For me, I have found that Bridgestone Pontanza SO2's (45 profile) are great. My mk1 seemed to stick to roundabouts like a rollercoaster on rails in the dry and reasuring grip in the wet. Not cheap though, not sure what the cost would be for 17's

Avoid Avon's! I had a set of 50 profiles on my white mk1, chunks came off them in the dry (could just be me pushin it too far!) and in the wet was like driving on ice! understeer at 20mph!