PIAA Blog

Defending the Hood | Cruising through Hood River in a Land Rover Defender

2019-08-29T00:00:00-05:00

We’ve all had those weeks where at the end of it you just need to get away. Well being here in the Pacific Northwest, one of our jems is the awesome town of Hood River Oregon. Known for its picturesque setting on the Columbia River with Mount Hood in it’s backyard, Hood River is a place for outdoor enthusiasts with a love for , brews, coffee, fresh fruits, and some great cuisine. So when we had the opportunity to borrow a Land Rover Defender for a few days that had been recently imported into the US, we knew exactly where to go.

But first, we had to set it up with some LED lighting of course. So off with the old and in with the new, and just that quick the Defender had some new LP570 LED lights on the front bumper alongside a new Warn winch. After a quick drive on I-84 East from Portland we were in Hood River cruising around town and up into the hills to get the Land Rover in its natural environment.

Since we knew we were going to Hood we of course had to hit Binns Hill and get some mountain biking in. Hood River is also known for some of the best mt. biking on the West Coast. So we came prepared and strapped a new electric Specialized S-Works to the back of the Defender, because let’s face it were not getting any younger.

After the day of winding down and getting out of the city for some much needed fresh air, we were back in town having some late lunch and maybe an adult beverage at Phreim Brewery on the waterfront. We’re not saying it’s a must, but if you ever get a chance to cruise in a Land Rover Defender around Hood River Oregon. Jump at it like the kite boarders looking to get lofted.

The Truck Hero GMC 1500 Severely Needed New Wipers

2019-08-16T13:15:00-05:00

It all started when the guys from Truck Hero dropped of their 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 for a top secret photo shoot that could rival Area 51 security. We had one of those overcast and drizzly Portland days and immediately found a glaring issues with this rig. The stock wiper blades were positively awful; almost more harmful that running no wipers.

So a quick u-turn and we were headed back to the shop where we ripped the stock wipers off as quickly as we could. After a prompt cleaning we applied our proprietary windshield prep pack and installed our flat-blade Si-Tech Silicone wiper blades. We were back on the road feeling safer and clearly seeing the safety benefits.

Windshield wipers in general, have not had major innovations for umpteen years until we came along and decided to shake things up. Our wiper blades feature a Silicone-infused wiper blade that stands up to all weather conditions much better than a standard rubber blade, while giving drivers years of service; not months like most of our competition.

In addition to durability, our Silicone technology creates a hydrophobic barrier on the windshield that repels water, dirt, snow, ice, pretty much whatever nature throws at you off the windshield with ease. All these advantages make PIAA wipers blades the highest performing blades on the market.

Choosing the correct bulbs for your vehicles

2018-11-28T11:02:00-06:00

Whether it is to get the premium look of upgraded bulbs or finally admitting your eyes don’t work as good as they used to, you’ve come to the decision to upgrade your vehicle’s lighting system. Either way, better vision while driving is invaluable.

The road taken from here gets a little confusing with all the different options, so we are going to try and shed some light on which technology will work best for your driving habits and climate. The first questions to ask yourself are:

Why do you need to upgrade your vehicle's lighting?
What type of upgrades are there to choose from?
The light with the most lumens is the brightest and best right?
What does PIAA offer for me needs?
What do I get for the higher quality PIAA brand?

Why you need to upgrade?

Stock headlights are made to last long and that’s about it.

Dim yellowish light output
Not enough distance and width
Dead space in the beam pattern from the headlights

Already upgraded with competitors’ products and are still left longing for more light?

Not bright enough
Poor beam patterns
Not a great color output

What type of bulbs are right for me?

Halogen

Even with the takeover of LED headlights on newer vehicles, halogen bulbs still are the most common type of headlights on the road today. The technology has been around for years but PIAA has redefined the performance you can achieve from the older technology. By using top of line filaments and a proprietary gas mixture, we have been able to produce never seen before light output from halogen bulbs. Although this technology doesn’t add up to LED, the redeeming factors are the simplicity in installation and the low cost for the increase in output over stock bulbs.

Most affordable type of light upgrade
Increased light output for low cost compared to other technologies
Can aid in defrosting the headlights is colder climates

LED (Light Emitting Diode)

LEDs produce a brilliant, bright light that is easily visible during day or night. They use a minimal amount of power, which means that they are the energy-efficient choice and even run on electric cars. LEDs give off a highly concentrated light from the combination of several small light systems working together, so they are easy to manipulate into all kinds of shapes and assemblies. And, since they don’t use the same filament technology as halogen bulbs, they are less susceptible to damage during installation. Replacement is typically easy since most LEDs are direct replacement plug-and-play installation, however there are some extra considerations that need to be taken into account. First, most LED bulbs have an external driver or control box that needs to be installed. While not large, often this controller cannot be tucked inside the housing. Second, LED bulbs do draw less power than halogen and certain vehicles will give a warning indicator that a bulb is out. This is usually solved with an appropriately rated resistor. Lastly, the cooling features of LED bulbs can make the dimensional size of the bulb larger than the outgoing halogen so extra attention must be made to ensure there is enough room for installation...

