Time for New Wheels and Tires

My tires (3 of them) have been leaking air for several months now (I've had to refill them at least once/week). I went to the tire shop today and the problem is that the chrome is peeling off the wheels (due to the salt and other road treatment chemicals) and the tires can no longer maintain a good seal with the wheels. So, it looks like I need new wheels and tires (the current ones are at 2/32" tread depth). Does anyone have any advice on a relatively CHEAP package? That is my main goal here, as the car is getting older and I don't want to put a whole lot of money into it. I will probably upgrade to 17" wheels, as the stock 16's just look too small. I would love to keep it under $200 per corner, while still maintaining a decent look. Larger wheels would also give me an excuse to upgrade the front brakes to 12's.

Tirerack.com has a lot of wheel options, plus the ability to see what it looks like on your car, maybe not the right color, but better than mere speculation.

Im a sucker for a simple 5-spoke design myself, and these are $105 a piece for 17s.

Elbrus I02 (http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=runWheelSearch&initialPartNumber=I0216759042SDCI&wheelMake=Elbrus&wheelModel=I02&wheelFinish=Silver+Machined+w%2FIce+Coating&showRear=no&autoMake=Oldsmobile&autoModel=Intrigue&autoYear=2000&autoModClar=&filterSize=17&filterFinish=All&filterSpecial=false&filterBrand=All&filterNew=All&sort=Brand)

Yeah those were one of the wheels that caught my eye on there the other day. I just was hoping I could get by cheaper, but I don't think so. I'm also looking at others...


http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=runWheelSearch&initialPartNumber=6897790BMF&wheelMake=Sport+Tuning&wheelModel=Thrust&wheelFinish=Machined+w/Black+Accent&showRear=no&autoMake=Oldsmobile&autoModel=Intrigue&autoYear=2001&autoModClar=&filterSize=17&filterFinish=All&filterSpecial=false&filterBrand=All&filterNew=All&sort=Brand

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=runWheelSearch&initialPartNumber=SE14775455115BS&wheelMake=Sport+Edition&wheelModel=SE-14&wheelFinish=Bright+Silver+Paint&showRear=no&autoMake=Oldsmobile&autoModel=Intrigue&autoYear=2001&autoModClar=&filterSize=17&filterFinish=All&filterSpecial=false&filterBrand=All&filterNew=All&sort=Brand

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=runWheelSearch&initialPartNumber=CD775511542S&wheelMake=Sport+Edition&wheelModel=CD&wheelFinish=Silver+Painted&showRear=no&autoMake=Oldsmobile&autoModel=Intrigue&autoYear=2001&autoModClar=&filterSize=17&filterFinish=All&filterSpecial=false&filterBrand=All&filterNew=All&sort=Brand

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=runWheelSearch&initialPartNumber=I0517759042SDCI&wheelMake=Elbrus&wheelModel=I05&wheelFinish=Silver+Machined+w/Ice+Coating&showRear=no&autoMake=Oldsmobile&autoModel=Intrigue&autoYear=2001&autoModClar=&filterSize=17&filterFinish=All&filterSpecial=false&filterBrand=All&filterNew=All&sort=Brand



However, the offsets and the backspacing on each are different from the factory. Would I need spacers? Or would they fit right on?

As for tires, I'm looking at...



http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=General&tireModel=Altimax+RT&partnum=255TR7AMAXRT&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&place=7&speed_rating=S&speed_rating=T&speed_rating=U&speed_rating=H&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y&speed_rating=(Y)&minSpeedRating=S

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=Ecsta+ASX&partnum=255WR7EASX&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&place=2&speed_rating=S&speed_rating=T&speed_rating=U&speed_rating=H&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y&speed_rating=(Y)&minSpeedRating=S

I got my tires installed at walmart in September. I believe they just ground off the lose chrome to make a good seal.

Been using them 6 months, so problems so far.

Anyways, it might be an option instead of getting new wheels on a car that is getting old.