2nd Gen LED Tail Light Comparison

Below are images comparing a clear lensed spec-d matte black LED tail light with a smoked lens (vland style) yq-motoring LED tail light in various modes. I bought the second set because braking at night was indiscernible from not braking.

It seems that our 75% unpaved roads in NM shake things like bulbs to death. This includes stock bulbs, housings, and now the death of 3 of my 4 aftermarket LEDs in my oh so slick new grill. It was hard for me to pick tail light replacements without a thread like this (except ones showing how I could blind people for a lot of money). Hopefully this helps others.

Initially I purchased the yq-motoring units and was happy enough (despite one being split and letting in water on day 1 where the eBay seller played a game asking questions and doing nothing until enough time passed for the warranty to expire). Luckily it doesn’t really rain here but I am guessing I paid for not ordering from vland or a more reputable vendor. After noting the difficulty determining braking shown below, I then ordered the spec-d units from vivid racing which seemed more reputable than my aforementioned first try at tail light replacements. We will see how those survive.

Let’s get into it.
The left is spec-d and the right is yq-motoring for all. This is lights off. Please disregard the shaken to death 3rd brake light in all images that is in the process of being replaced.


This is daylight braking. Looks good…


The running lights are on now, similar again…


This is braking with the running lights on such as driving at night.
It is very hard to see a difference on the right.
This is what had me replace the smoked lights with clear spec-d. I was hauling a load in daylight with lights on and a friend riding behind. He stated he could not tell when I was braking except by the trailer lights. I dismissed this Ford truck owner but was following my wife at night, sans trailer, and could not tell she when was braking with the smoked lens units.


Reverse lights and brakes, all ok.


Running lights, brakes and left turn in process of sweeping down.


Running lights, brakes and right turn. I think I prefer this yellow turn signal.


As stated before, I did not buy from vland, perhaps those would perform and be supported differently. These were the smoked units that were the only option sold under various vendors for a long time. It is possible all are similar. This is the vendor I purchased from.


I hope this helps decisions and safe motoring. I will continue to drive the spec-d units and am happy to have the smoked units off my truck.

 

How have they held up? I drive a mile long dirt and gravel road every day. It rattles the hell out of my truck so i'm curious how they did with yours. I don't want to buy something that will fall apart after a few months.

 

I have a few thousand on unpaved roads and fun snow now and am still very happy with the spec-d units. The LEDs don’t die like my old bulbs. I used to line the filaments up vertically when I could to get more life. That said, the same driving shook the orange LEDs in my Ali grill to death (the ultra thin wiring just came apart inside its robust looking sheathing and they went down one at a time).