Few family sedans are genuinely fun to drive. Fewer still offer sporty handling, come with an overload of safety tech, and have four-cylinder engine options for lively acceleration. Yet, despite all these exciting features, the Mazda 6’s sales numbers are relatively weak.
That’s because the Mazda 6 doesn’t come with quality factory-installed tires. Its OE tires fail to enhance this saloon’s strong points. Worse, they’re also unable to redress this car’s ride-related flaws. As a result, despite all its qualities, Mazda 6 isn’t the market’s favorite sedan.
While we can’t do much to convince Mazda to replace the 6’s OE tires with better ones – only the feedback of customers like you can force the carmaker’s hand. We can suggest tires that would help you make the most of your Mazda 6. That’s why we have come up with this article.
In the following paragraphs, we’ll review and rate the top 11 best tires for Mazda 6. The list was drawn based on the opinions of Mazda 6 drivers like you and our own experience with these tires. So, you can count on all these tires to take your driving experience to the next level.
#1. Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring – Best Overall
The Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring is our top tire pick for Mazda 6 for various reasons.
Cooper’s exclusive StabiliEdge Performance Technology interlocks the tire’s tread elements for better steering responsiveness. This technology also improves the tire’s high-speed stability. You can also credit it for this model’s exceptional cornering performance.
Like most Cooper tires, the CS5 Ultra Touring comes with full-depth 3D Micro-Gauge siping. These sipes or biting edges improve this tire’s traction in mild wintry conditions, justifying the M+S rating that you don’t often get to see on all-season grand-touring tires.
Wet performance is another area where this tire excels. The 3D sipes mentioned above, as well as the inboard shoulders and outboard shoulder blocks, don’t let this tire skid on slippery surfaces. The trio also provides the CS5 Ultra Touring with short braking distances.
Durability is also beyond reproach. A spiral-wrapped nylon replacement has made this tire’s interior sturdier than your standard grand touring tire. As a result, no matter how many minor collisions this tire is involved in, you won’t see its shape suffering any deformation.
Pros
- Competitively priced
- Excellent traction and grip on dry tarmac
- Outstanding wet performance
- Extensive treadwear warranty
Cons
- Poor traction in deep snow and ice
#2. Michelin Defender T+H – Best All-Season
The Michelin Defender T+H is a dependable year-round performer. This tire is as reliable on dry roads as it is in wet and slippery conditions. Plus, unlike the majority of all-season tires, it offers a superb steering response, giving the feel of a performance tire.
This tire features the same tread compound as the LTX M/S, its colleague and competitor. But there’s one key difference. The T+H has an asymmetric tread pattern vis-à-vis the LTX M/S’s symmetric tread design. As a result, it offers better traction on dry and wet roads.
Michelin’s IntelliSipe Technology plays the same role for this tire as Cooper’s StabiliEdge does for the CS5 Ultra Touring. This technology uses inter-locking sipes to provide the Defender T+H with superb wet grip while improving its traction on snow- and ice-covered roads.
An overwhelming number of Michelin tires released in the past few years feature Comfort Control Technology. The Defender T+H is no exception. As a result, you can count on this model to deliver comfortable and noise-free rides on the highway.
An extended 80,000-mile treadwear warranty helps this model go one up against our top pick, which is backed for 70,000 miles. But we still think many Mazda 6 drivers would prefer the CS5 Ultra Touring. Why? The Defender T+H doesn’t come cheap.
Pros
- Excellent handling and braking on dry surfaces
- Quiet and comfortable handling in most conditions
- Outstanding treadwear warranty (80,000 miles)
Cons
- Doesn’t come cheap
#3. Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 – Best Ultra-High-Performance
Excellent fuel economy, plush ride quality and affordable price tag – these are some of the features the TrueContact Tour and 2022 Nissan Altima have in common. So, if you want a tire that complements this sedan’s plus points, look no further.
Start with the fuel economy. Continental’s EcoPlus Technology lowers this tire’s gas consumption by reducing its rolling resistance. This gives an extra benefit to Altima owners – for lower rolling resistance means less pressure on this sedan’s already overburdened engine.
This will ensure that the Altima’s already lackluster acceleration gets a little less lackluster. So that this sedan can at least compete if not beat its rivals on the highway.
An all-season tread compound has been molded into an asymmetric tread design. The result? Consistent road contact regardless of speed or road conditions. This means improved wet traction and an improvement in the Altima’s notoriously high steering response time.
