Air Intake

When you really stop and think about it, that side-by-side of yours is basically one big air pump. The more clean air you can feed it, the better it performs. Side by Side Source carries a complete selection of aftermarket air intake upgrades that unleash your engine's potential, from high-flow replacement filters that drop right into your stock airbox to complete cold air intake systems that dramatically increase airflow and throttle response. From premium K&N filters to complete cold air intake kits with oversized filter elements, everything we carry is engineered specifically for the demanding conditions UTV engines face.

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Filter

FILTERS

Buyer's Guide for UTV Air Intake Systems: Helping You Shop!

Why Aftermarket Air Intake Upgrades Actually Matter

It may not be your first thought when workshopping how to squeeze more power and performance out of that engine, but simply put, air quality makes a humongous difference. If you’re running with a stock intake, you’re contending with more restrictive housings and smaller tubes that are capping your potential more than you realize. This is one of those instances where the aftermarket upgrade absolutely dwarfs stock. With one of our UTV air intake systems, you will reap the benefits of a larger filter surface area, smoother intake tract, and much higher flow.

A Look at Your UTV Air Intake Options: Complete System vs. Filter

To break it down simply, replacement air filters are going to give you a decent, easy-to-install and very affordable upgrade, including pre-filter kits that add a foam or mesh layer over your stock filter. These things will save your life more than once if you ride in extra dirty or dusty environments.

Complete cold air intake systems, on the other hand, are going to replace your entire stock intake, including the airbox, tube, and filter. These kits typically take advantage of oversized filter elements to deliver cooler, denser air for major performance upgrades. Trail riders in moderate dust might be perfectly happy with a high-flow replacement filter. Desert runners and serious mud riders usually benefit from pre-filters or complete intake systems with massive filter surface areas that can handle extreme dust loading without choking the engine.

Let’s Talk Maintenance: What Aftermarket Air Intake Systems Actually Require

Let's talk about the maintenance elephant in the room: oiled foam filters and cotton gauze filters require more attention than disposable paper elements. Washable filters generally need to be cleaned every 25-50 hours of operation. Pre-filters are easy: pop them off, rinse, dry, and reinstall. Complete cold air intake systems don't necessarily require more maintenance than stock, but their larger filters can sometimes be positioned where they're more exposed to water crossings or mud. You'll want to check them after particularly nasty rides to ensure they're not saturated or damaged.

Here's the real advantage: aftermarket side-by-side air filters generally give you much better warning before they're actually restricting airflow. Stock paper filters can look fine externally but be significantly clogged internally. Quality washable filters maintain more consistent airflow across their service life, and when they do get dirty, cleaning restores them to near-original performance. Just don't skip the maintenance. A dirty performance filter flows worse than a clean stock filter.

3 Top Selling UTV Air Intake Brands

K&N Engineering basically wrote the book on high-flow filtration with their washable, reusable cotton gauze filters that deliver excellent airflow without sacrificing protection.
aFe Power is all about cold air intake systems that merge chunky filter elements with major power gains for powersport riders.
Agency Power focuses on high-performance intakes that dramatically ratchet up airflow and filtration.

5 Top Selling UTV Air Intake Products

Honda Pioneer 700 owners trust this High-Flow Air Filter by K&N for its washable, reusable design that improves airflow while providing superior engine protection compared to disposable paper filters.
For Polaris RZR 800 riders looking to upgrade filtration, this Filter Replacement by Unique Metal Products delivers improved flow characteristics with quality construction at an attractive price point.
Take your RZR 800 breathing to the next level with this SuperFilter Intake Kit by Unique Metal Products, which combines an oversized filter element with optimized intake tract design for maximum performance gains.
Serious RZR builders swear by this Aries Powersport Stage 1 Cold Air Intake System with Pro Guard 7 Filter Media by aFe Power, which relocates the intake for cooler, denser air while dramatically increasing filter surface area.
Textron Wildcat XX owners chasing maximum power should check out this Cold Air Intake Kit by Agency Power, engineered specifically for high-performance applications with dyno-proven results.

UTV Air Intake Frequently Asked Questions

Do you sell OEM-compatible filters?

We sure do! In fact, our OEM filters come with model-specific sealing beads to make sure they fit perfectly.

What about my ECU?

A newer machine should be able to accommodate the change in airflow without ECU tuning, but with older machines and/or a larger intake, a custom tune may be the best move. Checking with the manufacturer of your intake can help.

Do air intakes really provide a boost in horsepower?

They do indeed, as can filters! Realistically, a high-flow replacement might get you 2-5 horsepower, while a full-on cold air intake can provide as much as 8-15 horsepower depending on several factors.