Larger diameter wheels may well weigh more but because the wheel is bigger the tyre sidewall will be smaller, therefore the tyre will be lighter (assuming a similar width). The overall wheel and tyre weight won't change much will it?
It seems that lots of people believe that increasing the wheel diameter somehow makes the outside diameter of the tyre bigger, it doesn't, the aspect ratio of the tyre is changed to keep the rolling radius as near to unchanged as possible.
I defy anyone to notice any acceleration changes due only to a different weight of wheel and tyre, a change in the rolling radius, yes but not an extra kg or two on a wheel.
Big fat low profile tyres may well be great on a circuit but on a bumpy back road more compliant tyres with slighter softer suspension can yield a faster easier to drive car. I found out in my rallying days that too stiffly sprung cars on very low profile tyres can feel very slow and nervous compared to something a little softer on roads similar to many of the smaller roads in this country.
Small sidewalls don't necessarily give the best handling, look at an F1 car for example!
Wider tyres give more grip to an extent but you also have to bear in mind that the smaller the patch of rubber in contact with the ground, the more pressure is exerted through the smaller contact area to the road surface thus aiding grip, very wide tyres behave badly on uneven road sufaces, sometimes narrower is better, look at a rally car set up for snow and ice conditions as an example.
