What are the wheels suitable for Chevrolet Niva?

Chevrolet Niva is a compact Russian SUV that AvtoVAZ, together with GM, began producing in 2002. From 2004 to 2008 was the best-selling car with increased off-road capability, which was explained by the car’s attractive appearance, permanent all-wheel drive, excellent maintainability and low price. The model is still popular, especially in rural areas.

Now on the roads of Russia you can find both quite old Chevys and completely new ones, because the Chevrolet Niva is still in production and is in demand. Naturally, sooner or later, all Chevy owners are faced with the need to replace wheel rims: some do this for practical reasons, and others for aesthetic reasons, because in most cases the car is equipped with nondescript “stamping”.

Niva Chevrolet car

Standard sizes

Before choosing wheels and tires for the VAZ 2121 and 21214 Niva, you should carefully study the sizes of their standard, factory wheels. From the factory, this car was produced on wheels with the formula: 5J x 16, H2-ET = 58, DIA = 98, PCD = 5 x 139, 7. Accordingly, alloy wheels for the Niva should be the same, or slightly larger/smaller the maximum size allowed for this model.

In order to better understand what we are talking about, you need to know the decoding of the standard wheel formula. Thus, you can choose wheels and tires for the VAZ 2121 and 21214 Niva, correctly. Explanation of the formula:

5J – this number means that this wheel can accommodate 5-inch tires. Depending on the tire manufacturer, the allowable size may be 1 inch less or more. The letter “J” means that this disc has only one side.
Number 16 is the diameter of the wheel rim assembly.
H2 - indicates that the design of the wheel rim provides for the presence of two hangers. Khanty are special protruding rings located on the edge of the rim. They serve to ensure that tubeless tires are securely fixed, especially when the force of the road surface moves onto the working plane of the tire. Simply put, they secure the tires during maneuvers and are mandatory on off-road rims.
ET – designation of the disc overhang size in mm. Of course, they are allowed to disdain, but only to a lesser extent, and no more than 1 cm. Remember, the smaller the offset, the greater the distance between the wheels of Niva 2121 and 21214.
DIA – hub diameter size in millimeters.
PCD is a designation indicating the number of holes for mounting the wheel and the diameter at which they are located.

As mentioned earlier, on the Niva 2121 and 21214, it is possible to install slightly larger or smaller wheels. So, the most successful choice would be the wheels from the American prototype - the Chevrolet Niva. They are ideal for fastenings and have the following dimensions:

0J x 15 ET = 48 – for stamped options;
5J x 15 ET = 40 – for the option with cast samples.

It is best to select the appropriate rim diameter after you have decided on the choice of off-road tire.

What to look for when choosing off-road wheels

For such purposes of use, special samples are selected. Their main condition is the width, which will be slightly more than half the width of the tire. For example, for a rim whose width is 10 cm, a 12.5-inch tire is suitable. Such criteria are selected taking into account the fact that when driving off-road, the air from the tire will gradually be released, while increasing the width of the rubber on the sides. This effect is of great importance, as it increases the contact surface of the wheel and provides the VAZ 2121 and 21214 Niva with better traction.

Of course, nothing prevents you from installing off-road tires on narrower rims. But at the same time, the width of the rubber will decrease, and so will the contact plane. Although such a change also has its advantages. For example, when driving on a hard dirt surface, narrower tires will grip the road better due to the larger protrusion of the treads. But when driving through a swamp or other similar soil, they will go worse than a rim on wide tires.

215/75 R15

Usually, such rubber falls into place without any modifications. You just need to choose the right disk. Its diameter should be between 27-28 inches. Be sure to check the disc offset. The 35-58 mm option is suitable. In this configuration, you can freely install wheels without any additional intervention. But sometimes contact between the tires and the body may occur. This happens in the following cases:

When the vehicle is heavily loaded;
When traveling over big bumps;
When suspension parts pass extreme points.

These are the disadvantages of this rubber.

By installing such tires, you will get greater cross-country ability, this is achieved by higher ground clearance, as well as by the large tread characteristic of these tires. Fuel consumption is also reduced. You don't have to lift the car; the ground clearance is already more than impressive. Thus, the advantages of such rubber outweigh all the disadvantages.

Among the all-terrain variants of this tire, the Dunlop Grand trek AT3

and Yokohama Geolandar

.
These tires have proven themselves well in mud, sand and shallow snow. On dry asphalt they are somewhat inferior to analogues created specifically for highways. For city and dirt road trips, you can choose the Cordiant Off Road
or
the Kumho Road Venture
.
When traveling in deep snow (ice conditions), Nokian Hakkapeliitta SUV 7
and
Michelin Latitude X-ice North
. This tire is made taking into account all the features of snowy roads; studs are used for better grip. Also, they use a Scandinavian tread pattern, which provides maximum traction in conditions of heavy snow cover. All of the listed variations can be freely installed on Niva without any modifications.

