it all depends on which area u live and wats ur driving style.
if u live in a place or travel where the roads are clean , then lowering and increasing the rim size will not matter alot.
but if u live in a place where the roads are horrible, pot holes , gravels etc then stay away from big rims and lowering.
moreover , if u are like the ones who like "cloud" effect like suspension and dont really stop at pot holes , then stay totally away from 17" and lowering
but if u are a person who stops at pot holes , then u can put 17 and lowering but u will never be tension free , at the back of ur mind , u will alwaz be thinking tht "i hope the roads are not bad ahead" or "if i speed up and if there is a pothole ahead , then wat will i do?"
join all the comments together and see where u stand and as for me , i have been using 17" and lowerings since 2004.