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Tire size vs Wheel size: oversized tire on wheel and underside tire on
wheel.
In order to fit a 245 tire on a 17x7 wheel (OEM spec wheel), the only
unknownn variable is sidewall, yes? If I understand this correctly, by default,
fitting a 245 tire onto a 17x7 wheel will require a very high sidewall, right?
Where fitting a 205 onto a 17x7 wheel would naturally result in a shorter n
stiffer sidewall. Couldn't one argue that putting 245 tires on the OEM wheels
result in a decrease in performance due to having very tall and soft side
walls?
I could see going with 225/45/17 on a 17x7 wheel, but any wider tire than
that would result in diminishing returns.
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In a 245 on a 7, the only variable left is the sidewall. But doing so doesn't automatically necessitate a tall sidewall. Remember, you can also use tire size to make small changes to the effective gearing of the car (different schools of thought on that).
For diminishing returns, yes, probably after 225, you aren't getting all of the extra width actually converted into contact patch. But you're getting some of it, and a little better is usually preferable to no better. Although you may get a small amount of that lost extra width with a taller sidewall. Would it be of consequence? Don't know.
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the last piece of the puzzle that I've been trying to understand is how tire psi
changes with all of this. Using the OEM Wheel is a constant variable here, how
does the tire psi need to be adjusted when putting smaller tires on or putting
oversized tires on? In my mind, the former will be stretching the tire requiring
less psi where as the latter will have extra rubber and require more psi.
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What tire pressures work have more variables than width. Buy the set you like, hope that your research on the pressures will at least get you in the ballpark, and then tune to suit. You'll have to do that with any tire. A good air gauge and 12v compressor will be your friend.