What types of disks to choose and from which manufacturers

For the Niva off-road vehicle, forged or alloy wheels are most suitable. The most popular option for models 2121 and 21214 are alloy wheels from Suzuki Grand Vitara, Suzuki Jimmy, Kia Sportage, and even Volga cars, measuring at least 15 inches.

If we talk about manufacturers who make wheels specifically for VAZ cars, then it is best to use products from KRAMZ. They have an anti-shock, stable design, and relatively light weight, thanks to the material from which they are made.

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.

Reading time: 7 minutes

Niva Chevrolet car

Wheels for Niva Chevrolet

To correctly replace wheels on a Chevrolet Niva, you need to know the basic parameters of the wheels of the car brand. The first thing you need to look at is the bolt pattern (PCD). She shows:

number of mounting holes;
the radius along which the centers of the mounting holes are located.

Thanks to the bolt pattern, it becomes clear whether the disk can be suitable for a particular car, if we take into account the technical side.

For Niva, the PCD parameter values can be as follows:

5x139.7 with a reach of 40 mm;
5x139 with a reach of 48 mm.

Today you can install 4 variants of disks on the Chevrolet Niva:

stamped;
cast;
forged;
prefabricated (forged rim and cast disc).

They differ not only in manufacturing method and appearance, but also in materials. Discs can be made from:

Stamped steel. They are created by the manufacturer. The cheapest wheels that have the same appearance. Once they fail, they can be repaired.
Aluminum. They are also called cast, so the shape and appearance are decorative. Light weight compared to steel. They are highly resistant to corrosion.
Magnesium alloy with the addition of titanium. The hot stamping method is used for manufacturing. Light weight, high strength. It is very difficult to bend such a wheel, unlike previous materials.

"Niva Chevrolet" with or with "casting". Which wheels are installed depends on the vehicle configuration:

L and LC - steel wheels with a radius of 15 inches;
GL and GLC - light alloy wheels with a radius of 16 inches.

In 2015, a luxury version LE+ appeared, which is equipped with black alloy wheels “Camelot” (K&K) size 7Jx16H2 and Continental Cross Contact tires.

Thus, the size of Chevy Niva wheels is clearly defined by the manufacturer - it is either R15 or R16. In this case, in the first case there will be “stamping”, and in the second - “casting”. Many drivers prefer alloy wheels, since with them the car picks up speed faster (they are lighter than stamped ones), while the braking distance is shorter. There are small holes all around the disc, which plays a positive role in the summer when it’s hot, as there is additional airflow into the brake system.

Installation

To install, you need to do the following:

We jack up the car. Remove the tires from the rims and then the wheel.
Check the atmospheric pressure, it should be 2.2
Install the tire on the protruding bolts
We tighten and lightly tighten the nuts
Lower the jack machine and tighten the nuts
Replacement process completed

In addition to the Chevy Niva wheels for 15, you can install wheels on the Chevrolet Niva 16 radius and 17 radius, but for this you will need to make minor reconstructions of the chassis. The larger the size, the better the off-road performance of the field, the braking distance becomes shorter, and the handling is easier.

With the modernization of Niva 21214, vibration increases and you have to drive harder.

Characteristics of alloy wheels for Chevrolet Niva

The wheel for the Chevrolet Niva weighs 29.7 kilograms. The disc itself reaches 11.4 kg. It turns out that the tire weighs 18.3 kilograms. The width of the wheel is 243-244 millimeters, and the height is 745-750 millimeters.

For the Chevrolet Niva SUV, you need to buy wheels of such a size that the wheels do not touch the body, do not spoil the brake system, and their centering ring must coincide with the hub. In this case, you need to know the factory parameters of the machine in order to choose the right wheels.

A wheel is one of the main ways to change the appearance of a car. This issue is especially relevant for owners of a basic Chevrolet Niva. There are a wide variety of discs. In this case, one of the factors when choosing should be the material from which they are made:

How to change a wheel bearing yourself

(as well as the rear) Chevrolet Niva has exactly the same design as old cars, and their repair and replacement are carried out according to the same scheme. Initially, you should go to any car wash, where you should thoroughly wash the entire front suspension under high pressure. For crossovers, this advice is especially important.

The front of the car is raised using a jack;
The corresponding wheels, brake pads and calipers are dismantled;
The hinge pin is untwisted and pressed out using a special tool;
The bolts from the hinges and nuts are removed.
After this, you have the opportunity to examine the part for damage and make appropriate repairs. Regardless of whether you plan to replace the bearings, you should change the seals.

After removal, the inner race along with the rollers must be thoroughly washed with kerosene. After this, you will be able to visually assess the bearing damage. It is worth remembering that these parts are replaced only in pairs.

