looks like it is lowered. the 215 will fit, the 245 will not, without some major fender rolling

 

205/55s are the safest bet. The 215 might still require a fender lip roll - though it will be close.

 

17" wheels won't increase your ground clearance unless you get a wheel/ tire combo that has a considerably larger overall diameter than stock. And then you'll have problems like an inaccurate speedo and tire rubbing, and probably others. Besides, in the snow you want more sidewall, not less.

 

I think you've got the idea a little mixed up here. When you get larger diameter wheels, you have to get tires with a smaller sidewall in order to compensate. This is because the tire and wheel together must allways equal the same diameter in total in order to keep the clearance and gearing ratios.

ie if stock you had a 16 inch wheel and 5 inch sidewall 16+5 = 21 inches. So if you got a 17 inch wheel you'd have to get a 4 inch sidewall because you want to try and keep the total tire and wheel package at 21 inches. 18 inch wheel would be 3 inches and so on. (note that sidewalls are actually measured in a more complicated way, check out the sticky for more info on that).

And on snow tires you want MORE sidewall not less. so you should actually be getting a smaller wheel and a tire with more sidewall.

PM me if you need more info.

 

Hey if your dad says to get 17's, get 17's Best of luck! BTW, those 16's look like the JDM gold 16's -- where did you get them?