Are your halogen fog lights ready to be replaced? Read our review on the best 1157 Tail Light LED Bulbs in 2023 and upgrade to LED -you’ll get brighter lights that last a lot longer.
There’s such a vast range of these bulbs available, so choosing can be overwhelming.
I’ve been testing and using car and truck headlights and fog lamps for over a decade, so you don’t need to go through all the effort; I’ve done it for you.
I recently tested ten different 5202 LED bulbs and narrowed them down to three. The Sealight 5202s get my pick for best overall as they’re well-priced, and man, they’re bright!
If you’re more budget conscious, I’ve got you sorted there too, and to wrap it up, my runner-up for best.
Are you ready to find your next 5202 replacement LED bulbs?
Sealight 5202 LED Bulbs
OVERALL BEST
OVERALL BEST
When it comes to the crown jewel, my vote unequivocally goes to the Sealight 5202 LED bulbs. They simply blow standard halogens out of the water with over 300% brighter illumination and a stellar down-road beam.
Brightness and Color Temperature
With 6,000 lumens to their credit, these bulbs pump out a brightness that’s a whopping 370% stronger than your everyday halogens.
I have a soft spot for the Kelvin color that the Sealight 5202 LED bulbs sport; it’s a crisp 6,000 Xenon white. Compare that to the standard 3,000-yellow shade of halogens, and you’ll see why I think the white light does a superior job of lighting up potential roadblocks in your path.
Neat Features
What I love about these bulbs is that they leave no blind spots. This is thanks to their solid lateral light that illuminates the generous area flanking your car’s front.
Their compatibility with the CAN bus is another plus, and drawing just 22W per pair, they harmonize better with your vehicle’s current, minimizing system error woes. I can’t emphasize enough how much I appreciate this feature!
Durability and Longevity
Built with 12 cutting-edge LED chips and a 6063 Aluminum Heat Sink-Base for automatic cooling, the Sealight 5202 bulbs are designed to last. In fact, they’re about 70% more energy-efficient than standard halogens.
You’re looking at a staggering 50,000 hours of operation with these bulbs.
Their IP67 waterproof rating seals the deal, making them fit for use in all weather conditions.
Installation
Their intelligent design steals the show here. The bulb connects directly to the plug. A simple click, and you’re good to go. You won’t be spending more than 5 minutes on this task, and the scores of reviewers out there will back me up on this.
My Tests
I’ve always been a staunch supporter of Sealight, a brand that’s been churning out top-quality headlight and fog light bulbs for years.
When I put the 5202 LED bulbs through their paces, I was seriously impressed.
Your average factory halogens top out at a lux rating of around 430. These Sealight bulbs shattered that ceiling, peaking at 1,436 lux. That’s over 300% brighter, mind you! After an average US commute time of 27 minutes, they were still chugging away at 80%, or 1,149 lux.
The beam is where Sealights truly edge out the competition. I could clearly make out objects 100 yards down the road. The lateral light lived up to its promises, bathing both sides of my car’s front in light.
What Other Drivers Are Saying
The Sealight 5202 LED bulbs are a hit with drivers. A staggering 83% of reviewers have rated these bulbs a solid 5/5 stars, and I’m in complete agreement with them.
Fellow drivers, like myself, are all praises for their user-friendly installation and their superior brightness compared to halogens. They’re rated an impressive 4.5/5 for value for money.
The only point of contention seems to be their current compatibility with European vehicles. But Sealight has addressed that by recommending the installation of load resistors.
Summing It Up
At under $40 a pair and offering more than threefold the brightness of halogens, it’s hard to find a chink in the armor of the Sealight 5202 LED bulbs.
Pros
- Plug and play
- 6,000 lumens/set
- 6,000K Xenon White
- +370% brighter than halogens
- Best overall 5202
- 50,000-hour lifespan
- 22W per set
- Super-Focused beam pattern
- Strong lateral light
- 12 CSP LED chips per bulb
- IP67 Waterproof rating
Cons
- The current may be incompatible with some European vehicles – load resistors may be needed
Zoncar 5202 -Premium Best 1157 Tail light LED Bulbs
BEST PREMIUM
Best Budget
If you’re working with a tight budget then you’ve got to check out the Zoncar 5202 LED bulbs.
