High-quality and reliable optics are not only a matter of pride for a motorist, they are also an irreplaceable assistant on the road. Fog lights (PTF) are no exception, and the fact that more and more automakers are adding them to the basic configuration of cars only confirms this. However, if your car does not have foglights, or you want to change existing ones, you are faced with a difficult question: "which ones to buy?"
The editors of the site "bestx.htgetrid.com/en/" have prepared for you an overview of fog lamps, as well as the TOP of the best models in each category of headlights for 2020.
Content
Appointment
Let's start by figuring out what they are for and what requirements exist for the PTF.
Fog lights are not an obligatory element of the general vehicle lighting system, however, their use is regulated by traffic rules. According to the rules, they are used as additional lighting in conditions of poor visibility on the road. For city dwellers, it is more important that they can be used as daytime running lights (DRL) instead of passing beam.
Requirements
For most cars, it is important to place the PTF below the main headlights. This leads to the first and main requirement - the strength of the materials of manufacture. At the same time, it is better if they are made of mineral glass, and not plastic, since the latter is most vulnerable to sudden changes in temperature and constant attacks of small stones, ice and water.
They must fit your car model. If the manufacturer does not provide for the mountings for the foglights, you will have to determine them yourself, but within the limits of permissible traffic rules. Therefore, you need devices with a secure fit and an ergonomic shape.
It's also nice to be able to tilt and disassemble. Incorrect adjustment will disturb other road users. A collapsible product will make it possible to replace a burnt out lamp or cracked glass in time.
Types of headlights
PTF can be classified according to different criteria, consider the most common.
By appointment, they are front and rear:
- Front - help the driver navigate in difficult visibility conditions, when the road is visible for less than 300 meters.
- Rear - designed to indicate a vehicle moving in poor visibility.
It is not allowed to use rear PTFs with good visibility on the road, and you should also not use them in parallel with stoplights. It is also not permissible to use one button to turn on the front and rear lights.
Restrictions on rear foglights are due to the following objective reasons:
- They shine brighter than all the "stern lights" of the car, therefore, in the absence of obstructing visibility conditions, they can dazzle drivers in cars going behind;
- Sudden activation can disorient an inexperienced driver and lead to an accident. In some countries, for this reason, it is not even allowed to use two rear fog lights.
By type of light source:
- Halogen - the most affordable, do not blind oncoming traffic, but consume a lot of electricity and do not tolerate strong shaking.
- Xenon - more expensive than halogen, but they shine perfectly and brightly. They have an extended service life.
- LED lamps are the most expensive type of lamps, however they are practically eternal and consume a minimum of electricity.
Marking
In our country, there is officially right-hand traffic, respectively, existing lighting devices must be designed for this. It is worth considering this point if your car is imported from a country with left-hand traffic or you purchase a lighting device from a foreign Internet portal (for example, from Ali Express).
Headlights certified for use in the Russian Federation have the designation "E22". Latin letters in the marking mean the category of the light source, in our case it will be the letter "B". In addition, in some cases, the marking is supplemented with the numbers "02" - this means that this model complies with international standards.
Installation
Traffic rules impose some restrictions on the possibility of installing additional lighting devices, which include PTF.
- the color of the permissible emitted light is milky or yellow;
- installation of one headlight is not allowed, while the pair must be of the same type of devices;
- fog lights are allowed to be installed below the main light;
- if the width of the machine is more than 1.3 meters, the permissible spacing of additional light sources is 60 cm, otherwise - no more than 40 cm;
- PTF should turn on from a separate toggle switch;
- the angle of the emitted light beam should be in the range from -10 to +15 degrees vertically and in the range from -10 to +45 degrees horizontally;
- exact location - not regulated.
What to look for when choosing
As a result of all of the above, we list the main criteria that you should pay attention to when choosing a PTF.
- Case material - should be durable in itself, but criteria such as tightness and additional protection will not be superfluous.
- The ability to adjust the light beam is not only convenient, but a necessary feature.
