50 YEARS OF

PERFORMANCE FILTRATION
INNOVATION

ABOUT K&N

For over 50 years, K&N® has been an industry-leader in automotive filtration and technology—offering products to increase performance, protection, and longevity in thousands of vehicle applications for consumers worldwide.

OUR HISTORY

In the early 1960s, two motorcycle racers, Ken Johnson and Norm McDonald (K&N), developed a ground-breaking new idea for an air filter—one that could perform under the demands of dusty, dirty off-road environments. After experimenting with numerous types of filter media, they discovered that an oiled cotton design allowed the filter to not only capture contaminants very efficiently, but also allowed it to be washed and reused, and the original K&N® High-Flow Air Filter™ was born. Five decades later, K&N® is still innovating industry-leading filtration technology, and offers outstanding protection for everything from top-fuel dragsters to commuter vehicles across the globe.

K&N HIGHLIGHTS

1952

Ken Johnson and Norm McDonald are both avid dirt-track racers in Southern California, and meet for the first time

1957

Ken Johnson and Norm McDonald decide to go into business together, and open a motorcycle shop in Loma Linda, California

1969

Ken & Norm start developing a brand-new filter design—which would later become the iconic K&N High-Flow Air Filter™. K&N as a filter company is officially born. (Pictured: K&N’s first manufacturing building in Riverside, CA)

1970

K&N’s very first race support trailer

1972

Ken Johnson and Jerry Mall at the SEMA show

1974

“King” Kenny Roberts on his iconic K&N-equipped Yamaha race bike

1977

Early years of manufacturing with K&N’s first employee, Mary Lou

1988

K&N introduces the first Wrench-Off oil filter

1992

K&N releases its first cold air intake system

2005

Carl Judice reaches 1,000,000 miles in his 1998 Chevy with one K&N air filter

2014

K&N releases its first washable cabin air filter

2016

K&N becomes the Official Filter of NHRA

2017

The K&N built and operated Mustang race car wins the American Iron Championship

2019

K&N celebrates 50 years in business, thanks to loyal customers like you!

2019

K&N releases a premium washable home air filter line

Learn more about the origins of K&N straight from the founders,
Norm McDonald and Ken Johnson.

WHAT MAKES K&N THE BEST IN THE AFTERMARKET?

All K&N products undergo rigorous testing to ensure that they adhere to demanding quality standards. We stand behind our products with some of the most extensive warranties in the aftermarket.

HORSEPOWER TESTING

Horsepower and torque claims are based on testing of an actual vehicle on a dynamometer before and after a K&N product has been installed. Horsepower/torque testing is performed on Dyno Jet 248 and SuperFlow 880E dynamometers, which measure actual brake horsepower and torque at the wheel(s) receiving power from the drive train. For most intake systems, dynamometer charts are available on the individual product pages under “Resources”.

AIRFLOW TESTING

K&N performs all airflow testing on a SuperFlow Corporation SF-1020 flow bench. The SF-1020 is a computerized flow bench capable of measuring airflow rates up to 1020 cubic feet per minute (cfm) at test pressures of up to 65 inches of water. To read the details of air filter testing protocol, please visit the airflow testing protocol page.

PRODUCTS AND FACILITIES

In addition to performance air filters, K&N® manufactures a variety of other protection and performance products, including air intake systems, oil filters, fuel filters, cabin air filters, and home air filters. Over the course of five decades, we’ve built a reputation for exceptional quality and customer service that millions of customers trust.

K&N products are designed and manufactured on-site. K&N® is headquartered in Riverside, California, in a building complex spanning nearly 400,000 square feet, and also operates facilities in Grand Prairie, TX, England, China, and the Netherlands. K&N facilities include departments for engineering, product design, manufacturing, warehousing, test facilities, purchasing, sales, customer service, marketing, and corporate offices.

K&N Warehouse

Dynamometer Testing

Vibration Testing Lab

RACING AND PARTNERS

K&N is a proud partner of many prominent sports organizations, including NASCAR, NHRA, and many others. To view all of our upcoming events, please view our events schedule.

VIEW EVENTS SCHEDULE