[jcp123]

A more open wheel design will (I believe) always be aerodynamically inferior to one which is much more enclosed. There’s plenty of design ideas here to fab some wheel covers to negate this.

Someone will chime in on the math for a contact patch, but I think a narrower tire with a kinda similar overall diameter will reduce the contact patch, and the overall frontal aero drag.

I would want to think a lot about how light the wheel and tire combo will be. Less unsprung weight is an easy way to improve ride, handling, turn-in, and braking.

A smaller wheel with more sidewall will also be good for your ride quality.

I really have never driven in the snow, but by osmosis, the thinner tire idea on an aftermarket wheel appeals to me. The thinner tire cuts through the snow better, and having the winter tires permamounted on a separate set of wheels negates the ass-pain of having them swapped over twice a year at a shop which couldn’t care less and probably won’t balance them. That’s the strategy I plan to pursue someday when we *sigh* move up to NY state.