New Wheels

The Konig wheels I've been waiting on since August finally came in. It is amazing how much better the Reatta handles with good tires. I took a few hours and cleaned up and painted the axle part that sticks through, cleaned the brake disc hubs and painted them flat black, and hit the old caliper paint with some cleaner. These are on my 90 with the Sunroof.

<a href="http://s1379.photobucket.com/user/pontiacdude210/media/90%20Reatta%20Coupe/20141206_1310392_zpsoly1htsq.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums/ah128/pontiacdude210/90%20Reatta%20Coupe/20141206_1310392_zpsoly1htsq.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20141206_1310392_zpsoly1htsq.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1379.photobucket.com/user/pontiacdude210/media/90%20Reatta%20Coupe/20141206_13311522_zpslvtqvfg0.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums/ah128/pontiacdude210/90%20Reatta%20Coupe/20141206_13311522_zpslvtqvfg0.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20141206_13311522_zpslvtqvfg0.jpg"/></a>

If anyone has aftermarket wheel questions, Ronnie and Barney Eaton both gave me useful info on hub sizes, offset, and how to figure out What will work.

Very nice,I like

Goes well with the black rubs strips. Also see you have the Chev steering wheel ties all your wheels together...

You know, that really looks good. Some kind of center cap treatment is needed I think, but I do like it. This is a more of a sport look, versus the more conventional luxury look I think the chrome wheels I have tend to convey. Being a red car does help in this case.

I looked at an 88 coupe for sale some time ago that had black spoke wheels with a chrome "riveted" beauty ring. Looked really sharp, though the car itself was rough (why I passed on it at the time). These were on a white over burgundy car, and I thought the look worked quite well. No idea who made them, there were no visible markings regrettably.

Do you mind if I ask how much this set ran? I could see doing this on one of mine possibly.

KDirk

I like them too, nice choice.

Thanks for the kind words. The salesman called me and asked several times if I'd rather change my order than wait for the back order to clear but I was stubborn.

KDirk, I like the wheels with the riveted outer section. I've never seen one on a Reatta. These wheels came with blue Konig logo center caps and they come within about 1/2 inch of clearing the axle ends. I need to make a spacer for the cap yet(no way I'm running a spacer on the wheel itself). As far as cost, I think these were about $400-500 for the set, from CarID.com. I bought them with nice summer tires mounted and balanced, so that ran me a few hundred on top of the rims themselves. They send them with all the mounting hardware, locking lugs, hub centric rings, etc. And despite being a multi lug pattern, they ride great.

<a href="http://s1379.photobucket.com/user/pontiacdude210/media/90%20Reatta%20Coupe/20141206_1315022_zps0cqzxocz.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums/ah128/pontiacdude210/90%20Reatta%20Coupe/20141206_1315022_zps0cqzxocz.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20141206_1315022_zps0cqzxocz.jpg"/></a>

Here's one of the rear wheels with the center cap on.

<a href="http://s1379.photobucket.com/user/pontiacdude210/media/90%20Reatta%20Coupe/20141206_1310582_zpswgmucoib.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums/ah128/pontiacdude210/90%20Reatta%20Coupe/20141206_1310582_zpswgmucoib.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20141206_1310582_zpswgmucoib.jpg"/></a>

Here's a shot where the black hood with red pinstripes is visible as well, I've been trying to integrate more black into this car because I like the way it looks with the red. You can tell the car is dusty in this one, I parked it in my garage 2 months ago but the week the wheels came in, we got a break in the weather and it was nice enough to take the car out for a couple days.

Ghetto

The photos likely don't show as well as in person, but the 3/4 front shot looks like plain old black steelies, like it has four spares in place. I think I get the vibe you are after but somehow everything just "fades to black" and the detail disappears.

The wheels don't look bad but they aren't my cup of tea. I know black wheels are in style now and most younger people are going to like them. I read on other forums where a lot of people are spraying chrome wheels with black Plasti-coat to make them black.

The problem I have with this particular wheel is the red trim around the outside. It makes it appear (in the last photo) that the wheels have a red bead with tall, 75 series tires on them. Maybe if it had chrome between the red trim and the tire to define where the wheel stops and the tire starts it would change that look. I had black wheels with a polished aluminum bead on my Fiero Formula and I really liked them. What really counts is if you like the look of the red stripe on the rim. What the rest of us think doesn't really matter. We all have different tastes in how we want our cars to look.