Brightness and Color Temperature
These guys aren’t as luminous as some other LEDs on the market. While most LEDs boast a whopping 6,000 lumens, these Zoncar 5202s hover around 4,000. Although Zoncar touts these bulbs as being 300% brighter than halogens, my personal testing came up a tad short of that claim. You can check out those details below.
I do appreciate the Kelvin color though – a clean 6000 pure white. It’s a definite step up from the yellowish standard 3000K halogens. In terms of visibility, this white light does wonders in revealing objects both near and far.
Neat Features
These bulbs measure 0.07*0.07 inches, which makes them 50% larger than many other LED chips. This might be the secret behind their larger light-emitting area, which I found to be more uniform than a 360° rotating beam.
Durability and Longevity
These bulbs are built with an aviation aluminum heat sink which increases the heat dissipation area, helping keep everything cool.
I’d say you can expect a pretty decent lifespan from these bulbs, though perhaps not quite the full 30,000 hours they claim.
With an IP67 waterproof rating, you can drive with confidence in any weather conditions.
Installation
ZonCar claims these bulbs are compatible with 99% of vehicles. I had no issues installing them in my car, and it only took a couple of minutes. If you’re driving an older car, it might take a little longer, as you might need to adjust the O-ring.
My Tests
I’ll be honest, with a 4,000 lumens rating, I didn’t expect much from these ZonCar 5202 LEDs. But they surprised me.
When I compared them with halogens, which maxed out at a 430 lux rating, the ZonCar 5202 LEDs clocked in at 1109. While they didn’t quite hit the 300% brighter mark, they were definitely twice as bright. And for $20, I think getting double the brightness of halogens is a fantastic deal.
Even after 27 minutes, they maintained 865 lux, which is about 78% of their initial output. I do question whether they’ll really last the advertised 30,000 hours, as they seemed to heat up slightly more than other bulbs.
These bulbs really shine in their whiteness. The yellow tinge of halogens is why I gravitate towards LEDs, and these ZonCar 5202s provide a nice, crisp white light.
Their broader beam pattern on either side of the car’s front doesn’t affect oncoming drivers, which is a big plus.
What Other Drivers Are Saying
A hefty 80% of drivers gave these bulbs a perfect 5/5 stars. For $20, you’re certainly getting a bang for your buck. Users have highlighted their quick installation and the clear, bright whiteness of the light.
A few drivers weren’t thrilled about the inability to adjust the stop position, mentioning that the bulbs tend to sit a bit past the vertical.
Summing It Up
At $20 a pair, offering more than double the brightness of standard halogens, and promising up to 30,000 hours of life, the ZonCar 5202 LED fog light bulbs are a budget choice that’s hard not to love.
Pros
- Plug and play
- 4,000 lumens/set
- 6,000K Pure White
- +300% brighter than halogens
- Best budget 5202
- 30,000-hour lifespan
- 13W per set
- Super-Focused beam pattern
- Strong lateral light
- 80% energy saving
- IP67 Waterproof rating
Cons
- They don’t quite sit in a vertical position
Alla Lighting 5202 – One of the Best 1157 Tail light LED Bulbs
WORTH CONSIDERING
Worthy Consideration
If you’re considering another affordable option, you should take a look at the Alla Lighting 5202 LED bulb. While not quite as radiant as the Sealight, it’s only slightly pricier than the Zoncar.
Brightness and Color Temperature
At 2,400 lumens, these bulbs aren’t the most brilliant you’ll find on the market. However, when you think about how the average halogen bulb sits around 1,000 lumens, you’re still getting a solid double in brightness with these.
These bulbs also provide a gorgeous 6000 Kelvin color Xenon White, a marked improvement over the average 3000K yellow hue of halogens.
Neat Features
The Alla Lighting 5202s have an eye-catching, luxurious look about them, which I find more appealing than other models available on the market.
Durability and Longevity
One thing that really grabbed me about these bulbs is their relatively low power draw of 8W, compared to the 50W of some other models. This means they’ll take much longer to heat up, which is a huge plus for their longevity.