- Lighting device power. Optimally - by 55 W, more capacious options will negatively affect the car's on-board network.
- Color is not a determining criterion, it is more a matter of taste. One can argue for a long time over the advantages of one color or another, but the tests show approximate equality. It is generally accepted that the shades of the warm spectrum are more appropriate in this case.
The presented rating is based on expert reviews and opinions of real buyers. For ease of perception, we have divided it into 3 groups according to the type of light source.
TOP 5 Halogen PTF
WESEM universal
It has a simple universal design, which makes it suitable for most modern foreign and domestic cars. In particular, it is put on Lada Vesta. The presence of a membrane and rubber gaskets prevents condensation from forming, which does not contribute to overheating of the glass lens.
Average price - 800 rubles.
Advantages:
- easy to replace the light bulb;
- sealed housing;
- power and efficiency;
- the lens is made of durable glass.
Disadvantages:
- lamp is not included.
AVS 55 W, square
Belong to the category of universal models. The body is made of metal. The nominal voltage is 12 volts. Built-in base H3. ABC is a leading player in the automotive lighting market. The company's production facilities are located in Russia and China. The product range includes more than 2,000 items.
The average cost is 460 rubles.
Advantages:
- versatility;
- all necessary fasteners included.
Disadvantages:
- weak light;
- budget category;
- susceptibility to corrosion.
Hella module 90mm
Great for a variety of car light tuning options. It is a built-in module with transparent glass and H7 base. It surpasses all standard PTFs, shines perfectly and has excellent light distribution.The magnesium alloy case and shockproof glass in combination with an affordable price have made this model an indisputable leader in ratings for several years.
Average price - 2,700 rubles.
Advantages:
- high quality workmanship;
- light distribution accuracy;
- impact resistance.
Disadvantages:
- additional customization required for the bumper.
NEW GALAXY MT 86, square
Chinese product. The body is plastic black. Size 155x65 mm, protection class 54IP. The type of base used is H3. Differs in high quality materials. Products of this brand have been sold in Russia since 2004, they are well balanced in terms of price - quality.
The average cost is 560 rubles.
Advantages:
- sealed housing;
- shine brightly;
- shockproof glass;
- the best option in terms of price-quality ratio.
Disadvantages:
- no wires included.
Valeo 43653
Classic budget PTFs from a famous French brand. It is widely used in brands of automobile concerns from France. They are completed with 55V OSRAM or Philips lamps, equipped with an H11 base. They have a clear light spot and a good light border.
Average price - 2,500 rubles.
Advantages:
- high-quality plastic case;
- illuminates the roadside;
- glass reflector.
Disadvantages:
- weak tightness.
TOP 5 Xenon PTF
Hella Micro DE
Round miniature PTFs. Most often used for tuning. The case is made of magnesium alloy, provides the strength of the product, glass without additional protection, but also strong enough. Rubberized joints ensure tightness and do not allow moisture to pass through. Power - 55 W, voltage - 12 volts.
Average cost - 6,700 rubles.
Advantages:
- compact;
- good, shine brightly;
- do not blind the oncoming lane, thanks to the clear border of chiaroscuro;
- sealed and durable construction.
Disadvantages:
- great depth;
- poor build quality.
Zax Bi-Fog SP 001
Standard headlights for popular car models from Toyota and Lexus. Equipped with tempered glass, resistant to impact and sudden temperature changes. They create a powerful luminous flux ideally distributed over the surface. Dimensions of the product with fastening 90x125 mm, the base used is H11.
The average price is 11,000 rubles.
Advantages:
- ease of installation;
- fit most cars;
- high-quality special fasteners;
- excellent visibility even in adverse weather conditions;
- durable case made of duralumin.
Disadvantages:
- limited scope.
Morimoto mini h1
The headlights popular all over the world, developed jointly by American and Chinese specialists. It is used with the H1 lamp, but there are adapters for the H4 and H7 sockets. A universal device that can be installed on almost any car. Correct operation is ensured by a case with a smooth glass surface. They have a bright luminous flux of 3200 lm, which is contrary to the technical regulations of Russia.