As for the center cap, I had the same problem with the caps hitting the axle when I tried to install the center caps in my STS wheels on my '88 model. I don't think later models have that problem. A lot of people have used the STS/Buick 7 spoke wheels without problems. I think the reason I had a problem is because '88 models use a different wheel bearing hub than later models.

The easiest remedy for me was to remove 1/2" of axle threads. There is still plenty of thread still sticking out of the axle nut. I thought about a spacer but I couldn't figure out how to make one that would look right. Be sure to measure the exact amount you need to remove from the end of the axle before cutting. It takes a little while with a hacksaw but it isn't a bad job. Then the caps will pop right in and fit flush with the center of the wheel (at least the STS caps did).

I wondered if that was an option, Ronnie. I'll look into that. Let's not get into plastidip, I'd rather not think about that nightmare. I think the factory 5 spokes spray bombed black and missing caps are the worst thing I've seen.

2seater, yes, although it is hard to see the detail in pics, it is more apparent it isn't steelies in person.

And 3Buicks, I got an email update saying just "ghetto" because of you. Made me laugh because you are the last forum member I can imagine using that term.

I've been wanting to join the Buick club quite a lot lately, does having all sorts of points deductions and a not very factory original car exclude me from that? I promise, my other 1990 coupe is very vanilla.

PD-

Anyone can join the BCA, don't even have to own a Buick. Just pay your dues and you are in. As far as judging, with the mods you've made you'll never get a trophy in 400 point judging (and neither would I as all four of mine have multiple non-stock mods) but that doesn't matter IMO.

You can either constrain your desire to put the personal touch on your cars and go for the trophy at judged car shows, are you can do what you want to further the enjoyment of your cars and forego the rigidity of show judging. There is merit to both approaches, just depends on your priorities.

I have entered a car for judging once in a local show. Took first place actually much to my surprise, but the criteria were not nearly so rigid as the 400 point standard used in BCA judging. I am content to show my cars without the need to angle for awards, even though I do enjoy the validation of getting awards (who doesn't)? YMMV.

The ghetto thing? I think 22's with low-pro tires are ghetto. Your rims, while certainly not traditional, aren't over the top. Just more sporty in a contemporary style. The red band works because the car is red. I'd probably forego that on my white cars and get chromen or polished aluminum trim rings, and maybe graphite spokes were I to consider a wheel in that general style.

KDirk.

I certainly appreciate originality and a clean car, but not enough to not buy the wheels I like, skip over a steering wheel that looks good, or forego the speakers I want. With my sunroof car, so much of the factory stuff was so rough my options were along the lines of fabricate, improvise, or crush it. I guess that one is what they call a 'survivor' with 'character'. Or ghetto, minus the 22s and lift. You know there are Reatta clubs out there dedicated to that?

My other 90 coupe with shiny original wheels, fresh tires and decent looking paint I am glad to leave the way it is, and that of course has nothing to do with the fact that my fiancee wants to drive that one

I'll probably join the BCA after the holidays if that is the case, it's something I've thought about since I was drooling over Regals back in high school.

"P-Dude", if i was in your position, i'd definitely join the BCA! you're in a position to "mod" to your heart's content with this one and perhaps keep/make the '90 "original"...

don't limit yourself to just Buick Club meets. take this one (or both if you have another driver that can take it) to multi-make car shows in the general area this coming year. as Kevin said, the judging is much different. Don't worry about trophies and awards - some will come in time. just have fun and spread the "Reatta Word" to others!!!

i also agree with Ronnie about fitting the center caps. and if you don't like the blue color, a little "rattle can" wheel paint can change that...

I agree with KDirk about the joining and judging parts. I am planning to do lots of shows and club meets this year and just having fun in mine. I am not a club member yet waiting till after the first of the year to join. My Car would never be a BCA 400 point car because of the changes made just to get it back on the road safely and things that would need to be done would not be original to the car such as paint. But my car will sport new wheels and tires this spring and will eventually have a killer sound system in it interfaced with the CRT system. It will stay mostly stock looking. Right now its has clear coat off the hood and part of left fender and tops of headlight covers but I will show it as it is, a work in process.

PD,

I think it's a typo. M3B probably meant "Ditto" to post #8.

John F.

That's a weird way to agree with something. I'm not even sure how to take that. Like even the Buick Club guys use slang terms that I, at the ripe old age of 22, don't get. Lol. I'm not thinking too much about it.