The title of the thread is too rigid.
A few excerpts from this article:
Plus sizing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Plus sizing is the practice of changing a specific tire to a larger size while compensating with reductions in other aspects of the tire's size so that the new tire has the same diameter and circumference as the original tire to prevent any changes in speedometer accuracy, torque and traction control."
"Advantages include greater handling and cornering abilities of the car, which is a result of the wider tread face and stiffer sidewall of the larger tire. Wider tires may decrease braking distances on dry pavement. Larger wheels change the appearance of the vehicle and together with a lower profile tire produce an effect which some people find attractive."
"Larger wheels will cost more and wider tires tend to be more expensive because they are less common and have less competition between different brands to drive down the price.
Performance improvements beyond what is achieved in a Plus One sizing are likely to be minimal. The use of lower profile tires which tend to have a stiffer sidewall might produce a decrease in riding comfort.
During the winter season, wider tires perform worse than a narrower tire. Think of it like a snowshoe. Snowshoes are wide, and allow the wearer to walk on top of the snow. Same applies to a tire. You want a narrower tire (within reason) that will cut through the snow and maintain contact with the road."
