The C6’s stock Goodyear Eagle F1 run flats are terrible, so we looked for the best non run flat tires for C6 Corvette owners who want a superior replacement.
The C6 Corvette was its 6th generation and was produced from 2005 to 2013. It featured an extremely competent base trim in a coupe and convertible versions as well as the Z06, Grand Sport, and the iconic ZR1.
But, for some reason, Chevrolet thought it would be a good idea to fit many C6 Corvettes with run flat tires from Goodyear.
It turns out that was not a great plan.
The factory-specified Goodyears have been universally disliked by owners and are usually found in last place during comparison tests against non run flat tires.
In fact, the stock Goodyears scored below a 5.0 out of 10 for comfort, treadwear, and, most importantly, the “Would You Recommend” category in Tire Rack’s customer survey with over 500,000 miles of data.
Therefore, we evaluated every single set of tires to determine the best non run flat tires for C6 Corvette owners who want to upgrade their handling, comfort, and durability.
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Best Non Run Flat Tires for C6 Corvette – Background Research
To determine the best non run flat options for the C6, we first had to determine all of the different wheel and tire sizes that were offered across all the various model trims of the C6.
We also made a note of the staggered wheel sizes that all C6 Corvettes offered from the factory.
So, here is a full breakdown of tire sizes by C6 model by year for those who are interested:
Year | Model | Front Tires | Rear Tires |
2005 to 2013 | Corvette C6 Base | 18 inches 245/40-18 | 19 inches 285/35-19 |
2006 to 2013 | Corvette Z06 | 18 inches 275/35-18 | 19 inches 325/30-19 |
2009 to 2013 | Corvette ZR1 | 19 inches 285/30-19 | 20 inches 335/25-20 |
2010 to 2013 | Corvette Grand Sport | 18 inches 275/35-18 | 19 inches 325/30-19 |
In our list below, we also note which tires are suitable for which C6 model.
Please note that there are no all-season tires available that will fit on the Z06 or Grand Sport.
There are also currently no winter tires on the market that have been specified to fit on any standard C6 Corvette.
We also compared every online tire seller and found that Tire Rack consistently offers the best prices & free shipping (even directly to your installer). They also include:
• FREE 2 year Road Hazard Protection with no-cost roadside assistance
• Tire Replacement Benefit to reimburse you 100% of the price of a damaged tire up to $599 per tire
• Flat Tire Repair Coverage up to $40 per tire
• Mobile Tire Installation Service that can come to your house
• Fast shipping usually in 1 to 2 business days
We’ve never seen a more generous benefits package from any other retailer, so we added a link to Tire Rack for each tire below.
The Best Non Run Flat Tires for C6 Corvette – Summer Tires
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
Fits:
- Base Coupe & Convertible
- Z06
- Grand Sport
The Pilot Sport line is the undisputed leader when it comes to ultra-performance summer tires.
They ranked first in all of our evaluations and were also rated as the #1 tire out of 37 “Max Performance Summer Tires” by Tire Rack customers, earning the highest scores in every single category.
Additionally, Michelin provides a 6 Year / 15,000 Mile treadwear warranty for staggered wheel setups like those found on a C6.
Continental ExtremeContact02
Fits:
- Base Coupe & Convertible
- Z06
- Grand Sport
- ZR1
Continental’s ultra-capable ExtremeContact02 tires are a great alternative to the Michelins that are also slightly cheaper, but still offer world-class performance.
These newly released tires are projected to match the Michelins in every performance category, although there is not enough data to rank them yet.
But, early feedback from real-world owners indicate that these tires are lightyears ahead of the stock run flats and should be a class leader.
They also fit on the ZR1, which makes them an extremely versatile and accessible tire for the whole C6 generation.
Continental matches Michelin with a 6 Year / 15,000 Mile treadwear warranty for C6 owners with staggered wheels.
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 – Best Budget Summer Tire
Fits:
- Base Coupe & Convertible
- Z06
- Grand Sport
For C6 owners looking to save some cash, but don’t want to compromise the performance or tread life of their tires, we recommend these super-sticky and long-wearing Firestones.
They earned 1st place out of 9 “Ultra High Performance Summer Tires” in Tire Rack’s latest customer survey, which is extremely impressive since they are usually 30-40% cheaper than most other brands.
The only negative about them is the fact that Firestone does not provide a treadwear warranty with these tires.
But, their class-leading tread life rating and overall budget pricing still makes them one of the best values for C6 owners looking to switch away from run flats.
The Best Non Run Flat Tires for C6 Corvette – All-Season Tires
Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus
Fits:
- Base Coupe & Convertible
- ZR1
If you live in a harsh wintry environment, but still want to use your C6 all year round, then our study shows that these Continentals are the best all-around all-season tires to consider.
They earned an impressive 1st place out of 26 “Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires” in Tire Rack’s customer feedback survey and scored the highest overall marks in their category for their handling in every season as well as their ride quality and road noise.
Yet, they also earned the 2nd highest score for their tread life.
Continental backs these stellar all-season tires with a 6 Year / 25,000 Mile treadwear warranty as well.
Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4
Fits:
- Base Coupe & Convertible
Michelin’s premium Pilot Sport line also makes an excellent all-season tire that can fit on base C6 Corvettes.
They captured 4th place out of 26 “Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires” in Tire Rack’s customer survey and earned the highest score for their dry weather performance, while also scoring the highest for comfort as well.
Michelin provides a 6 Year / 22,500 Mile treadwear warranty with this set of rubber, too.