Continental conducted a few tests to estimate this tire’s treadlife. The results showed that the TrueContact Tour has a 27% longer treadlife than its predecessor. Throw into the mix this tire’s low price tag, and it means you’ll save money in the short- and long-term.
Pros
- Enhanced traction on wet road surfaces
- Offers a more precise steering response than its predecessor
- Much improved braking performance
- Useful wear and alignment indicators
Cons
- Could have performed better on wet roads
#4. Goodyear Eagle Sport All Season – Best High-Performance
The Goodyear Eagle Sport All-Season is a must-have for all those drivers who want the performance of a UHP tire but the comfort of an A/S model. This model’s all-season tread compound and performance-driven features are why it could deliver the best of both worlds.
Unlike its more famous siblings – F1 Asymmetric 6, LS-2, and F1 SuperCar 3 – this tire has ditched a high-performance compound in favor of an all-season one. The result? This model performs as reliably on wet and snow-covered roads as it does in dry summer conditions.
A 50,000-mile treadwear warranty is something you don’t usually get with HP tires. Its presence here is due to one and one thing only: the all-season tread compound. So, now you have two reasons to tell anyone why you purchased the Eagle Sport All Season.
Surprisingly for a tire with an A/S tread compound, the Eagle Sport makes no compromises on high-speed performance. The credit goes to its asymmetric tread pattern, notched center ribs, and outboard shoulder blocks. The trio is why this model can beat HP tires on the road.
Still, there are a few concerns users have about this tire. First, most people aren’t happy about this model’s load, which they claim can get unbearably loud at higher speeds. Plus, in an example that you can only tick so many right boxes, this tire’s winter traction is subpar.
Pros
- Excellent (50,000-mile) treadwear warranty for a high-performance tire
- Comes with industry-standard treadwear indicators
- Offers excellent steering responsiveness and high-speed handling
Cons
- Loud road noise
#5. Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sport – Best Summer Performance
The Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sport has it all. Outstanding high-speed stability, exceptional cornering performance, and protection against accidental curb damage – this tire has everything you might expect to get from a premium summer performance tire.
Start with high-speed stability. This tire’s asymmetric tread design and a 3D center block ensure maximum contact with the road surface. The duo won’t let your Mazda 6’s road contact break, regardless of on which side of the speed limit you’re driving.
Next comes cornering performance. A Semi-Slick Shoulder design has enhanced the width of the contact patch on this tire’s shoulders, letting you attack corners with a vengeance. You can enter and exit corners at high speeds and without any care in the world.
This tire is also protected against accidental curb damage. A built-in rim protector makes sure of that. Moving on, wide straight grooves evacuate water from beneath the tread area. Their action not only aids in hydroplane control but also helps with wet traction.
Yet, like nine out of ten summer tires, this tire is useless when the weather turns cold and snowy. You won’t have any choice but to take off these tires and replace them with their dedicated winter counterparts once the roads are chock-full of snow.
Pros
- Wide size availability for a summer performance tire
- Wet surface grip is very good
- Low road noise and rides comfortably
Cons
- Not reliable in harsh wintry conditions
#6. Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 – Best Winter Tire
The Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 faced strong competition from the WS-90 for this spot. Yet, in the end, there were a few areas in which this tire fared better. This convinced us to ditch the WS-90 – our top winter pick for multiple sedans – in favor of this tire.
Unlike the WS-90, this model comes with a special rubber compound. One whose flexibility enables it to withstand sub-zero temperatures like a charm. It is due to the rubber compound’s pliability that the DM-V2 can safely carry you from point A to point B through a snowstorm.
A large number of biting edges help this tire plough through snow, making sure that you don’t have to stop unless you feel the need to stop. Multiple circumferential grooves allow water particles to exit the tread area as easily as they entered it, resisting hydroplaning.
Bridgestone’s MultiCell Technology is one of the stand-out feature of this tire. It makes sure that any snow particles that have succeeded in penetrating the tread area aren’t kicked out. The resulting snow-on-snow traction improves this tire’s controllability in wintry conditions.
Unfortunately, the MultiCell structure only covers the first 55% of the tread depth. After a few years of usage, it won’t be any useful.
