yeah m8 - a 172 has the power a puny RT like ours lacks - hence a bigger wheel surface will not have such an immense effect on handling, tracking, trackrod ends, overall speed...(tho Itll have knocked at least a few mph off ur top speed)
Best bet with an RT I found is 16s - in this day n age - 17s arent all that - and btw there AINT REALLLLLLLLY THAT much difference in size between 16s and 17s hence alot of ppl wouldnt notice the difference....
AND
with 16s youll still have ur fun, safe handling and what speed there is the same - not to mention SAFE!
theres not really anything you can do to fix the tramlining and dangerously light handling except to take the wheels off and replace em with smaller ones!!
as for ppl looking at ur car - well paint it some DAYGLO colour or put a big blonde in passenger seat - ppl will look!!!! hahahha while in my case I have the irish accent and am a big blonde
they know ma car anyway - cos I stand out like a sore thumb having an irish accent in scotland