Wait... WHAT?...... max' you've per-snickered me.
I don't think anyone raises the front end with the 55 series rear tires, in fact I've often thought that most of the reported turn in improvement came from the slightly changed steering geometry from raising the rear.
That is true. Most people do not, and I suspect that does have something to do with what some people might like. But I suspect one of the large changes people notice is from the profile of the tire. The 55 is more rounded. I am not going to comment that it is a good idea to slant the bike more forward (by raising the rear and not the front, or lowering the front and not the rear)- I just don't know. That is why I recommend always keeping the front and the same stock ratio unless you know what you are doing. I certainly don't
Oh, and I wouldn't necessary characterize raising the back 11.5mm OR lowering the front by 11.5mm as "slightly" changing the geometry. According to my friend who knows a lot more than I do about such things, he says that is a pretty significant (moderate) change.
and...and...If you do raise the front end a corresponding amount at the front, why would the foot peg height increase be any less than the rear axle height increase?
I think we are saying the same thing (but it has been a long day at work) If you put a larger tire on the rear by, say, 23mm larger diameter, and do NOT adjust the front, the center of the bike will rise by 1/2 of 1/2 of 23mm which is 5.75mm. (+11.5 rear, +0 front, = 5.75mm center). If you do adjust the front, raising it 11.5mm to be neutral/same handling, then it will raise the center of the bike by 1/2 of 23, which is 11.5mm. (+11.5 rear, +11.5 front, = 11.5mm center). Whew