Pros
- Superb braking power
- Great hydroplaning resistance
- Excellent traction on deep snow and ice
Cons
- Multi-cell structure features only the first 55% of the tread depth
#7. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 – Best Studded Snow Tire
Although the Blizzak DM-V2 is a dedicated snow tire, it might not be able to do the job in places with constant snow and ice 12 months a year. So, if you encounter deep snow often, what you need is a set of studded snow tires. Enter the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9.
Winner of the Popular Science magazine’s What’s New Award for the year 2017, the Hakkapeliitta 9 features an eco-friendly tread compound. The tread compound, in turn, features canola oils that help make this tire more pliable and stronger in sub-zero temperatures.
While the majority of studded tires have a single stud, this model features two different stud types. This is done to give you the same grip whether you’re cruising, cornering, accelerating or braking. The new stud placement technology has thus done wonders for this tire’s reliability.
Small wonder, then, that this model sports the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake 3PMSF emblem. This logo is only awarded to tires that meet the rater’s strict criteria for usability in severe wintry conditions.
There’s one thing you need to know before purchasing this tire. Many public roads around the US don’t allow the entry of studded snow tires. So, before you decide to have this tire delivered to your doorstep, make sure you’ll be able to drive it.
Pros
- Exceptional traction on snow and ice
- Equally reliable performance whether you’re braking, cornering or accelerating
- Best in-class braking distances
Cons
- Very noisy on the highway
#8. Michelin Premier A/S – Best All-Season
Nothing about the Michelin Premier A/S’s design would make you feel as if you’re looking at an all-season touring tire. Instead, everything about this tire’s design –bold lettering, visible sipes, sharp looks – makes you feel as if you’re looking at a high-performance tire.
But make no mistake. The Premier A/S is a shining example of the things tire brands could do with a touring tire. This tire has some of the best dry handling and wet traction levels we have seen on touring tires. Its grip in mild wintry conditions is equally earth-shattering.
Someone has to take the credit for all of this. And in the case of Premier A/S, that someone is its EverGrip Technology. All the biting edges, all the grooves that aid in water evacuation, all of these are the blessings of this technology. Without it, this tire would have been a lot worse.
Having said that, the credit for this tire’s hushed highway ride must be laid at Comfort Control Technology’s door. It is this technology that exploits the Premier A/S’s computer-optimized tread design to reduce road noise, letting you enjoy long drives in absolute silence.
Despite having all these qualities, this tire features so low on our list of the best tires for Mazda 6. Want to know why? Its lackluster warranty of 60,000 miles is to blame. This warranty is no less than 20,000 miles smaller than what you get from other premium touring tires.
Pros
- Comfortable and quiet ride
- Excellent traction on wet surfaces
- Has all the traits to outlast its treadlife warranty
Cons
- Relatively small treadwear warranty (60,000 miles)
#9. Pirelli Cinturato P7 – Best All-Season Touring
The Pirelli Cinturato P7 isn’t your average all-season touring tire. Mainly because your average A/S touring tire doesn’t perform as well as this model in summer conditions. Neither does it offer the kind of ride comfort and fuel savings you get from the Cinturato P7.
At the time of its release, Pirelli claimed that this tire has 20% less rolling resistance than a standard touring tire. This means that it wouldn’t punish you as much at the pump as its fuel-guzzling counterparts. It also means that the P7 would put less burden on the engine.
A computer optimized tread pattern minimizes road noise with the help of pitch sequencing. Both of them deflect the uproar that most tires product at highway speeds before it could reach your cabin. The result? A quiet ride, even when you have windows rolled all the way down.
On the surface, the main job of the four wide circumferential grooves is evacuating water and reducing the risk of hydroplaning. What many people don’t know about these grooves is that they also help keep the contact patch dry, enhancing this tire’s wet traction.
Having said that, there are a few areas where the Cinturato P7 could have done better. This tire wears much quickly than a standard touring tire, which means you may have to replace it soon. Still, its 70,000 miles treadwear warranty makes us confident about its treadlife.
Pros
- Available in a budget price point
- Backed with an excellent 70,000-mile treadlife warranty
- Offers excellent fuel economy
Cons
- Wears pretty quickly
#10. Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 – Best Summer Performance
Three features separate the Firehawk Indy 500 from other summer performance tires.
The first is that this model doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg, making it a perfect option for Mazda 6 drivers who are on a budget. Secondly, unlike most its siblings, the Indy 500 is useful in rainy conditions. And finally, it comes with a 65,000-mile treadwear warranty.
