2015-23 Mustang Parts
Looking for the best cold air intake for your S550 Mustang? LMR has ranked and reviewed the best CAI for the 2015+ Coyote Mustangs.
The 2015-present S550 is the 6th generation of Mustang, and these potent pony cars have many different engine combinations that make great power. There are still ways to improve horsepower and torque for your Ford Mustang GT! The iconic 5.0L Coyote engine makes excellent power right off the dealership lot. These engines respond well to performance bolt-on modifications such as cold air intakes for those looking to make more power. Replacing the restrictive factory air filter and intake tube allows these high-performance engines to improve airflow and make great power. A cold air intake should always be one of the first performance modifications for your Ford Mustang.
The S550 Mustang had two generations of Coyote engines during its lifespan. The Gen 2 Coyote engine came in the 2015-17 Mustangs, whereas the Gen 3 Coyote engine started being used in the 2018+ Mustangs. You can read more about the differences between these two motors here: Differences Between The Mustang 5.0 Coyote Engine
JLT cold air intakes feature smooth rotational molded plastic intake tubes to maximize airflow. This manufacturing process allows JLT to create smooth bends and large mass air meter openings to optimize your performance further. These intake tubes are paired with S&B high-flow air filters. These intakes are finally topped off with air boxes that keep the engine heat from being pulled in by the intake. Combining these three core parts will also dress up any Mustang engine bay. A lifetime warranty backs all JLT cold air intakes.
Roush Performance parts have been improving the overall performance of Mustangs since they were founded in 1995 by racing legend Jack Roush. Many of their performance products come directly from their racing program or specialty-built performance Mustangs. Many of these performance parts not only add some serious horsepower but also retain your factory warranty. These Roush cold air intakes are also available in the Roush Performance Pac that add dyno-proven horsepower gains by adding Roush custom tunes. These Power Pacs are legal for use in most states right out of the box.
Ford Performance takes all of its winning and race-proven technology to bring you some of the best performance packs on the market. The cold air intakes and throttle bodies featured in these kits are the same ones found on the Shelby GT350 and GT350R Mustangs. They also include a Ford Performance Calibrator and a custom tune that maximizes the performance of these parts and keeps your Stang 50 State legal with a CARB E.O. number.
Steeda has been engineering race-proven Mustang performance parts since the company was founded by Dario Orlando back in 1988. They have done their homework for their Mustang GT cold air intakes. They engineered and developed cold air induction systems that improve airflow and maximize performance on the 5.0L Coyote motors based on their years of experience. Many of the components in these kits are designed and manufactured in the USA.
PMAS has a reputation for providing some of the best performing cold air intakes on the market for the Coyote Mustangs. Their intakes are available in both tune required and no tune required versions. The tune-required versions feature massive MAF openings to ensure they can support all of the supporting performance mods you throw at it, including long tube headers, cams, or intake manifold changes. Their intakes feature injection molding and billet MAF systems to ensure smooth airflow delivery through their patented mass air flow sensing system. This means maximized performance gains and smooth idles.
S550 Mustang cold air intakes (CAI) come in two distinctly different styles: custom-tune required intakes vs. no-tune required versions. Before selecting what brand intake you want, you first need to determine which style intake is “right” for you and your build. Each has its pros and cons, which we will cover below.
The no-tune required intake is just as the name suggests. These styles of intakes do not require you to purchase a handheld tuner and custom tune. For those customers looking to not void a warranty with custom tunes, these CAI are a great option to increase horsepower. The only downside to these intakes is that you do not get the custom tune's added performance and horsepower benefits.
Tune required cold air intakes need a custom tune to operate and drive properly. The custom tune is required because these intakes have a larger mass air meter (MAF) opening for improved airflow. The "pros” for these intakes are that combining the aftermarket intake and custom tune will net you substantially more power than the no-tune required counterpart. Custom tunes can also unlock extra performance benefits such as improved shifting, increased timing with higher octane fuels, and adjustments for different rear-end gears, just to name a few. The main downside to these intakes is that the custom tune will void your warranty.
S550 Mustangs can typically see an increase of 10-20 horsepower by simply adding a cold air intake. This number can vary due to the overall CAI design/type and other performance modifications done to your Mustang. If you purchase a tune-required cold air intake for your Mustang and pair it with a higher octane (91/93) custom tune, you can easily see hp gains well over 25 hp.
If you want to maximize the performance gains for your S550 Mustang, you will need to look at purchasing a tune-required cold air intake and pairing it with a 91/93 octane custom tune. If you are looking to gain a little more horsepower without the cost and hassle of adding a custom tune to your Mustang.
Yes, you will benefit from adding a cold air intake to your Mustang. Cold air intakes allow your motor to pull in cooler, more dense air from outside the engine compartment. Combined with these less restrictive intake tubes and a high flow filter, the engine can breathe easier and pull more air in when needed. Allowing your engine to pull in cooler air easily will help your Mustang make more horsepower, but you can also see improved throttle response and improved fuel efficiency.
The 5.0L Coyote engines found in the S550 Mustangs are proven to benefit from the addition of cold air intakes. The horsepower gains are just the tip of the iceberg on the benefits. These motors are known for their higher RPM ranges and need all the air to keep power from falling off in these higher ranges. A good cold air intake will ensure your Coyote-powered Mustang does not fall on its face during spirited driving or at the race track.
For the S550 Mustangs, your cold air intake may or may not require a custom tune. This will vary from intake to intake. Check the fitment/product notes before purchasing your Mustang cold air intake. Many of the cold air intakes we offer do not require a custom tune to be installed on your Mustang. These intakes keep the MAF housing within the factory specs to retain driveability and increase horsepower.; whereas the tune-required intakes will have larger MAF housings. The larger MAF housings/openings will allow the intake to pull more air into the engine, requiring a custom tune to calibrate your MAF settings to retain driveability.
Custom tunes will also allow you to increase the RPM ranges, add timing for higher octane fuels, and many other performance improvements to further improve the overall performance of your Mustang. These custom tunes will void your warranty and are intended for off-road or track use, so please proceed with caution and review your local emission laws before adding a custom tune and tune-required intake to your Mustang. Read more about the emissions/off-road details here: OFF-ROAD RACE ONLY DISCLAIMER.