Average cost - 4,300 rubles.
Advantages:
- working resource - 6,000 hours;
- do not blind oncoming traffic drivers;
- acceptable cost for xenon.
Disadvantages:
- illegal to use on public roads in the Russian Federation;
- difficulties with adjusting the direction of light.
Infolight F2-Bi
The second generation of the popular PTF from China. They create a spectrum that is comfortable for the eye and provide high quality light with minimal visibility. Lens size - 6.35 cm, lamp base H11.
Average price - 3,500 rubles.
Advantages:
- the ability to switch from low beam to high beam;
- sealed housing;
- innovative switching unit;
- service life - up to 3000 hours.
Disadvantages:
- specific, rare lamps are used;
- no lens mask.
Cyclone FL-2.0
Monoxenon lenses are designed for use in fog lamps and can be easily fitted to almost any vehicle (usually the front bumper).Device diameter 5.0 cm with overall dimensions 130x60x60 mm, operating voltage - 12 volts.
The average cost is 1,500 rubles.
Advantages:
- waterproof case;
- compact size;
- mounting brackets included;
- affordable price.
Disadvantages:
- no lens mask included.
TOP 5 LED PTF
Kriline 60 Watt
Made on hemispherical polycarbonate lenses. The real power is 44 watts, which is much higher than the Chinese counterparts. These PTFs were developed by the young domestic company Krilain.
Average price - 2,580 rubles.
Advantages:
- clear light border;
- brightness and vertical length at the level of top products;
- optimal location of the light beam.
Disadvantages:
- on wet asphalt, additional turning on of the head light is required.
DLAA for VAZ 2110-2115
They are installed on regular places of VAZ cars from 2110 to 2115 model. They are made in a practical black color with colorless non-corrugated glass. Country of origin - China. The DLAA brand has been operating since 1992 and has a wide range of products in the segment of additional automotive lighting equipment.
Average cost - 1,200 rubles.
Advantages:
- glass lens;
- ease of installation;
- universal mount;
- build quality.
Disadvantages:
- the budget class of products is felt;
- poor maintainability.
Pennant FOG LITE 64 mm
The universal design and form factor "Angel Eyes" will perfectly complement any bumper or tuning body kit. The product, thanks to lenticular optics, provides good visibility and powerful luminous flux. The Russian Vympel plant produces a wide range of electrical equipment.
Average price - 2,300 rubles.
Advantages:
- beautiful;
- economical;
- do well with the role of DRL.
Disadvantages:
- requires a qualified installation both in terms of electrical and fastening.
MTF Light FL 25
Designed for long-term use. Consumes 10 times less energy than conventional halogen lamps. The total luminous flux power is 2000 Lm, which is the maximum permissible value according to European standards. Created on the basis of high quality elements and LEDs from OSRAM.
Average cost - 7,950 rubles.
Advantages:
- powerful and even luminous flux;
- quality of performance;
- universal diameter that fits into a regular place for many cars.
Disadvantages:
- high price.
Nanoled NL - F08
The headlamp consists of 6 5W LEDs. The lens is made of impact-resistant plastic. Black aluminum alloy body. It has a high degree of moisture protection, which makes it independent of any weather and road conditions. Supplied with stainless steel fittings. It is used for installation as an additional light on cars and other equipment.
Average price - 4,000 rubles.
Advantages:
- reliable;
- powerful;
- withstands extreme working conditions.
Disadvantages:
- not identified.
Correctly selected and well-installed fog lights are the key to visibility and safety in difficult meteorological conditions.
However, remember that the use of light sources installed on a car without an appropriate permit entails the deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of 1.5 to 2 years with the confiscation of these devices. Therefore, choose only the products recommended for your car and install them in accordance with the regulations.
If you have already chosen and are using any headlight model from our rating, share your experience in the comments.
