FAQ: Rims, Wheels that Look Good on the Riv

been looking around for the pontiac bonneville gxp wheels, mm mm mm

I've tried that route. Unless you have $1600 laying around for new ones, you won't find them. They're made by Alcoa (makes all the GXP wheels) and discontinued.

Yeah I hear ya

Not looking for any validation, but just sharing





...anyway, as some of you may recall, I've been looking at replacing the stock 16" S/C wheels with some 2006-10 Lucerne 17" wheels, which I like quite a bit.  And I've had one of the Lucerne wheels fitted to the rear for a couple weeks now to see how I like it.

I think the Lucerne wheel looks right at home and it does look more "sporty", but as I've taken the time to actively take in the look of the Lucerne wheel, I now find that the stock wheel is growing on me too.

Yes, the stock wheel looks a bit chunky and reflects its vintage, but the Lucerne wheel with its radial "spokes" also has become a very common style of wheel in the last few years.  Before looking at this style wheel for the Riviera, I hadn't really noticed how many other OEM wheels have adopted this look.... but they are everywhere

However, the "chunky" Riviera wheel is a real standout (as is the Aurora wheel) and looks like nothing else on the road.  And of course is properly branded wth the R logo

And I can get a refurbished Riviera wheel for $120, free shipping, and is 5-6lbs lighter than the Lucerne wheel.  *sigh*

Choices choices...  

Guess I'll keep that Lucerne wheel on for a while longer.  I may buy one of the refurb Riviera wheels and see how nice one looks "new".

Al

al_roethlisberger wrote:

al_roethlisberger wrote:

Looks like the 06-11 Lucerne 17x7 wheels may fit too.  Tirerack says they are 5x115 and the backspacing is similar to the Riviera spec.

Here are some admittedly poor photos of the Lucerne 17x7 2006-08 (I believe also through 2011) wheel installed on my 1995 Riviera.  I didn't have a chance to weigh the rims alone, but mounted with tires the Lucerne wheel/tire is 5-6lbs heavier than the stock Riviera SC 16x7 wheel/tire.  The stock 16x7 wheel/tire combo was about 42lbs and the 17x7 Lucerne combo was almost 48lbs.  That's not really a surprise.

I've been driving around for a couple days with the one oddball Lucerne wheel on the back and think it looks very nice, and have received a number of compliments on the wheel versus the stock wheel.  Although arguably it would be hard to notice just one wheel with such a minor difference, I can say I haven't noticed any harsher ride with the 17x7 wheel/tire.

BTW, picked up another of these Lucerne 17x7 rims the other day and remembered to weigh one without a tire mounted, and it is about 23lbs which seems somewhat typical for this "class" of OEM rim in this size.

http://www.wheelfire.com/scontent/WheelDetails.cfm?IDNumber=Ruff_Racing_R357_Silver_Machined-Lip&SKU=10410&TireIDNumber=WestlakeSV308&TireSKU=11308&VehicleMakeFinal=Buick&VehicleYearFinal=2005&VehicleModelFinal=Park%20Avenue&VehicleOption=Ultra what do uguys think on a white riv?

Anyone tried putting corvette rims on? I found a set that's 5x115, I just don't know how they would look. Pics or a photochop please?

matt270avian wrote:

Anyone tried putting corvette rims on? I found a set that's 5x115, I just don't know how they would look. Pics or a photochop please?

Which ones are you talking about?

The 5 spokes with the thinner spokes. Link;

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/pts/3909605311.html

I think they would look great! Any thin 5 spoke looks great on a Riv, or just about anything IMO. I dont know if the fact that its a staggered set would be odd or not. I wouldnt be sure where to put the bigger wheels lol

I think it would look flippin' sweet, no one has to know it's a FWD car.

matt270avian wrote:

I think it would look flippin' sweet, no one has to know it's a FWD car.

I really think that the styling of the Riv could pass as RWD if someone didnt know

I guess the question is, would those wide wheels fit... even in the back

one of the guys i work with was bashing fwdcars and talkin bout how sweet my riv was thinkin it was rwd then i laughed and told him it was fwd and his jaw dropped!

I was going to go with these in 18" if my reenlistment bonus goes through:

What color is your car

Todd, link me to those wheels, please!

They are awesoje especially if car is black

Car is green... Wishing my car was black
Charlie: http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=runWheelSearch&initialPartNumber=Z3288515B4579BML&wheelMake=Zinik&wheelModel=Z32&wheelFinish=Black+w%2FMach+Lip&showRear=no&autoMake=Buick&autoModel=Riviera&autoYear=1996&autoModClar=&filterFinish=Black&filterSize=18&filterBrand=All&filterSpecial=false&filterNew=All&filterWeight=All&sort=Brand

Green will definitely still work

I hope I get lucky and end up with a pair of wheels not made in China. We'll see..

Then buy MSRs! 'Merica!

Im going to look up msrs right now

PFADT Race Engineering: Pro Tuner Wheel Package (designed for Cadi ATS)



Bolt pattern: 5x115 (not sure on offset - might be an issue)
Size: 19 x 8.5s up front and 19 x 10s in the rear
Warrantied for racing!
Price: $5k

Not only are they the most expensive wheels I've found that will fit our Rivieras, but they wear harder-to-find 19" tires that are also quite expensive!