Help with some sizes

With a 17" rim you can run more backspacing than stock up front than a 15" rim. This will allow you a wider tire and rim. 17x8 245/45/17 with 5.5 backspacing should be safe up front if you want a wider tire and more grip up front.

Check the Tire and Rim combo section of this website and look at Clair Davis's setup.

There are some that run 275/40/17 with around 5.5 backspacing with 17x9's on the front of 67 Valiant and 69 Barrcudas. Those have the front bottom edge of the fender cut back about 3/4"wx2"h triangle in the corner.