DENSO is celebrating 10 years of its patented Twin Tip (TT) Spark Plug technology. Unique to the independent aftermarket, DENSO’s TT Spark Plugs are available in nickel and iridium, offering 87% car parc coverage throughout Europe.

The Nickel TT Spark Plug was inspired by DENSO’s Super Ignition Plug, the highest available spark plug technology on the market, typically used for premium engines with specific emissions and performance needs. Most standard nickel spark plugs feature flat, large electrode surfaces, which can restrict the ability of the spark ignition to expand. Instead, DENSO’s patented Nickel TT Spark Plugs feature a nickel centre and a twin protruding ground electrode with a slimmer diameter. The smaller electrode reduces the voltage requirement and creates a significantly more powerful spark, which is stronger even when operating in lower outside temperatures. Thus, Nickel TT Spark Plugs are able to provide a similar performance to a platinum spark plug, but for the price of a standard nickel plug.

DENSO engineers quickly realised that by developing spark plugs with more powerful technology than that used for OE products, it was possible to consolidate several part numbers and provide a smaller, yet wider-ranging portfolio for the aftermarket.

The TT range was bolstered significantly in 2015, when DENSO introduced iridium spark plugs. The Iridium TT features the world’s smallest electrode diameter at 0.4mm, meaning that it demonstrates superior spark power and provides more effective ignition of air-fuel mixture. It features a unique iridium rhodium alloy with the highest iridium ratio in the market for the centre electrode, in addition to a bespoke platinum alloy for the ground electrode. This allows for an extended lifespan of up to 120,000 km – more than three times that of a standard nickel plug.

The Iridium TT is designed to deliver greater horsepower, improved torque and better fuel efficiency, resulting in faster starts, smoother idling and lower emissions, even when compared with OE-manufactured equivalent products.

Today, the TT range is made up of a consolidated 35 part numbers, 16 for Nickel TT and 19 for Iridium TT, with 87% car parc coverage, with this range set to expand to satisfy new engine requirements.