There's a lot to be excited about with Pontiac's G8. The engine's power, the upcoming manual transmission, the sleek and near-minimalist interior and a smooth exterior design is combined with a surprisingly affordable sticker price. But, people often overlook the tires and wheels of the car. Remember, the G8 is a performance vehicle. It provides a startling amount of horsepower (especially in the V8 engine). But, all the horsepower in the world is nearly useless without the right tires.

The standard G8 models come with 18-inch alloy wheels. They're typically fitted with summer performance tires to help grip the road and compensate for the power of the G8's engine. The GXP model comes with 19-inch polished aluminum wheels. They come with a stylish machined look to them. You can fit the wheels with summer performance tires or all-season tires (depending upon what you're trying to achieve). Both types of tires, when combined with the G8's enhanced steering and suspension, provide extraordinary cornering ability.

When you're driving the G8 (any of the models), you'll notice that the wheels and all-purpose tires track predictably; especially around sharp bends. That's a sign of good engineering. If you upgrade to the Performance Package (an additional $600), you can have the special 245/40R19 Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tires placed on the GXP's 19-inch wheels. Again, tires are one of the unsung heroes of the G8. It supports the impressive engine, suspension and other components that have helped turn the G8 into one of the world's lowest-priced high-performance vehicles.