Round vs. Rectangular Headlights
- Thread starter David Cole
- Start date
- Aug 6, 2024
- 348
- Media
- 34
- 376
- Vehicles
- 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser 1958 Edition, 2008 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road, 2005 Toyota Tacoma 4x4
They both look good.
OP
OP
- Thread starter
- #23
Agreed. I like both styles, although for different reasons. The round ones recall the vintage Land Cruiser look and remind me of the big eyes you'd see on an anime character. The rectangular ones have a more assertive, modern look that works well with the vehicle's overall geometry.
Not sure how I missed this, bit apparently IIHS tested both light styles. Round got a better rating.
Given this measures a minimal amount of illumination at a given distance, it doesn't disagree with my impression that the rectangular lights seem brighter.
Given this measures a minimal amount of illumination at a given distance, it doesn't disagree with my impression that the rectangular lights seem brighter.
Wow, circular headlights were given highest “Good” rating while square headlights were given the 3rd rating of “marginal”. Clear win for circular lights. Thanks for sharing this.Not sure how I missed this, bit apparently IIHS tested both light styles. Round got a better rating.
Given this measures a minimal amount of illumination at a given distance, it doesn't disagree with my impression that the rectangular lights seem brighter.
Maybe. IIHS is measuring cover of at least 5 lux, which looks to be not all that bright. My experience when I had the round lights is the coverage was very good, but the brightest area was not huge and the falloff was really gradual. The bright area definitely seems larger and more pronounced for the rectangular lights, but they also have a hard cutoff near the edges which clearly falls a little short of ideal.
I think the key thing here is the light output is good for either design, so it's perfectly reasonable to pick based on which looks cooler.
I was going to add aux lights up front on my first edition for extra lighting as I frequently travel backroads at dusk and lots of animals. I have added them on every vehicle for extra lighting. This is the first vehicle I feel like I don't need to add them on and I haven't yet.
This is super interesting. I watched that YouTube video and it looks very doable. They don't connect all the original cables, so I assume it loses some functionality. Maybe you can't control dash brightness and options like that from the screen anymore?
Another former victim of deer collision who lives in a fairly rural area with lots of twisty back roads…who also happened to previously own a 2019 RAV4…
I have a 1958 with the round headlights. I’m sorry I’ve never driven an LC with the rectangle lights to compare, but compared to my previous RAV, I’d say they’re definitely brighter, particularly the high beams.
I do sometimes find the upper illumination field when using low beams to be a bit lacking when I’m scanning for roadside wildlife to avoid, though it was like that in my RAV as well, and know if the lights are aimed too high they blind incoming drivers. As long as the road is empty and I can run high beams, however, I feel like I can see just about anything I need to, including the deer hanging out on the side of the road.
I have a 1958 with the round headlights. I’m sorry I’ve never driven an LC with the rectangle lights to compare, but compared to my previous RAV, I’d say they’re definitely brighter, particularly the high beams.
I do sometimes find the upper illumination field when using low beams to be a bit lacking when I’m scanning for roadside wildlife to avoid, though it was like that in my RAV as well, and know if the lights are aimed too high they blind incoming drivers. As long as the road is empty and I can run high beams, however, I feel like I can see just about anything I need to, including the deer hanging out on the side of the road.
Where would you put them?
Have you ever seen those little things that look like little bugles that stick to the car up front, that are supposed to repel deer as you approach?
Last edited:
OP
OP
- Thread starter
- #33
I’ve seen those things for sale at truck stops but I’ve heard they aren’t particularly effective.
Yeah, and I've installed them in the past...not sure they do anything, however.
It's just something you learn to look out for around here...most of the year it's not too bad, and the deer will usually see/hear oncoming vehicles and avoid them...in the late fall, however, when they're in mating season those a-holes will just dart across the road and jump out in front you without thinking twice. That time of year I'll usually see at least 2 or 3 victims of vehicular deericide on my way to work each morning.
The number one goal for Southern Whitetail Deer is death by motorcycle, or death by automobile.
Deer have made me want to quit riding before
The highbeams on LCLC dont project light high enough, especially noticeable in hilly areas. Do the round lamps' highbeams project higher than rectangles?
Rode street bikes for years and hit a downed whitetail while tucked doing 80 in the left lane of a crowded three lane highway next to a concrete divider. Truck a few cars ahead hit it and spun it into the left lane - no where to go so compressed the forks and hit the throttle as much as I could and rode over it hitting it squarely in the soft part of the belly, legs facing me. Guttural decimation covered me completely - tank slap and was able to get it under control and get across and over to the shoulder, had to flip my visor to see through the innards. Two or three cars pulled over to marvel at what they witnessed and miraculously no harm to me or the bike. Road to a spray down wash for both of us and then promptly home for a beer.Deer have made me want to quit riding before
Few things have given me pause on two wheels as much as deer -
I’m glad you survived that encounter!Rode street bikes for years and hit a downed whitetail while tucked doing 80 in the left lane of a crowded three lane highway next to a concrete divider. Truck a few cars ahead hit it and spun it into the left lane - no where to go so compressed the forks and hit the throttle as much as I could and rode over it hitting it squarely in the soft part of the belly, legs facing me. Guttural decimation covered me completely - tank slap and was able to get it under control and get across and over to the shoulder, had to flip my visor to see through the innards. Two or three cars pulled over to marvel at what they witnessed and miraculously no harm to me or the bike. Road to a spray down wash for both of us and then promptly home for a beer.
Few things have given me pause on two wheels as much as deer -
I had a 1958, and now I have a premium model. I’ve noticed that both lights produce a similar amount of light, and there’s no significant difference in their performance on our remote WV mountain roads.
Similar threads
