Back to all

Have You Checked Your Headlights?

March 17, 2020



Like everything in the Michigan automotive market, there have been great strides in headlight technology in recent years. Michigan drivers can be safer at night because of it. Good headlights improve visibility on Sterling Heights roads, 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 more quickly you can react to road conditions. This is because nearly half of traffic fatalities take place at night. And as Sterling Heights resident population ages, everything that helps older eyes is welcome.

Most new vehicles sold in Michigan 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 some Sterling Heights roads; 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 Sterling Heights 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 service advisor at Sterling Tire & Auto recommends that they be changed out once a year. We suggest you replace your headlamps in the fall at the end of Daylight Saving 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 Michigan winter nights.

If you have an older vehicle 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, Sterling Heights vehicles 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. These lamps should last the life of your car, but cost several hundred dollars a pair. If you want other Sterling Heights vehicles 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 Sterling Tire & Auto technician 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 Sterling Tire & Auto in Sterling Heights, Michigan, can restore headlight covers. Headlights can be restored at a fraction of the cost of replacing them.

Sterling Tire & Auto
34701 Van Dyke Rd
Sterling Heights, Michigan 48312
586-264-7775

Need Service?

Request a Quote

More articles from Sterling Tire & Auto

Not-So-Smooth Operator (Transmission Signs of Trouble)

March 24, 2024

You are heading down a flat, newly paved street when all of a sudden you feel it. Your vehicle jumps a little bit when you're accelerating and changing gears. You know it's not the surface of the road because it's smooth as silk. So what did you just feel? That kind of jumpingor grinding or sl... More

Road Trip? Check! (Trip Inspection)

March 17, 2024

After months of postponing travel far away from home, a lot of us can't wait to hit the road and scream "Road Trip!" again. But how long has it been since the vehicle you're planning on taking has had a thorough inspection? And is it roadworthy for several days on the highway? Time to schedule a... More

TPMS: Tire Pressure Monitoring for Your Sterling Heights Vehicle

March 10, 2024

Sterling Heights drivers may know that all 2008 model year and newer cars, mini-vans and light trucks in Michigan come with a tire pressure monitoring system. Many slightly older vehicles around the Sterling Heights area have these systems as well. A tire pressure monitoring system called TPMS ... More