--- title: "Best Spark Plugs: Keep Your Engine Purring With These Top Picks" description: "Looking for a spark plug? Our team of experts narrowed down the best spark plugs on the market. Read this review and save yourself time and money." date: "2021-05-27" modified: "2023-06-05" authors: - name: "Zach Faulds" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/zach-faulds" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/reviews/27526/best-spark-plugs" categories: - "Car Parts" - "Engine & Motors" - "Replacement Parts" - "The Garage" tags: - "Buying Guides" - "commerce" - "NoAds" - "Roundup" --- # Best Spark Plugs: Keep Your Engine Purring With These Top Picks ![]() Many car owners take the mighty spark plug for granted. It's a simple yet crucial device that's responsible for delivering the spark that ignites the fuel mixture in your engine. There's more to it than that, though. Your engine needs a spark plug that offers the right temperature, gap, and fit to ensure the best performance of your engine. Once you figure out those basic details, you need to find out what's the best spark plug within those parameters. That's the part we're here to help you sort out with our recommendations for the best spark plugs. ## Summary List - Best Overall: [NGK Iridium IX]() - Best Value: [Denso Platinum]() - Premium Pick: [Bosch Copper]() - Most Durable: [Bosch Copper with Nickel]() - Best Value Runner-Up: [Champion Copper]() ## Our Methodology Spark plugs are crucial to the safe, clean, and trouble-free operation of any car. Though modern spark plugs are incredibly long-lasting, reliable, and come in a huge range of predetermined fitments, they will still need to be changed eventually. So we researched all of them to find the best ones to choose for your car, and made decisions based on that research and our personal experience with these brands of spark plugs. ## Best Spark Plugs Reviews & Recommendations ## Our Verdict For a high-quality spark plug, consider the [NGK 6619 Iridium IX Spark Plugs](), featuring excellent performance, power, efficiency, and reliability. Or, choose the [Denso 4504 PK20TT Platinum Spark Plugs](), an affordable platinum spark plug that delivers excellent durability and performance. ## What To Consider When Choosing Spark Plugs ## Key Features ### Heat Range Keeping a spark plug at the optimal heat range is extremely important to performance and engine health. To cool and the plug will foul up and fail to run properly, and too hot will lead to detonation or pinging. Which heat range will work for your engine depends on a few factors, with boost and compression being the biggest players in most cases. For factory vehicles, using the heat range suggested by the plug manufacturer will usually suffice. However, those who have modified their vehicle will likely use that suggestion as a starting point, using different combinations of plug heat ranges until they find what works. ### Electrode Material Spark plugs feature a center and side electrode to create the spark. The center electrode almost always features a copper core with a nickel, iridium, or platinum coating on the tip. The coating is there to protect the electrode because it is more resistant to the conditions inside the combustion chamber, effectively extending plug life. A lot will determine which material is best for your vehicle, but iridium or platinum is generally better for modern commuting vehicles. Nickel, often called copper for simplicity, plugs are better for older and higher-performance applications. This is because copper plugs, while plagued by the shorter life span, can throw a stronger spark and maintain cooler temperatures. ### Thread Pitch and Reach Not all spark plugs are the same dimensions because not all engines place the same demands on these aspects of the plug. You want to make sure that whatever plugs you consider fit what the vehicle calls for. Thankfully, these are standardized, with only a few options to select from, and all you need to do is match thread pitch and reach to ensure a plug will physically work for your engine. ## FAQs You've got questions. *The Drive* has answers. ## Author Zach Faulds is a highly dedicated professional writer with over 15 years of experience. Recognized for work with reputable companies including The Wall Street Journal, Time Inc., Merck & Co., and the United States Golf Association, Zach has a proven track record of wordsmithing, driving social media interaction, and increasing brand awareness. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [Twitter]()