Article in a magazine from the 90s when 17" wheels were classed as big. I have translated all the little info boxes on the pages and added translations below.
"The big wheels are cool!
Hot topic right now. 17 inch
A selection of interesting 17-inch discs
Popularity
Alright, here we go!!
This is really cool!!
The era of 17-inch wheels is finally upon us. This year, new faces have appeared one after another from each manufacturer, and the variety has become abundant. So, I've selected some popular ones that I think you should check out, so please take a look.
Upsizing your wheels makes your car look smarter
Changing your wheels to ones you like is the basics of dressing up your car. The most effective way to dress up your wheels is to "increase the diameter of the wheels." Larger wheels give the car a neater look, and the whole car looks smarter. It's the same for us humans, isn't it? Longer legs look cool. The same goes for cars, and it's especially effective for larger cars, as it makes the car look lighter.
40 and 45 profile tires support the popularity of 17-inch wheels
Another big reason why 17-inch wheels have become popular is tires. Low-profile tires with an aspect ratio of 50% or 55% are now able to pass vehicle inspections, and even higher-profile tires with a 40/45 profile have appeared. I think everyone knows this, but when you upgrade your wheels, you have to reduce the aspect ratio of the tire to match the larger wheel so that the diameter of the wheel + tire remains the same. This means that no matter how many wheels are available, it's all for nothing if there are no tires to match them. With 17-inch wheels and 40-inch tires, 16-inch + 50 or 15-inch + 60 are also compatible.
Wheel size increase has finally reached 17 inches.
Car manufacturers seem to be well aware that bigger wheels look cooler, and factory wheels are getting bigger and bigger. This means that you want to go even bigger to dress up your car. Recently, 17-inch wheels have become very popular. 17-inch wheels are required not only for cars that come with 16-inch factory wheels, but also for cars that go up two inches from 15-inch wheels. They have become very popular. As you would expect, they are quite expensive, but they are definitely worth the price.
17-inch wheels
Some have special designs
Putting on 17-inch wheels can really change the atmosphere of your car. They stand out more than you think. But they're certainly not a cheap purchase. If you want to stand out more, or want everyone to know that you're wearing 17-inch wheels, choose wheels made specifically for 17-inch wheels. There are wheels that are only made in 17-inch sizes, and wheels with different designs from 14- to 16-inch wheels, so try looking for one that you like from among those.
Special wheels don't mean "absolutely!
As with most of the wheels introduced this time, many 17-inch wheels are designed specifically for a particular car model. This is the result of a greater pursuit of matching with the car, but it doesn't mean that you can't use them on any other car, so don't worry. However, when choosing wheels, it's always a good idea to consult with a shop before making a decision.
Enlarging your wheels and tires is a great tune-up
The reason for using 17-inch wheels with +40 tires is not only for dressing up the car. The short sidewall of the 40 tire means that it does not bend easily even during hard cornering, and not only does it have excellent grip, but it also makes handling sharper. Also, the larger diameter of the 17-inch wheels means that larger brakes can be installed, which increases the braking power. In other words, it is also a great tuning part. This can be seen in the fact that high-performance sports cars such as the Skyline GT-R and Fairlady Z are equipped with 16-inch wheels with +50 tires, a size of wheels and tires that has never been used as factory tires before.
A big-bodied car needs wheels with delicate designs...
As we have seen here, there are a wide variety of 17-inch wheels available.
There are many designs to choose from, including mesh, spoke, and semi-dish. You can choose the one that best suits your car. However, one thing to keep in mind is that for high-end cars with large bodies, it's best to choose mesh or a more delicate design with more spokes.
