Have You Checked Your Headlights?

Posted in Parts on April 29, 2015

Like everything on the Columbus automotive market, there have been great strides in headlight technology in recent years. Ohio auto owners can be safer at night because of it. Good headlights improve visibility on Columbus expressways, enabling you to see farther. They also improve your peripheral vision, helping you to see the sides more clearly. The more you can see, the quicker you can react to road conditions. This is critical because nearly half of traffic fatalities take place at night. And as Columbus's population ages, everything that helps older eyes is welcome.

Most new SUVs sold in Columbus come with halogen headlamps. A decade ago, halogens were exotic and expensive. Now that they are standard equipment, the price has come way down. Many luxury cars are equipped with high intensity discharge, or HID, headlamps. You have probably seen them on Columbus highways, they're very bright and have a bluish tint.

From behind the wheel, there is no doubt that HID headlamps are the best thing going. However, many Columbus drivers complain about HID lights in oncoming traffic or when they approach from behind. In fact, when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration called for public comment, they received a record number of complaints about HIDs. This has lead to several studies - your tax dollars at work. Some expect future regulation of HID lamps.

All halogen headlamps dim over time. Your friendly Tuffy Tire & Auto Service service professional recommends that they be changed out once a year. AutoNetTV suggests you replace your headlamps in the fall at the end of Daylight Savings Time. It's easy to remember - when you change your clock, change your headlamps. Remember to replace all headlamps at the same time - then all your lights will be equally bright. You will appreciate it during those long Ohio winter nights.

If you have an older SUV with old-school headlamps, you might be able to get a halogen replacement. You'll be amazed at the difference this upgrade will make.

In addition to regular halogen lamps, Columbus car owners can upgrade to premium lamps that filter some of the yellow light, making a bright white light that's more like natural sunlight. This light's easier on the eyes and should improve reaction time.

Now, you may be able to step up to HID headlamps, depending on the kind of car you drive around the Columbus area. These lamps should last the life of your car, but cost several hundred dollars a pair. If you want other Columbus drivers to think you're running HID lamps, you can even buy regular halogens that have a bluish tint. Does she or doesn't she? Only her Tuffy Tire & Auto Service tech knows for sure.

Over time, plastic headlight covers can get cloudy or yellowed. In fact, AAA reports that nine out of ten headlights are dirty or yellowed, greatly reducing vision. In addition to helping you replace your headlamps, many service centers such as Tuffy Tire & Auto Service in Columbus, Ohio can restore headlight covers. Headlights can be restored at a fraction of the cost of replacing.