215/50/R17 is a better thing to do if u love ur ride, bro trust me on this one...Don't know about suspension to be honest....but i think its fine as im the only person who use the civic...out of 100 days, for 99 days im the only person riding it...anyways ride comfort is just like to rikshaw now...as suspension's stiffened up...performance in terms of grip and control has improved quite much...ABS is I think very much the same...have not noticed any difference...
If you wanna put 17s..to make ur ride how or lookin for the 'SASHKA' factor...then do it....but in terms of having comfi ride..then its a nightmare...n im havin one...
Right now im having 215/45/17 on civic...its dunlop sp sports 3000A...n its sucks....while 215/50/17 wid yokohama db on my cl9...is a great comfort plus grip...
I would like to add a little more here that....215/50/17 gives you an extra 1.5' of air cushion will give ur greater comfort with may be a bit of ABS performance being compromised....we don't drive that harsh n barely make full use of ABS..but on the roads on pak we do need comfortable car n healthy suspension....