I'd go with UE Knucklehead towers - Beef.
The Traxxas CVD are also very good - Beef.
on 8s and 1717 I'd go 40 series bow-tie or some sort of truggy small lug tire(crimefighter) My 1717 and 6s in my Maxx just is plain uncontrollable with any big lug tire(badland or zombiemaxx)
Upgrade Your Toe Links! CHECK POST #7 #8 AND #9.
http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/show...ht=al+ball+end
The stock ball ends are SOO weak and probabaly broke 20 or so before I upgraded to Ofna Ball ends. Never broken one and the upgrade is very cheap to do...