Yet, on the areas that matter, the Indy 500 is a hardcore summer performance tire. It offers excellent responsiveness to the person holding the steering. Grip and traction are excellent, both on dry and wet surfaces as well as when you’re attacking corners.
As you enter and exit corners at high speeds, the added grip prevents the tire from spinning out of control. Another benefit that it offers is superb high-speed stability. Finally, the added grip also deserves the credit for how controllable this tire is at higher speeds.
Firestone’s exclusive Pulse Groove Technology keeps the contact patch dry to improve traction on wet pavement. A plethora of grooves evacuate water to minimize hydroplaning. Together, the Pulse Groove Technology and Groove shorten the tire’s wet braking distances.
Pros
- Highly responsive
- Usable in rainy conditions
- 65,000-mile limited treadlife warranty
Cons
- Not for wintry conditions
#11. General Altimax RT43 – Best Value
Even though it carries the General brand name, the Altimax RT43 is looked on by suspicion by some drivers. Want to know why? This tire’s budget asking price is to blame. Yet, as we’re going to show, sometimes in life you get more than what you paid for.
A dual-layer tread compound proves what we just said is true.
The tread compound’s lower layer is the softer of the two, almost as pliable as the one you see in all-season tires with winter characteristics. The layer’s suppleness enables it to soak vibrations and keep the ride comfortable, allowing you to enjoy your time in the cabin.
Softness isn’t the word one could use to explain the characteristics of the upper layer of the tread compound, which is the harder of the two. The layer’s firmness is the reason why this tire’s steering response and resistance against deformation is so good.
Multiple road maintenance indicators are also on offer. The first – Visual Alignment Indicators – let you inspect if all the wheels are aligned. That too without visiting a mechanic. The second – Replacement Tire Monitor – let you keep an eye on the remaining tread depth.
Two more features distinguish this tire from competition. The first is its availability in 79 sizes from the 13-inch to 20-inch range and the second is an extensive 75,000-mile warranty. Hence proven: you don’t always have to break the bank to land high-quality tires.
Pros
- Comes with two highly useful tire indicators
- Has Sound Wave Suppression technology
- Twin cushion silica tread compound absorbs road vibrations
Cons
- Lackluster performance on snow and ice
Best Tires for Mazda 6
Touring Tires
All-season touring tires are without doubt the best choice for the average Mazda 6 driver. Firstly because these tires cost less in the short as well as long term. That is because they have an affordable price tag and come with extended treadwear warranties.
Their low asking price stems from these tires being made in high numbers, with the famous ‘demand and supply’ gap coming to the aid of customers like you. Per a conservative estimate, a set of touring tires costs less than 50% of high-performance or summer-performance tires.
Another thing that makes touring tires the best tires for Mazda 6 is their construction. One that allows them to offer a refined and noise-free driving experience, thereby complementing the strong suits of this stylish family sedan.
High- and Summer Performance
High- and summer-performance are best tires for Mazda 6 models that come with four cylinders. These tires low rolling resistance, high sidewall stiffness and enhanced cornering performance allows them to fulfil all the dreams of enthusiast drivers.
Furthermore, both these tires are much more responsive than all-season touring tires. The moment you turn the steering wheel of your Mazda 6, these tires will react. Plus, their high sidewall stiffness lets you enter and exit the corners without slowing down.
Having said that, these tires do throw a few spanners in the works. A major deal breaker is their price, which, as stated above, could be double of a standard all-season touring tire. Also, while most HP tires you saw above come with warranties, they are an exception not a norm.
Winter Tires
Winter tires are available in two types: studded and studless.
Studded winter tires are excellent if the sun rarely shines where you live. These tires give you the grip and traction to plough through the toughest of snow and on the slipperiest of ice. Yet, the fact that they are banned from several public roads means they aren’t a feasible choice for everyone.
Studless winter tires are thus our favorite. Sure, there was a time when these tires weren’t as reliable as their studded counterparts. But the emergence of new tire technologies over the past few decades means that a studless winter tire in 2022 is as safe as a studded tire.
Conclusion
Installing the right set of tires on your Mazda 6 would offer multiple benefits. This sedan’s fuel consumption will go down, its ride quality will go up and the acceleration will get even perkier. All in all, the best tires for Mazda 6 will improve every part of this saloon’s drive.
