17" versus 14" tires

it's certainly very subjective when it comes down to looks. i personally like 15's with a little bulge in the side wall and with the car lowered a bit it gives that underslung look.

17's with the right tire look very sharp. when you get down to the really short sidewalls that big wheel rubber band style just looks goofy to me.

the biggest issue isn't the 14 or 15 size (or contact patch), it's that there is such limited tire availability in those rim diameters-- both size and type/compound.