rare exceptions, which can be circumvented by returning standard tires for the duration of the passage.

As the diameter of the wheels increases, the dynamic characteristics of the vehicle, the load on the suspension and beams will also change. The nature and length of the braking distance has changed. All this together, in a critical situation, can lead to loss of insurance as a result of an accident or traffic accident. If, during the investigation of an accident, it is established that it was the change of tires that prevented the driver from preventing the accident, the fact that non-standard wheels were installed will be considered an aggravating circumstance.

The tire size for Niva, Niva Chevrolet, Niva Urban, Niva Fora is always a compromise between the on-road and off-road capabilities of the car. Therefore, the final choice is always up to the owner.

What kind of off-road tire is there?

All off-road tires for Niva and other cars of this class are divided into three large categories:

1. N/T – road;
2. M/T – mud;
3. A/T – all-terrain.

These icons can be seen on the sidewall - where the tire's production date and country of origin are indicated.

Mud-Terrain is M/T

If you are faced with the question of which wheels are best to install on the Niva for driving on muddy ruts, you definitely need to take the M/T.

They have the most aggressive tread and the highest level of noise and vibration, so for highway driving - at least for a long time - they will be uncomfortable. But on harsh off-road conditions they simply have no value.

For the track you need road tires that provide both higher grip on the asphalt and high speed. But off-road, such tires have poor traction and are quickly damaged, since their sidewalls are very soft.

All-terrain tires are the golden mean when a car can spend an equal amount of time both on asphalt and on country roads. Most often, A/T tires for Niva are the best choice.

There are also models that combine A/T and M/T qualities, and you see one of them in the photo above.

Hiking tires for Niva

Since the old models are no longer produced, you don’t have to remember about the tires on which they came off the assembly line. VLI-5 has been out of production for a long time, and it is unlikely that anyone has survived to this day. Therefore, we will not consider them even as wheels for a used Niva.

The Yaroslavl Ya-192, which also appeared as a first-equipment tire, may still be available on old Nivas. But it is only good on hard ground, and if the car gets on sand or peat, it will certainly get stuck.

There are other purely domestic tires - not the fruits of joint production with eminent companies, but invented by Russian minds. Even those tire models that are declared by their creators to be OFF ROAD (off-road tires) are not actually such.

For example, Cordiant. Next to a good off-road tire, it pales in comparison – not only in appearance, but also in performance.

Pictured are Cordiant Off Road mud tires

The tread of the same Cordiant Off Road seems to be deep, but due to the mediocre composition of the rubber, when artificial rubber is used instead of natural rubber, the tires do not get the properties they need.

In addition, they are very unsuited to working at low pressure, which worsens the car’s well-being on real off-road conditions. This tire is not used for the first configuration, and if you are driving outside the city, we do not recommend installing it on such a car.

Then what wheels can be installed on the Niva so that it copes with the task as well as possible?

The best off-road tires for Niva: test results

In search of the best tires for an SUV, let's turn to the test conducted in 2022 in South Africa by 4x4 magazine, and maybe its results will help you choose off-road tires for the Niva.

There were 17 participants from 16 manufacturers in the tests, each of which presented the best models in their lines.

Tests were conducted in 5 categories:

1. Braking on asphalt;
2. Braking on gravel;
3. Traction force on sand;
4. Traction on gravel;
5. Overcoming the climb.

Basically, A/T took part in the competition, and these, by the way, are the best summer tires for the Chevrolet Niva.

So, let’s get acquainted with the models that hit the top ten:

10 – Velocity Raptor A/T

The Korean company TiAuto entered three of its models into the competition. In addition to Velocity, this is also the GT Radial, which rose a notch higher, as well as Hankook, which became only 14th. Velocity is unlikely to be found in Russian stores, so it’s not worth talking about them.

9 – GT Radial Adventuro A/T3

But domestic car enthusiasts are quite familiar with the GT Radial. And although there was no particular enthusiasm for this brand among them - at least in passenger sizes, here it showed itself quite well, taking the golden mean in the final table.

True, the indicators were unstable - if in other disciplines it was in the middle or closer to the tail, then in the traction test in sand it became third, behind only two brands, which in the end became winners.

8 – Firestone Destination AT

The brand of this tire belongs to the Japanese corporation Bridgestone, but for European countries it is produced in Spain and Hungary. In braking on asphalt and gravel, it showed perhaps the worst results, but in traction on gravel it was third.

7 – Dunlop Grandtrek AT3G

Dunlop is the only company to present two Grandtrek models for testing, which have different designs. AT3 G is a three-ply tire.

In the final table, it took seventh place, right after its “relative” – the two-layer AT3 M (with an increased load index). It showed the best results in braking efficiency - both on the highway and on gravel roads.

6 – Dunlop AT3 M

The two-ply Grandtrek, made using new technology, showed, although not the highest, but quite decent results, bypassing the three-ply tires of its own brand in all tests.

When braking on asphalt, this tire generally became the first, leaving far behind even the models that won in terms of all indicators.

5 – Michelin LTX A/T2

The Michelin tire ultimately showed good results, but was only 14th in braking on asphalt. She was best able to overcome the climb, which is why she ended up in 5th place.

4 – Bridgestone Dueler A/T D694

In all competitions, the Japanese Bridgestone was in 7th and 8th place, helped only by its amazing ability to go uphill.

3 – Continental CrossContact AT

The respected Continental, a regular at all kinds of test drives and often its winner, took the honorable third place. Here the tire managed to take third place, although it showed extremely unstable results.

When braking on asphalt it was generally 10th, on gravel it was 4th, and on sand it was 8th. But in the draft effort, the Continental became the first, which saved its position.

2 – Goodyear AT Adventure

The second prize-winner also did not shine in all categories. I was 12th in braking on asphalt and 9th on gravel, including in traction.

But the Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure had no equal in traction on sand, and the tire showed the best results. On the uphill climb, he became second, behind only General, who became the winner.

1 – General Grabber AT3

They say the winners are not judged. And yet, the gold medalist showed rather mediocre results in many disciplines. He was first only in climbing and second in both types of traction.

The situation with braking was much worse, since the results were only 9 on gravel and 12 on asphalt.

Using this test as an example, we were once again convinced that it is impossible to judge anything unambiguously. When choosing which mud tires to put on your Niva, take into account the conditions in which they will most often have to work.

Only in this case, even a high price will not reduce your joy from the purchase, because a properly shod car will become a reliable assistant not only on the road surface, but also where there is no trace of it.