Consider it a blessing that 15" dont fit! Tire Rack convinced me to go with 15" Blizzak's on my 2000SE....granted I wasnt expecting performance tires, but dropping 2" in diameter makes the car very very soft in the corners and mushy at highway speeds! Even if they fit...spend the extra $ to do 16" and you will be glad you did...beats driving a marshmellow like I do for 3 months of the year.

 

uhm, your tire diameter should still be the same... I hope that's what you meant. They probably recommended 15s because in snow, softer tire sidewalls will give a bit more. But then, you do what you want. 15 is rim size so tall sidewalls.