Sooo, I've tried a few setups and honestly, if youre looking for the absolute best bang-for-your-buck, you gotta do the charcoal filter delete first. It costs $0 and basically wakes up the induction sound instantly!! For the actual filter, I actually went with the HKS Super Air Filter 70017-AT130 and im super happy with it.

I'm a big fan of dry filters because, like you mentioned, those oiled ones can be a recipe for a dirty MAF sensor later on. The HKS uses a non-woven fabric that flows really well but keeps the maintenance simple. I think it was only like $45?? Way cheaper than a full intake and you get like 90% of the benefit.

The throttle response feels a bit snappier now, especially coming out of corners. Plus, keeping the stock airbox means no heat soak issues during summer track days. Its just a solid, practical mod that works well without breaking the bank. Good luck with the build!!

Sooo, I've tried a few setups and honestly, if youre looking for the absolute best bang-for-your-buck, you gotta do the charcoal filter delete first. It costs $0 and basically wakes up the induction sound instantly!! For the actual filter, I actually went with the HKS Super Air Filter 70017-AT130 and im super happy with it.

I'm a big fan of dry filters because, like you mentioned, those oiled ones can be a recipe for a dirty MAF sensor later on. The HKS uses a non-woven fabric that flows really well but keeps the maintenance simple. I think it was only like $45?? Way cheaper than a full intake and you get like 90% of the benefit.

The throttle response feels a bit snappier now, especially coming out of corners. Plus, keeping the stock airbox means no heat soak issues during summer track days. Its just a solid, practical mod that works well without breaking the bank. Good luck with the build!!

Sooo, I've tried a few setups and honestly, if youre looking for the absolute best bang-for-your-buck, you gotta do the charcoal filter delete first. It costs $0 and basically wakes up the induction sound instantly!! For the actual filter, I actually went with the HKS Super Air Filter 70017-AT130 and im super happy with it.

I'm a big fan of dry filters because, like you mentioned, those oiled ones can be a recipe for a dirty MAF sensor later on. The HKS uses a non-woven fabric that flows really well but keeps the maintenance simple. I think it was only like $45?? Way cheaper than a full intake and you get like 90% of the benefit.

The throttle response feels a bit snappier now, especially coming out of corners. Plus, keeping the stock airbox means no heat soak issues during summer track days. Its just a solid, practical mod that works well without breaking the bank. Good luck with the build!!

Just sharing my experience: I went through this exact same internal debate about six months ago when I first got my GR86. Honestly, I was super paranoid about the oiled filter thing because I’ve seen enough MAF sensors get gunked up on older platforms to know it's a huge pain to clean. Sooo, I decided to play it safe and stick with dry elements for peace of mind.

I actually ended up trying the Tom's Racing Super Ram II Air Filter 17801-TSR47 after seeing it on a few track builds. It’s a dry-type filter, so no oil issues to worry about, and the build quality is top-tier. Compared to the Blitz Suspension Power Air Filter LMD 59658, which is another solid dry option I looked at, the Tom's filter felt a bit more robust in the frame.

TL;DR: Dry filters are the way to go for long-term safety.

Comparison:
1. Tom's Racing Super Ram II Air Filter 17801-TSR47: Pros - High-quality dry media, zero MAF risk, reputable JDM brand. Cons - a bit pricier than basic brands.
2. Blitz Suspension Power Air Filter LMD 59658: Pros - Great airflow, very affordable. Cons - felt a little thinner than the Tom's unit.

Also, i did the charcoal filter delete at the same time and seriously... it’s a must. It definitely makes the induction sound more aggressive without being obnoxious. No CEL issues either! Just gotta be careful not to snap the plastic tabs when ur opening the box lol. Anyway, I'm super happy with the setup now. Good luck with the build!! 👍

Sooo I’ve been messing with these platforms for years, and honestly, the Apex’i dry filter is the way to go!! I’ve used oiled ones before and eventually had MAF issues, which is just a total headache. For your GR86, removing that charcoal trap is literally the best free mod you can do—it really opens up the induction sound.

**TL;DR:** Go with a dry filter like Apex’i and definitely pull that charcoal filter out for better throttle response!

But real quick, are you planning on doing an exhaust soon too, or just sticking with intake stuff for now? gl!

> I’ve seen a lot of debate between the K&N performance filters and the Apexi dry-type filters.

Sooo I went through this last year when I first got my car! Honestly, I started with the K&N 33-5060 High-Performance Replacement Air Filter cuz it was easy to find at the local shop. It sounded okay, but I lowkey got paranoid about the oil messin' with the MAF sensor after reading forum horror stories... so I switched to the Apexi Dual Funnel Power Intake Filter 503-T113. Tbh, the dry filter feels more "set it and forget it" for me. Both helped the throttle response feel a bit snappier, but the charcoal delete was the real MVP for induction noise!

> I’ve seen a lot of debate between the K&N performance filters and the Apexi dry-type filters.

Sooo I went through this last year when I first got my car! Honestly, I started with the K&N 33-5060 High-Performance Replacement Air Filter cuz it was easy to find at the local shop. It sounded okay, but I lowkey got paranoid about the oil messin' with the MAF sensor after reading forum horror stories... so I switched to the Apexi Dual Funnel Power Intake Filter 503-T113. Tbh, the dry filter feels more "set it and forget it" for me. Both helped the throttle response feel a bit snappier, but the charcoal delete was the real MVP for induction noise!

> I’ve seen a lot of debate between the K&N performance filters and the Apexi dry-type filters.

Sooo I went through this last year when I first got my car! Honestly, I started with the K&N 33-5060 High-Performance Replacement Air Filter cuz it was easy to find at the local shop. It sounded okay, but I lowkey got paranoid about the oil messin' with the MAF sensor after reading forum horror stories... so I switched to the Apexi Dual Funnel Power Intake Filter 503-T113. Tbh, the dry filter feels more "set it and forget it" for me. Both helped the throttle response feel a bit snappier, but the charcoal delete was the real MVP for induction noise!