Must agree with the above. The best way to explain this is like this......If you hold your arm out with your elbow pressed tight against your side and try and push your arm down with your other hand, you can feel a strong resistance because its nice and sort. If you now hold your arm straight out and try pushing it down again it will be easier to push your arm down because it is now extended and has less rigidity.
This is also the effect that you will have on your ball joints etc. As mentioned, 1" or 25,4mm may not seem a lot but it is when it comes to steering geometry.
Personally i'd wait until you do have the money for the correct wheels or else you could end up spending hand over fist on new steering components in the long term?
:?