Philips Xtreme Power or HIR

[kgrant]

First of all hello! Great forum, tons of information. You guys have kept me up late the last few nights!

I'm looking for a bit better performance out of my headlights.

Should I stick with stock 9005/6, and install Philips Xtreme Powers, or try out 9011/12 HIR?

If I read correctly, using the HIR's in light designed for the 9005/6 bulbs can cause some glaring to oncomming traffic because they are not focused correctly?

These will be going in a 1998 K1500 and 1999 K1500 Suburban.

Found a great deal on the HIRs http://store.candlepower.com/fcorespcob22.html

Thanks!

 

[Hamilton Felix]

Why not go with the 9011 HIR in place of the 9005's in your high beams for maximum light, and stick with 9006 but in Philips Xtreme Power in your low beams for best light and best beam pattern?

Now you've gotten me to thinking. When I get my 1996 Suburban back on the road, I'll be looking for better bulbs. I didn't even realize Philips made an Xtreme Power 9006.

Also, on your vehicles, wire a relay to pick up the low beams when high beam is on. I've done this on a 1993 and a 1996 Suburban, once on my own and once using the overpriced Painless Wiring kit out of curiousity (an OK kit, except for two Scotchlok connectors that should never be used).

I never understood why GM made the low beams (with more reflector area than the highs) drop out when high beam came on. My 2007 Corolla uses the same bulb combination, but keeps the lows on when high is in use. BTW, it has pretty good headlights.

Good Luck :thumbsup:

 

[Alaric Darconville]

The 9012 will have a much longer life than the 9006-- and since the low beams are used much more than the highs, and ordinarily it would make sense to use them, but only in well-designed lamps.

Unfortunately, that does leave out the GMT400 trucks. The low beams are small and poorly focused, and most of all, lack a bulb shield. The 9012 do not have the black/silver or any other opaque tip coating -- placed in a lamp without a glare shield results in monstrous, dangerous glare.

Therefore, if you MUST upgrade your bulb, get the Philips X-Treme Power.

The good upgrade for the pre-'99 C/K pickup and pre-'00 Suburban/Tahoe is to swap in the grille setup for large rectangular sealed beams
like http://preview.tinyurl.com/33wsnq -- available with Chev bowtie, with "GMC" logotype, and in different painted and/or chromed variants. www.car-part.com to the rescue for easily-searchable used parts. Then it's a short hop from there to good headlamps (pair of Cibie H4 units, relays and good wiring, good bulbs).

Other methods of upgrades are available; danielsternlighting.com would be your best bet.

If I read correctly, using the HIR's in light designed for the 9005/6 bulbs can cause some glaring to oncomming traffic because they are not focused correctly?

If the base modification is done properly, the focus problem isn't on the bulbs, it's on the reflector assembly. This is because the filament placement on the 9012 is exactly the same on the 9006. Again, the GMT400 trucks are lacking good focus and the bulb shield, making them a no-go for HIR.

 

[kgrant]

So would using the Philips 9011 HIR in the high beams put more usable light on the road than the 9005 Xtreme Power?

 

[Alaric Darconville]

So would using the Philips 9011 HIR in the high beams put more usable light on the road than the 9005 Xtreme Power?

They'll put out more light in the same pattern that the 9005 XTPs would since it's the same filament placement.

Since high beams are not to be used in traffic, I have fewer qualms about using the HIR1 in place of a 9005. You'd probably want to go to low beams when driving under the interstate signage that spans the road, because you'll get a nice dose of your own light that way. And definitely don't use them in fog!

 

[kgrant]

Yeah....we don't have much for interstate signage around here to test that out on. :nana:

Against advice, I went ahead and ordered the HIR's. I know you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.

I'll let you guys know how we like them. Should take a week or so to get them here.

Thanks for the info guys.