tires - 16 in. vs. 17in

[hotlubo]

am buying new family car, and have a choice in tire size, 16 or 17 inch
driving profile: 80% city, 20% hwy
which size is better and why :?:

[Crash]

My own choice would be the 16's with the higher profile (taller side walls), because with all the rough roads and pot holes around nowadays they will give you a better ride quality. They are also likely to be cheaper to replace when the time comes.

On the other hand, if you are one of those "street racers" that we have been hearing about in the papers lately then you might need the 17's with the lower profile as they may give you better grip at breakneck speeds. Also they look a little nicer and will look totally awesome when the newspaper guy's are taking pictures of you and your car upside down on the side of the road.

Manufacturers seem to be putting low profile tires on more and more of their cars today, they think that it makes them look "more sporty". For the average driver all this does is make the overall ride harder and give you more back problems.