There is no possibility of adjusting the backlash using a nut (tightening does not help);
The rollers and clips are heavily scratched;
Overheating is detected and a hum is observed.

If you observe one of these signs, you need to get new bearings for your Chevrolet Niva. Otherwise, only the lubricant and oil seal need to be changed. Pressing occurs using special nozzles. Do not throw away the old clip, as you will need it to install the new part. If difficulties arise, you can always find one of the many videos on the Internet that demonstrate this process.

Type of disks

Stamped steel. Typically, such a rim is the most budget option. These wheels are installed at the factory during car production. The advantages include the low price and the possibility of quick recovery during repairs.
Aluminum. The optimal choice in terms of price/quality ratio. Made using factory casting. They are lightweight and not susceptible to corrosion. At the same time, they are very susceptible to destruction; upon impact, deformation of the wheel is possible.
An alloy containing magnesium and aluminum. They have increased strength compared to the previous type, since they are made using hot stamping.
Combined alloy. They are distinguished by the highest strength and ability to quickly recover when damaged.

On a Chevrolet Niva, the wheel size is usually 15 inches (R15). Typically, car owners install alloy wheels on their cars. They enjoy deserved popularity due to their low price and more beautiful appearance compared to stampings. Due to their low weight, they provide faster acceleration and provide shorter braking distances due to reduced inertia. Also, the installation of such discs allows for more efficient cooling of the front brake discs, allowing a large air flow to pass through. This is especially true in hot weather because standard stamped discs provide virtually no air flow to the brake system, causing severe overheating during braking.

Aluminum and steel rims are installed on vehicles from the factory, depending on the configuration. However, their appearance is absolutely the same. Therefore, when purchasing, it is not necessary to choose a more expensive package. You can additionally purchase any rims you like, the main thing is that their diameter and mountings match the recommended parameters.

Casting or stamping

Now car owners are increasingly choosing not standard stamped wheels for Toyota Corolla, but cast ones. They prefer to use such discs primarily because of aesthetics - they look much more impressive. However, stamping has proven itself much better in operation, especially when driving frequently on bad roads with a lot of uneven surfaces.

The Toyota Corolla wheel rims currently offered on the market are very high quality parts. Reliable light alloy materials are used for production, thanks to which the spectacular appearance is preserved for years, as is protection against corrosion.

Selecting the optimal tire pressure

The best option recommended by the manufacturer of the Toyota Corolla is 2.2 atmospheres. However, this value is not constant and is largely determined by driving speed. In addition, the size of the tires installed on the rims of the Toyota Corolla wheels also has an impact.

There is an important feature of models produced between 1997 and 2002 - here the pressure is not equal across all four supports. The pressure in the front should be slightly lower than in the rear - a difference of only 0.1 atmosphere is enough.

If the Toyota Corolla has products of size R16, then for travel at speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour, the optimal value will be a pressure of 2.2 atmospheres. If you are going to travel at high speeds exceeding 160 kilometers per hour, the pressure should be increased to 2.5 atmospheres.

Features of the bolt pattern

In order to correctly select and install wheel rims, you need to know the scheme in accordance with which the fastening is carried out - the bolt pattern. This diagram indicates how the bolts securing the product to the hub should be located. It also indicates how many bolts there should be and what the size of the holes should be.

The basic solution for Toyota Corolla is 5 x 100, while the offset ranges from 35 to 38. The hole size is 5.4 centimeters. If the wheel set is to be replaced, all the values indicated in the bolt pattern of the Toyota Corolla must be taken into account, because another model may use a different bolt pattern. The exact characteristics can be found in the vehicle's registration certificate.

Sources

What wheel radius can be installed on a Chevrolet Niva

Wheels of size R15 are installed at the factory. The letter suffix indicates the use of radial tires, and the numeric suffix indicates the wheel diameter in inches. When using the car in off-road conditions, you can install wheels with a larger diameter, for example R16-17. But this requires minor changes to the chassis, such as the use of spacers to increase ground clearance.

It is important to remember that the use of wheels with a diameter larger than those recommended by the manufacturer leads to increased load on the engine and improper functioning of the chassis.

Designation R

Chevrolet Niva 15 wheels have a radius from the factory, where R- denotes a radial tire, and 15 is the diameter in inches. The tire size for Niva 2121 is an important characteristic, but you also need to know what the bolt pattern on the Niva is on the disc. You will have to take a larger tire size for the field. The diameter of the holes with which they are attached to the hubs is 5 pieces. The wheel also has a certain width and the larger it is, the greater the offset it will have. On the one hand, the longer the reach, the better, since the Niva 21213 will perform better off-road, but on the other hand, the bearings will wear out quickly.

Below is a table with the main parameters: