2013 Tacoma - brighter headlights wanted, any better bulbs vs stock?

Looking to get "more" + whiter light than my 2013 stock headlights (new - just replaced by body shop, due to damage by animal strike). Don't want to spend too much - Are there better lamps made - that will outperform OEM? Simple installation? any info appreciated. thx.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-ultimate-headlight-upgrade-h4-not-led-or-hid.398066/

This^^^^^^

 

ah thanks. sounds like a wiring harness is needed, also...

 

For just a replacement bulb that makes a pretty big difference i have the sylvania ZXE bulbs. I’ve been using them for about 5 years I’ve been getting about 2 years out of the headlights. I use them for fog light bulbs too and the fog lights havnt needed to be replaced yet. They are a lot whiter than the stock bulbs but do still have a little bit of a yellow tint

 

This subject has been beaten about to death in both this forum and the 2nd Gen forum. As has already been said, The Ultimate Headlight Upgrade is as good as you're going to get, but it does require a (simple to install) heavy duty harness to work correctly. I have this upgrade in my truck and trust me, it's awesome.

As for bulbs that will improve performance without the need for the HD harness, don't fall for the usual Sylvania Silverstar (either version) marketing garbage. Simply put, they're not that good. I'm sure our resident lighting expert @crashnburn80 will chime in here shortly and he has a constantly updated list of bulbs for use both with and without the HD harness. Trust what crash says as he's been there and done that and he doesn't play favorites.

 

There are no replacement lamps better than OEM, or any even equivalent to OEM, all aftermarket assemblies will be a downgrade in performance. There is a list of best performance bulbs with and without a harness in the above thread along with comparisons in peak intensity and color temp measurements.

For bulbs without a harness:
Best low beam (higher wattage) that doesn't require a harness - IPF Fatboy 60/80w, that is stock high beam and 80w low beam however the bulbs are ridiculously expensive.
Best stock wattage low beam - Philips Racing Vision +150, but the high beam filament is coated giving reduced high beam output.
Best stock wattage low beam w/o reducing high beam performance - GE Xenon +120

Compare the charts in the above thread and see what best suits your needs.

 

Thanks for the reply & info. I will be getting a wiring harness, and higher powered bulbs. Osram H4 100/90W & wiring harness.

http://www.headlightservices.com/Wiring.html

thanks for all the info!

 

OPT7 LEDs off Amazon will get you whiter and brighter too. Less that 100 bucks if I recall.

 

Those are beyond awful. They have terrible output and massive glare with no cut offs at all and a disaster of a beam pattern while also not projecting as far as stock.

Halogen left vs Opt7 right


The glare/light above the horizon on the halogen side is actually from the Opt7 led as it has no pattern control or focus.

 

I've had mine for a few years and I love them. They are nice and bright and I get great beam pattern. I go out to the desert a lot and they are great for dark night driving.

 

To each his own. Science, data and facts be damned.

 

Do you get flashed a lot? I have a hell of a time with glare driving at night and those types of bulbs with no pattern cut off just kill me.