For this with aftermarket wheels (first gen)

[Guest 383Roller]

For those that have aftermarket wheels:

I've been considering putting on a set of staggered wheels on my 63 like American racing torque thrust or that style, from the info I'm finding I was thinking 18x8 for the front and 19x9 for the rear. I'm not sure what the best tire size would be or ideal offset so there is no rubbing or issues.

I'd love to have the option of having an all stock look or a modern look.

Maybe you guys can chime in to hear what some of you have done and what works and of course, photos if possible.

I don't want to discount the possibility of air ride in the future, currently my car is stock suspension.

Thanks!

[Matt Harwood]

I'd recommend against going too big. One, 18/19/20 inch wheels ride like crap. You're going to hate how it feels and it's going to tear up your suspension and knock everything loose inside. Every bump you hit will feel like it broke the frame in half. It'll still be wallowy and soft like a luxury car, but the impact harshness will rattle the fillings out of your teeth.You like a car without squeaks and rattles? Keep some sidewall on the tires.

 

Two, giant wheels with O-ring tires look stupid on old cars. I know it's a taste thing, but I look at a lot of cars, resto-mods, and hot rods, as part of my job, and I've yet to see one that looks right sitting on wagon wheels. I recon you'll find very few people who will say 19 inch wheels are the right choice for any '60s car. They just look wrong. I've attached a photo of a 1971 Hemi 'Cuda I have in stock that's wearing 20-inch wheels. Looks weird, no? And even though it's lowered about three inches, it still sits two inches higher than the stock Challenger I have sitting next to it. Look how much space is under it because of those giant wheels.

 

I've also attached photos of two '63 Rivieras I had for a while with 16-inch (blue car) and 17-inch (red car) wheels. They both rode reasonably well, there was plenty of tire sidewall to absorb impacts, but they were big and flashy and filled the fenders properly. I preferred the look of the blue car, which was also lowered about an inch. The red car was lowered more than two inches. Its ride was notably worse than the blue car's, but not nearly as bad as the '56 Chevy I have sitting on 18/20s.

 

And please don't do Torque Thrusts. Only every other car in the world is wearing them. I'm so tired of seeing them on everything. Nobody has any vision or imagination anymore, they just follow the herd.

 

[RoadShark]

Thanks for an informative post!

 

The exhaust on that 'Cuda - yikes!!!!

 

I'm considering a 17-inch set of these for my '67.  I have a lot of measuring to do first.  Would use 255-60R17 on it.

 

I hope I didn't hijack the thread...

[msdminc]

Doug this is a '65 with 17" Torq Thrust Wheels when I first bought it.  The other view is the way it sits today with '65 road wheels.  I submit these to help you with your decision.

 

[kdml]

I'd recommend against going too big. One, 18/19/20 inch wheels ride like crap. You're going to hate how it feels and it's going to tear up your suspension and knock everything loose inside. Every bump you hit will feel like it broke the frame in half. It'll still be wallowy and soft like a luxury car, but the impact harshness will rattle the fillings out of your teeth.You like a car without squeaks and rattles? Keep some sidewall on the tires.

Two, giant wheels with O-ring tires look stupid on old cars. I know it's a taste thing, but I look at a lot of cars, resto-mods, and hot rods, as part of my job, and I've yet to see one that looks right sitting on wagon wheels. I recon you'll find very few people who will say 19 inch wheels are the right choice for any '60s car. They just look wrong. I've attached a photo of a 1971 Hemi 'Cuda I have in stock that's wearing 20-inch wheels. Looks weird, no? And even though it's lowered about three inches, it still sits two inches higher than the stock Challenger I have sitting next to it. Look how much space is under it because of those giant wheels.

I've also attached photos of two '63 Rivieras I had for a while with 16-inch (blue car) and 17-inch (red car) wheels. They both rode reasonably well, there was plenty of tire sidewall to absorb impacts, but they were big and flashy and filled the fenders properly. I preferred the look of the blue car, which was also lowered about an inch. The red car was lowered more than two inches. Its ride was notably worse than the blue car's, but not nearly as bad as the '56 Chevy I have sitting on 18/20s.

And please don't do Torque Thrusts. Only every other car in the world is wearing them. I'm so tired of seeing them on everything. Nobody has any vision or imagination anymore, they just follow the herd.

002.JPG 002.JPG 002.JPG

Matt,

Anymore specs on the wheel/tire combo on the blue Riviera? Tire size, backspacing, etc.

