amkahal wroteStygmata wrotei would stick to the 16" ..15" is too small
I've changed the Rims yesterday to 15" with P205/65R15 tires,and i can't tell how much the ride smoothness was significant and amazing, even with bad shock abs. I agree with you in sticking with 16" in term of style n' look, and i have to confess, my new 15" look worst than the old 16", but now i prefer the advantage of smooth ride over the good looking.
as the wheel gets larger the tire must have a smaller (shorter) sidewall, in order to keep the overall outside diameter the same. The shorter the sidewall, the better a car will handle, due to less lateral stretch but the trade off is that the ride will be rougher, because there is less air space between the tread and the wheel to absorb the bumps in the road.
consumption and braking wise there is minimal difference .
keep in mind that 16inch tires are harder to find than the 17s and the 15inch .. also you need to test with your new suspension .