17x10.5 does look nice, but it wont be a benefit for performance. You can put wider tires on them, but 17x9 should do because I doubt our car needs tires that wide.
wider= heavier and don't go too wide on the front. i have 17x9's (i have either 275's or 295, can't remember, on the tires) and i get a ton of tram lining, which really sucks. go with a 17x9 but don't go wider than a 245 on the tires for the front.
i don't do burnouts, because there is no point, and tires are expensive BUT, i used to be able to with my stock wheels, and it's a bitch to do it now with those heavy suckers.