Thanks

Doug

[devildog93]

Matt, there is a reason the torq thrusts are popular. It's a clean look. As to originality and having something diferent...well just owning a 64 riviera that is in driver shape would put you in the oddball class i would think. That being said, i do really like the look on your blue car...wheels and stance.

[Paul K.]

The black 65 photos msdminc posted above don't leave much to think about. Buick road wheels give enough flash but are stock and look right IMO. I would put on a set of road wheels.

 

However, if its a modern wheel you want, maybe call one of the repro wheel vendors like Wheel Vintiques. They may have a bigger closer to a stock looking wheel or be or be able to make a bigger repro Buick road wheel. (They do for the Ford/Mopar Magnum 500s)

 

But, it doesn't really matter. Wheels can be taken off and replaced with stock ones so "no harm no foul" to a purist buyer when you sell the car. Its the air suspension that may pose a problem.     

[Matt Harwood]

The blue Riv is sitting on 16-inch polished (not chrome) American Racing wheels of some kind, I don't know the specifics, but you should be able to find them with the Google. The tires are 235/60/16 front and 255/65/16 rear Goodyear Eagles, which gave it a bit of a rake (the rear tires were notably taller than the fronts). It appears to have been lowered by changing the front springs and by installing lowering blocks out back. The effect is mild but the car rode and drove quite well and there was enough sidewall to absorb impacts pretty well. Going below about a 60 series and ride quality starts to degrade. I don't have it anymore so I can't check the details beyond what I can recall. Sorry.

[Guest Dantana]

I was in the wheel and tire business for years and used to really love the plus size wheels and I have them on my BMW, but on classic cars I am very partial to 15". Everyone has their own taste but era specific is always a better look in my opinion. That being said there are some really cool wheels that not many people have and look bad ass on Rivis. I will be picking up some Rocket Strikes 15x8 with 4" BS for my 63'

 

1. Radir Tri-rib. http://www.radirwheels.com/- Cool 60's wheels that come staggered.

2. Astro Supremes - 15" but always look great.

3. Rocket Wheels - http://www.rocketracingwheels.com/rocket-racing-wheels/c28- Strike 17x7 -17x8 and you can run a 265 rear on that.

4. American Racing - http://www.americanracing.com/wheels/4613/heritage- Hopster, Torq thrust VNT71R, http://www.americanracing.com/wheel/5451/vnt71r Everyone does the torq 2. I like to be a little different.(Hopster on the blue Riv above)

5. Halibrand - Always bad ass but not cheap. http://www.halibrand.com/index_frames.htm- 16" and 17" only.

6. Wheel Vintiqes - If you can find the Cruzer...http://www.hotrodscustomstuff.com/OLD_SITE/1965-Riviera-01.html Probably the only 18" set up I like on these.

http://www.wheelvintiques.com/wheels.html?limit=45&p=1

 

 

Staggered is always better for a hot rod look while a square set up looks better for more of the Kustom look- so it depends on what look you're going for.

Edited October 20, 2015 by Dantana (see edit history)

[Guest Dantana]

Matt,

Anymore specs on the wheel/tire combo on the blue Riviera? Tire size, backspacing, etc.

Thanks

Doug

Most likely they are 16x7-16x8 if staggered or 16x8 square. The BS could either be 4" or 4.5" both work. I prefer to go with the deeper lip and the 4" or less BS personally. American Racing Hopster.

[RivNut]

Don't forget that when fitting aftermarket wheels on a Buick with the finned aluminum brake drums, you need to allow for the rivets that attache the drum to the hub.  If the back of the wheel is smooth between the bolt holes, you'll have interference with the rivet.

 

Ed

[OldGerman]

I was in the wheel and tire business for years and used to really love the plus size wheels and I have them on my BMW, but on classic cars I am very partial to 15". Everyone has their own taste but era specific is always a better look in my opinion. That being said there are some really cool wheels that not many people have and look bad ass on Rivis. I will be picking up some Rocket Strikes 15x8 with 4" BS for my 63'

 

1. Radir Tri-rib. http://www.radirwheels.com/- Cool 60's wheels that come staggered.

2. Astro Supremes - 15" but always look great.

3. Rocket Wheels - http://www.rocketracingwheels.com/rocket-racing-wheels/c28- Strike 17x7 -17x8 and you can run a 265 rear on that.

