To choose tires for mud, you must correctly take into account the operating parameters of the vehicle. The 4x4 wheel arrangement of an SUV has an advantage over a 2x4. The lack of a track is not a hindrance for Niva at all. Next, we will look at which tires the 2-axle Niva is capable of showing results on on-road and off-road tests.
The Niva, shod with high-profile tires, can easily overcome rolling deep ruts; wide-profile tires are indispensable for driving on snow and mud.
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.
What to choose: MT or AT
Let's look at this tire marking for the VAZ 2121. So:
- AT - universal tires. Perfect for driving on asphalt and less so for off-road driving.
- MT - mud tires. Ideal for Russian impassable roads.
The choice comes down to where you prefer to drive. Normal tires on the off-road wheels on the Niva are excellent for off-road use, but you can’t accelerate on it on asphalt: it has a poor braking distance, it behaves unsteadily when cornering, and wears out very quickly on rough surfaces. Off-road, it behaves much more confidently, allowing the driver to overcome even the most impassable obstacles. This cannot be achieved on conventional wheels with AT tires.
Types of mud tires
Depending on the type of tread and purpose, SUV tires are divided into 3 classes:
- HT (short for Highway terrain or Half Terrain - tires for highways and poor quality asphalt roads. It can be used on dirt roads, but it will be difficult to overcome off-road on it. But such tires do not make noise and have a speed limit of 180 km/h. Therefore, these tires are bought by those who drive mainly on asphalt.
- AT (short for All Terrain) are tires designed for asphalt, dirt and light off-road use. Manufacturers recommend different mileage ratios on hard and unpaved surfaces: 60/40, 50/50, 40/60. This is a good tire for those who have to drive in rural areas. The AT tire tread provides average off-road capability.
- MT (short for Mud Terrain) is a tire with an aggressive profile that is designed exclusively for driving on dirt and off-road. Although you can find MT tires with a speed rating of R (160 km/h), their use on asphalt is not recommended. These tires are designed to take you off-road and reveal the potential of your car there.
The most famous domestic company that produces MT tires for the Chevrolet Niva is “Bear”. This brand offers mud tires made of high-strength rubber, which are not inferior to many foreign analogues.
Selecting tires by parameters
Recommendations from the manufacturer. Depending on the modification of the Chevrolet Niva, R15 or R16 wheels are installed on the factory assembly line. Therefore, before going to a car store, you should find out the equipment of your iron horse. The most common tire sizes are:
- 205/70R15;
- 205/75R15;
- 215/75R15;
- 215/65R16.
Seasonality. For different times of the year, you should select seasonal “shoes” for the Chevrolet Niva.
- Summer tires behave well in the warm season, allowing the driver to enjoy a fast ride. It is quiet and has good rolling power.
- Winter tires are indispensable when operating a car on snowy or icy roads. Friction models are recommended for the southern regions of the country, and for northern routes it is better to prefer tires with studs.
- For those who like to ride through meadows and forests, special mud tires are recommended. It features an aggressive deep tread that is easy to clean off the ground. The only disadvantage of special tires will be noise on asphalt.
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