I dontknow if the 17mm are any stonger or weaker than the 23mm but you have a lot more options with the 17mm size, both are better than 14mm. I was running my VXL rustler and I got a little close to the curb in the street and I hit a small rock @ WOT( 60-70 mph) and slammed into the curb, it destoyed the right side of the front suspension and the wheel flew up into the air ancd across the street, after screaming oh F*ck I settled down and thought " that was pretty cool"....it didnt cost that much to fix