What have you guys found works best when purchasing a wheel / tire setup that you would like to be able to use for spirited driving on the street and also for some lapping sessions.

Light 18" wheels with a Toyo R888, Falken 615K ect. is an obvious, what I am really curious about is wheel widths in comparison to tire sizes.

Is it more beneficial to go with an 11.5 wheel with a 315 tire to get more from the tire opposed to going to a 12" wheel and stretching a 315 tire?

Also what is recommended in the front of the car to provide maximum grip and braking performance?

This is while running a lowered suspension as well as the AWD system.

Thanks in advance.