Spotlights Vs Floodlights: What Type Of Auxiliary Lamps Should You Use In Your Car?

So before making any upgrade, it is always recommended to understand your requirements first and do further research based on those requirements.

The best way to upgrade lights is to add auxiliary lights. These lights provide even more brightness while driving at night and help illuminate the road/trail better.

Though many options are available in the market, auxiliary lights are divided into two divisions based on the beam pattern - Spotlights and Floodlights. A majority of automotive users do not have much idea regarding this and end up buying the wrong auxiliary lights.

To help you choose the right auxiliary lights/beam pattern for your car/motorcycle, we shall look at each type and analyse it in detail.

Spotlights

Most people prefer using the spotlight beam pattern to the floodlight beam pattern as they illuminate the farther down the road better. This gives much better visibility to the driver while driving on poorly lit roads.

However, spotlights have a much narrower angle of illumination that is usually under 40 degrees of angle. This makes it less ideal if you are using it for off-road trail runs as these spotlights may not be adequate for illuminating the obstacles around the car.

This makes the spotlights better suited for users who drive at very high speeds and regularly use highways or smooth dirt roads. This beam pattern helps the user identify potential hazards well before the minimum braking distance.

However, it is advised not use spotlights while you are using well-lit roads or on roads with oncoming traffic.

Floodlights

These type of auxiliary lights are generally cheaper in the market and many automotive users install floodlights in their respective cars despite having very little use for them.

As per the name, 'Floodlights' floods the road/trail ahead with its beam pattern that is generally above 90-degree of angle. Though these lights give a super bright beam for more than a few yards, they drastically fade after some distance.

This makes the floodlights usable for off-road purposes, where the user needs illumination to identify obstacles in the nearby vicinity. However, using floodlights on roads can be hazardous to other road users due to its wide beam pattern.

Combination Lights

Lighting technology has come far in recent years and some companies are even providing auxiliary lights that provide both floodlights and spotlights.

These lights offer the best of both worlds and generally come in the shape of 'Light Bar'. However, it must be noted that these lights must be used during off-road conditions only as they can be hazardous to other road users.

Thoughts About Floodlights & Spotlights

Headlights are often overlooked elements while buying a vehicle, and many people realise their importance only after purchasing the vehicle. Though many people resort to aftermarket headlight upgrades, installing the right type of auxiliary lights can make a world of difference to night driving.