4. American Racing - http://www.americanracing.com/wheels/4613/heritage- Hopster, Torq thrust VNT71R, http://www.americanracing.com/wheel/5451/vnt71r Everyone does the torq 2. I like to be a little different.(Hopster on the blue Riv above)

5. Halibrand - Always bad ass but not cheap. http://www.halibrand.com/index_frames.htm- 16" and 17" only.

6. Wheel Vintiqes - If you can find the Cruzer...http://www.hotrodscustomstuff.com/OLD_SITE/1965-Riviera-01.html Probably the only 18" set up I like on these.

http://www.wheelvintiques.com/wheels.html?limit=45&p=1

 

 

Staggered is always better for a hot rod look while a square set up looks better for more of the Kustom look- so it depends on what look you're going for.

 

 

Hello "Dantana"

 

do not forget about the 1.Gen Riviera 5" bolt circle and large 3,5" diameter hub diameter.

American Racings are not offered in this bolt pattern size except of those who are offered "blank"

I would love the turbine wheel on my Riviera.

 

http://www.americanracing.com/wheel/14099/vn478-turbine

 

 

Unfortunately it is quite expensive.

 

Frank

[steelman]

Torque Thrusts are offered in a 5x5 bolt pattern. Try this website. Several styles of these now, but this link is to the original D spoke. Both 15x7, 15x 8.5 and 15x10 are available.

http://www.newstalgiawheel.com/shop/product/vn105-torq-thrust-d-gray

[Guest Dantana]

Hello "Dantana"

 

do not forget about the 1.Gen Riviera 5" bolt circle and large 3,5" diameter hub diameter.

American Racings are not offered in this bolt pattern size except of those who are offered "blank"

I would love the turbine wheel on my Riviera.

 

http://www.americanracing.com/wheel/14099/vn478-turbine

 

 

Unfortunately it is quite expensive.

 

Frank

The 5x5 should be available. If the center bore is too small, which it shouldn't be because the newest application of 5x5 is a Chevy truck, one could always hit the machine shop for an easy fix.

[Guest Dantana]

Hello "Dantana"

 

do not forget about the 1.Gen Riviera 5" bolt circle and large 3,5" diameter hub diameter.

American Racings are not offered in this bolt pattern size except of those who are offered "blank"

I would love the turbine wheel on my Riviera.

 

http://www.americanracing.com/wheel/14099/vn478-turbine

 

 

Unfortunately it is quite expensive.

 

Frank

Those are the Max Grundy wheels...bad ass for sure. He is one of my favorite artists.

[64Rivvy]

I also know that some of the Boss wheels will fit though I haven't looked into the details yet.  I saw this car for sale at one of the larger online resellers a little while back with Boss Motorsport 338 wheels on it.  I believe they are 19" in the front and 20" on the rear.  I'm not sure I'll go that big when I do wheels and tires,  but this car was so bad ass to me that it's what gave me the final push to go buy my Riviera.

 

Edited October 21, 2015 by 64Rivvy (see edit history)

[60FlatTop]

I just took a set of chrome 17" Cragar SS off my '94 Impala. Some of the throwback brain cells from the 1960's made me buy them. From the time I put them on I didn't like them. Remember Opie Taylor from Mayberry, the guys didn't look nuthin like him.

I put the stock wheels back on and I'm happy again.

 

And on my '64; these always made me happy:

Bernie

 

Oh, those Cragars have, maybe, 1,000 miles on them and are back in the original boxes. They fit your Buick. I didn't like them, but I bet you would, $1100 shipped!

Edited October 21, 2015 by 60FlatTop (see edit history)

[Guest 383Roller]

Thanks for all the replies, this is what I ended up with:

[bodayguy]

I think those look great Doug!

 

Maybe we should point at Foose or something but there is a fascination these days for big modern wheels on 60s/70s cars. Especially at classic car retail stores, I see it a lot.

 

I have to say, I think the image way above of the Cuda with modern wheels looks bad ass. But there's no accounting for taste. I went and bought aftermarket wheels for my Jeep seven years ago and regretted it the second I saw the car roll out of the tire shop bay. It's just so hard to tell what is going to work until you actually see it in real life (probably after you bought them) - and drive on them to see how bad the ride quality is too, as discussed above.

 

Pretty safe and stylish to just keep with the period wheels.

[Guest 383Roller]

Rich

I agree with you, and with the popularity as you stated there is good recourses on the internet to see how others did it with just about every style; including this thread and others.

I will say that price had everything to do with it, I lost a head gasket just before this and had to pay for the heads to be machined and rebuilt- and all the top end gasket work, so with $2k ish for wheels and tires just didn't seem practicle at the time. My buddy had these with the new tires you see for $500 so I went for it. It scratched my itch and looks killer- and functions the same as OEM.