These bulbs come with a 1-year guarantee, but many drivers reported that they’ve gotten at least double that lifespan out of them.
They’re also waterproof tested to an IP67 standard, making them a reliable choice for driving in conditions like rain, snow, and fog.
Installation
I didn’t encounter any issues when I installed these bulbs. But I have to agree with some reviewers who noted that these bulbs feel a bit delicate, so it’s wise to avoid forcing them in during installation.
My Tests
Going in with a 2,400-lumen rating, I didn’t expect these bulbs to blow me away in terms of brightness, and my tests confirmed as much.
With my halogens rating at 430 lux, the Alla Lighting 5202 LEDs registered at 875 lux, which is roughly double the brightness. That’s certainly respectable.
What did surprise me, though, was that after running for 27 minutes, these bulbs still maintained 84% of their initial brightness at 735 lux. This tells me that these bulbs manage to keep cool, likely contributing to their longer lifespan.
The striking white light from these bulbs was quite noticeable, as you’d expect from a 6,000K rating. I really appreciated the slight hint of blue tint on top of the white, which seemed to bring out more detail in the objects ahead.
While these bulbs didn’t offer as much down-road lighting as the previous two options, they still delivered about double the output of factory halogens.
What Other Drivers Are Saying
From over 2,000 reviews, drivers have rated the Alla Lighting 5202 LEDs at an impressive 4.6/5.
Many drivers were thrilled with the significant increase in whiteness and clarity compared to their old halogens, and they reported that these bulbs seemed to last the full 30,000 hours that ZonCar promises. They also complimented the sleek look these bulbs brought to their vehicles.
However, some drivers reported issues with the installation process and felt that the materials of the bulbs were a bit flimsy.
Summing It Up
For just a few dollars more than the ZonCars, the Alla Lighting 5202 LEDs offer a more contemporary look with an added punch of brightness.
Pros
- Plug and play
- 2,400 lumens/set
- 6,000K Xenon White
- +200% brighter than halogens
- Worthy conclusion 5202
- 30,000-hour lifespan
- 8W per set
- 360° beam
- IP67 waterproof rating
- Look modern and stylish
Cons
- Have a plastic feel to them
Frequently asked questions about 5202 Led Fog Light bulbs
I get asked a stack of questions about 5202s and LED lights in general. Here are three of the most common.
Are 5202 LEDs better than halogens?
In my opinion, this is a big yes from me; and for three reasons: brightness, Kelvin color, and longevity.
Your regular 5202 factory halogens come with around 1,000 lumens of brightness. That’s fine, but it’s not ideal for night driving. 5202 LEDs can get up to 6,000 lumens. Can you imagine your current headlight 600% brighter?
Standard 5202 halogens tend to be in the Kelvin color range of around 3,000–3,500, which is mostly yellow. On the other hand, 5202 LEDs can go up to 15,000, which is blue. The standard is usually around 6,000 white, which is my favorite. The higher up the color temperature scale you go, the clearer obstacles are in front of you.
The final benefit is that 5202 LEDs last longer. Halogen bulbs heat up really quickly, and as a result, they burn out faster. LED technology uses cooling fans to keep the temperature down, allowing them to last longer. Halogens have a lifespan of around 1,000 hours, yet LEDs can last up to 50,000. So you don’t need to replace them nearly as often.
Can I replace my regular headlights with 5202 bulbs?
This is a big no! 5202 bulbs are designed to be used for fog lights and not regular headlights.
The beam pattern isn’t consistent with everyday driving. It’s broader, so it extends out to both sides of the vehicle, but it doesn’t have the same distance beam, meaning that you can’t see obstacles as far in the distance as you could with correct headlight bulbs.
What’s the best price point for 5202 fog light LED bulbs?
The good news is that you don’t have to pay much more for LEDs than halogens. For example, two of the ones I reviewed today came in under $25 a pair. And considering that they last much longer than halogens at around $15 a pair, you’re getting excellent value.
If you can afford to spend a bit more, $40–$50 will get you a set with the highest number of lumens, and they’ll most likely last longer than the cheaper ones.
Depending on how often you use your fog lights is another consideration. If you live in an area where you need to rely on them more often than not, why not spend a little more and feel safer.
