True...the reasons for putting bigger wheels on is to clear big brakes. Most people put them on for looks, it does update the look or make it look badass if you do it right. As far as putting more rubber on the road, this can be accomplished with small diameter wheels too. Wide tires will help the handling but larger diameter wheels will hurt the acceleration. So pick a light wheel, and the largest width tire you can fit or are comfortable with for your driving style. Careful selection of the offsets will give the filled fender look that most people go for. Using spacers can also help with this. good luck.