The cylinder head gasket includes a gasket layer which presents an inner periphery that surrounds an opening. The gasket layer has a first thickness adjacent the inner periphery. A combustion seal is positioned in the opening and extends circumferentially around an axis. The combustion seal is joined with the inner periphery of the gasket layer. The combustion seal has a height that is greater than the first thickness of the gasket layer. The combustion seal includes at least one seal body which is generally C-shaped as viewed in cross-section and is resiliently flexible for maintaining fluid tight seals with the cylinder head and the engine block. The C-shaped seal body presents a pocket which faces away from the inner periphery of the of the gasket layer for receiving combustion gasses during use to improve the fluid tight seals established with the cylinder head and the engine block.