
Spark plug wire manufacturers use different core materials and designs to strike the right balance to achieve their desired goal. Some wires are made to produce minimal resistance. This is referred to as EMI or RFI and can wreak havoc, especially in sensitive radio communications. This can affect engine performance and fuel economy in a negative way.Įlectro-magnetic interference (EMI) or radio frequency interference (RFI): As the higher charges of today’s electronic ignitions are moved through the wires, an electromagnetic field is created around the wire. This field can interfere with sensitive electronic devices and create noise that can be heard through the radio and even affect sensors. Wires with higher ohms-per-foot ratings will allow less current to flow from the spark source to the plugs. Resistance: Rated in ohms-per-foot, resistance is the ignition wire’s tendency to resist the flow of the electric current. To fully comprehend the demands put on your spark plug ignition wires, you need to first understand a couple key terms. It can be a tall order, but those are the qualifications for a good set of spark plug wires. Plus, they have to survive in the high temperatures and extreme environment of the engine compartment.

On top of that, the wires must often deal with larger amounts of voltage from modern ignitions and aftermarket ignition coils. The challenge is to get the maximum amount of this charge to the plugs without creating interference (EMI or RFI) for nearby electrical components. The number one job of any spark plug wire is to transfer an electrical charge from your ignition to your spark plugs. We’ll aim to remedy that here by covering the basics of choosing high performance spark wires for your ride. That’s why it’s important to select a good quality set of spark plug ignition wires to deliver juice to your spark plugs.Įven though spark plug wires are simple parts (there are absolutely no moving mechanical parts to them), there’s surprisingly little information on the Internet about choosing the right spark plug wires for a given application.

Spark plug wires can’t add horsepower (despite what some may claim), but they can adversely affect your vehicle’s performance.
