Barney Eaton Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 A new Reatta owner on the East coast called the other day wanting to know how to get the hub caps off. After we talked for a while I figured out he had a 1988 (900870) with steel wheels and the Buick style wire wheel covers. These are the covers that the center pops out and there is a security bolt that holds the wheel cover to the rim.He also said they had the "R" emblem, turns out it is a Riviera emblem.Yesterday he sent me a photo of the decal that is on the spare tire cover and it shows how to take off the wire wheel covers.I think the clue is the car outline that shows the jacking instructions.... it looks like a Riviers.Putting all these clues together, I believe someone and sometime traded the Reatta aluminum rims for Riviera rims and wire hub caps.In addition, since they also put the Riviera spare tire cover in the Reatta showing the instructions for removing the wire covers, I am leaning toward a dealer change when the car was new. I can imagine a regular customer seeing this new Reatta on the showroom floor and telling the salesman he will buy it if they put wire wheels (covers) on it from the Riviera that is also sitting in the showroom. Swap wheels and tires and the customer is happy and the dealer may have pocketed some extra cash.......... My question, does anyone with a 1988 or maybe a '89 have a spare tire cover with the same pictures as in the photo attachment? What does your '88 spare tire cover look like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 I have '88 vin 1177 and it has the same tire cover as you have pictured.Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCReatta Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 My '89 is the same way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Didn't the Riviera in 88 have 14" wheels ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dship Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Padgett is correct in that if the 86 - 88 Riviera came with steel wheels and either full covers or wire wheel covers, then they would have been 14". If the 86 - 88 Riviera came with aluminum wheels, then they would have been 15". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 So are the wheels 14 or 15s ? (a 14" full wheel cover will probably not fit a 15" wheel). Also if a GM steel wheel, there should be a letter code by the valve stem to indicate the application. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted December 15, 2011 Author Share Posted December 15, 2011 The owner never mentioned the wheel size but he sent a photo of the Service Parts label and it shows code PW8 which is 15 X 6 aluminum wheels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 So Not Stock. Is there any interest in figuring out what the wheel/cover was intended for ? If not then the SPI sticker says it all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dship Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Riviera 89-93 steel wheels were stock/no extra cost and increased to 15". Non stock/extra cost options were available in 15", and in 92-93 an additional 16" option. The 16" option looked almost identical to the Reatta 16". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 I assume you mean stock on the Riviera and not a "no cost" option for the Reatta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dship Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Your assumption is correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rawja Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 I've had 2 '88s and 2 '89s all of which had the hubcap instructions on the spare tire cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reattatude Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 Looks like the Reatta, though more costly than a Riviera didn't rate it's own spechual spare tire cover and got Riv's hand-me-downs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 Somebody probably saved 10 cents per car by having one sticker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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