OSRAM SYLVANIA

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FAQs

SYLVANIA AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

General | Safety | Performance

GENERAL

Q) When is a good time to change my headlights?
A) SYLVANIA recommends evaluating you headlights once a year for optimum performance. This ensures that your headlights will always be their brightest. The end of Daylight Savings Time in the fall results in earlier nightfall and more nighttime driving. It’s the perfect time to upgrade your headlights. When it’s time to change your clocks -- it’s probably time to change your headlights! Remember to always replace your headlights in pairs.

Q) What features should I look for in replacement headlights?
A) Always look for replacement lamps that are street legal and comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 108 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) 108.
SYLVANIA offers a range of street legal, compliant replacement headlight bulbs that provide drivers with a variety of distinct safety and performance benefits:
• SYLVANIA SilverStar® ULTRA bulbs provide up to 40% increased down road visibility, up to 50% increased side road visibility and up to 50% brighter light, compared to worn standard bulbs. SYLVANIA SilverStar ULTRA bulbs deliver the whitest and brightest light of all SYLVANIA halogen headlamp families.
• SYLVANIA SilverStar® bulbs: The brighter and whiter light for safety and style.
• SYLVANIA XtraVision® bulbs: The brighter light when more light is needed on the road.
• SYLVANIA Cool Blue® bulbs: The whiter light for style.
• SYLVANIA standard halogen: Standard performance.

Q) Are SilverStar® and SilverStar® ULTRA available for all vehicles?
A) SilverStar® and SilverStar® ULTRA bulbs are available as replacement upgrades for most halogen-equipped vehicles on the road. We continue to add new products to our SilverStar® ULTRA line including our new SilverStar® ULTRA 9003/HB2 and H7 model bulbs. Check with your automotive retailer, or call our customer service number at 800) 347-3420 to check availability for your vehicle type. For more information check out our Lamp Replacement Guide

Q) How much do SilverStar headlights cost?
A) SilverStar headlights have a suggested retail price of $39.99 per pair at automotive retailers. SilverStar ULTRA headlights have a suggested retail price of $49.99 per pair. Rebates and coupons may be available for additional savings! Visit your local automotive retailer, or our website, www.sylvania.com/auto for current rebate and coupon promotions.

Q) How do I install SilverStar and SilverStar ULTRA headlights?
A) SilverStar lighting is designed to replace standard halogen bulbs and can be easily installed according to instructions in a vehicle owner’s manual or in our Installation and Aiming brochure found on our website. See your vehicle’s owner’s manual for more information.

SAFETY

Q) Can headlights really improve driving safety?
A) Yes. Traffic deaths occur three times more often at night, according to the National Safety Council. Whiter headlights can help improve driver reaction time and make it easier to avoid road hazards, according to the research conducted by the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Q) What are SilverStar and SilverStar ULTRA bulbs?
A) SilverStar and SilverStar ULTRA bulbs are a line of replacement high performance halogen headlights. SilverStar and SilverStar ULTRA lighting halogen headlights produce a whiter, brighter light that can help improve driving safety.

Q) What are the benefits of using SilverStar and SilverStar ULTRA bulbs?
A) The whiter light from SilverStar and SilverStar ULTRA headlights helps provide drivers with improved night visibility and a better sense of security on the road. Whiter light can also help improve a driver’s reaction time and the ability to see roadside objects at night.

Q) Is down road illumination important to see better at night?
A) Yes. Both down road and peripheral illumination are important for night driving visibility. SilverStar and SilverStar ULTRA headlights improve peripheral vision (side road) when compared to worn standard bulbs.

Q) Why is peripheral illumination important?
A) Peripheral illumination helps improve the visibility of signage, pedestrians, wildlife and road hazards. The enhanced peripheral visibility that comes from SilverStar® and SilverStar® ULTRA headlight’s whiter light output may also result in faster driver reaction time, compared to worn standard halogen bulbs.

Q) Do SilverStar and SilverStar ULTRA headlights cause glare?
A) SYLVANIA SilverStar and SilverStar ULTRA are fully compliant, street legal products that may help make driving safer. There are many reasons that headlights can cause discomfort among drivers, including: headlamp height, aim, beam pattern and intensity. Poorly manufactured, knock-off and illegal products can also lead to glare.

Q) Are SilverStar and SilverStar ULTRA bulbs street legal?
A) Yes. Our products are designed to comply with all industry wattage, color and light output (lumens) standards as set by the government. Sylvania SilverStar® and SilverStar® Ultra brand automotive headlamp bulb models comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 108 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) 108 in effect as of the date of manufacture.

PERFORMANCE

Q) How much whiter are SilverStar ULTRA headlights?
A) SilverStar ULTRA is up to 4100K (degrees Kelvin) on the color temperature scale, which is a whiter color that is closer to the color of daylight. Standard halogen headlights are about 3100K and have a yellowish color in comparison.

Q) How long do the headlights last?
A) The life of any halogen bulb varies based on vehicle type, vehicle voltage, amount of time the bulb is on, road conditions, proper installation, and correct application. The average life of SilverStar® headlights is approximately one year. With our SYLVANIA SilverStar® products, the primary goal is to offer the brightest, whitest light. Research has shown SilverStar® headlights improve driver visibility and reaction time. However, since our SilverStar® headlights are up to 35% brighter and our SilverStar® ULTRA headlights are up to 50% brighter than standard halogen, they may have a shorter life span compared to our other products. We offer a wide variety of products to satisfy customer needs including brightness, durability, color options and increased visibility. We recommend evaluating your lighting annually as part of your regular vehicle maintenance.

Q) Are SilverStar ULTRA headlights high intensity discharge (HID) headlights?
A) No. SilverStar ULTRA is a street-legal halogen upgrade bulb that gives off a whiter light than standard halogen headlights and is comparable in color to HID headlights. A pair of SilverStar ULTRA headlights have a suggested retail price of $49.99 while HID headlights, normally cost a few hundred dollars more.

For more questions and answers, please feel free to contact:
Sylvania Automotive Lighting Customer Service at: (800) 347-3420
www.sylvania.com/auto