Staggered tires not rims... Who's done it? Options

[6gcSTVT]

I have burned up my summer tires after 2 years now on them and I ran 225/45/17's and I loved the wider look they gave the celica. The only Con to these tires were that on my front axel they are a little wide for the 1.8l at 194k miles to push around all the time since I dropped back to my snow tires which are 185/70/14's and they roll so much easier. Basically the engine feels like its huffing and puffing up hills with the wide tires now in her old age. But getting to my question, I was thinking about 225/45/17's in the rear and 205/50/17's in the front for the lighter load on the drive train but keeping the wider look towards the rear. Running a 205 is less stress because it's skinnier right? or does the fact that its the same height as the 225's still make it the same strain on the parts because its the same amount of tire just a different proportion? Anyone done this with a picture to show me an example?