Highly efficient which results in a low amp draw with a very bright light
Very long lasting, with increased durability over halogen counterparts
Instant on function, meaning no warm up time
Great value between performance and cost

Brightness

The benefits of increasing the brightness of your vehicle’s headlights will be instantly noticeable. The amplified brightness will give you more down road and side to side visibility, which in turn makes driving much safer due to how much earlier you will be able to recognize upcoming hazards.

Whiteness

Through extensive research we were able to choose the correct color temperature with each lighting technology to give you the whitest light output possible. This pure white light beam make definition and clarity for road signs and hazards easily recognizable at farther distances compared to standard vehicle lighting. Along with increased safety benefits, this vivid white light also gives your vehicle the look of luxury vehicles with expensive upgraded lighting options.

The light with the most lumens is the best right?

That’s not necessarily the case, lumens is a metric used to specify the total possible light from a given source. In the case the source is the LED chips. To maximize the power of the LED chips and properly direct it in an area that is the most effective for the driver, we have hundreds of hours of testing to ensure the perfect light pattern. Chip placement on the bulb column and orientation of the chips when the bulbs are installed are the most important qualities when creating a usable beam pattern.

Especially when looking at LED lights, many specify raw lumen ratings. This is simply the theoretical maximum potential, which comes from the rating of each individual LED chip being multiplied by the total number of chips. The actual measured output or effective lumens of light may be much less than the raw lumen count given. It’s for this reason that we place more emphasis on measuring effective light output using lux and candela.

So, what bulb is best for me?

First choice, is LED or Performance halogen upgrades? Depending on which technology you choose there are a few options from PIAA on both halogen and LED. Below is an easy diagram to point you in the right direction:

Solutions from PIAA

Good
Halogen

Xtreme White Plus

Xtreme White Hybrid

The Xtreme White Hybrid Bulbs provide the best possible balance between performance and bulb life. Constructed utilizing features from the Xtreme White Plus and Night Tech lines, These Hybrid bulbs provide high output and reliability that today’s drivers demand. Engineered with newly-developed bulb coatings to provide a much brighter and whiter beam than stock bulbs. Hybrid bulbs give more contrast and brighter down road illumination allowing you to see farther for greater safety and comfort. MSRP $49.95
Better

PIAA Platinum LED

PIAA Platinum LED bulbs are engineered with a brilliant cut-line and anti-glare technology to direct the light to where you need it most. High power Lumiled Luxeon Z ES LEDs provide extreme luminance in a micro footprint package for precise beam angle control. In addition to the dual alloy heatsink, these LEDs have excellent thermal resistance that allows for consistent operating temperatures and longer life. MSRP $149.95

Best
PIAA G3 LED

The new line of G3 LED bulbs brings performance and quality not seen before on the automotive market. The G3 LED bulbs use the new, higher output CREE XP-L chips that have a wider viewing angle than the current Performance LED bulbs. In addition, the LED chips sit on a thinner board that places the light source more toward the center of the column to replicate the precise location of a standard halogen filament. The combination of these two innovative designs, allows the G3 LEDs to increase beam intensity and provide continuous light distribution throughout the beam. A newer controller addresses Pulse Width Modulation to prevent flickering or hyper flashing for most vehicles. Starting at $229.00

If you are looking for a bulb with further reach, whiter color, and more clarity over your stock bulb at a fair price then you are looking for halogens. If you want the ultimate light output paired with incredible durability and lifespan, then look no further in the Platinum and G3 LED lines.

Build quality and warranty

We know our bulbs are a big investment, but for the gains in light output and safety, we think it’s well worth it. You can find bulbs all day long online that are cheap cheap cheap!! The way those other manufacturers can get prices that low is to cut corners on manufacturing process combined with cheap parts. Tens of thousand of hours go into testing our bulbs not only for beam output and pattern, but also for vibration ratings, heat ratings, amperage fluctuation testing, and much more. Combine the testing with the use of only the top-quality parts that pass our strict Japanese testing procedures, and you get bulb products that you can purchase knowing it is the best quality on the market. If that doesn’t do it for you, we also have a top-notch warranty program with unmatched customer service.

The Bar Has Been Raised by the PIAA G3 LED Bulbs

2017-10-26T11:37:00-05:00

PIAA unveils the new G3 LED bulbs, the most usable LED upgrade on the market. After months of research and development to find shortfalls with other bulbs on the market, the wait is over for customers to be provided with immense light output.

Developed from the ground up to provide the most useful bulb upgrade on the market, these bulbs are engineered with Pulse Width Modulation control which eliminates flickering in most vehicle applications. The G3 is fitted with new higher output CREE XP-L chips which sit on a much thinner bulb column that brings the LED chips closer to the placement of a halogen filament. This innovative design produces continuous light output with little to no dark areas in virtually any housing.

By re-designing the cooling fan, PIAA engineers were able to reduce fan noise by 20% while keeping the LED chips running at maximum capacity. Tailored with OE plugs for easy installation, the G3 bulbs offer stunning capabilities to deliver enormous light gains and driver safety in any driving condition.

Pulse width modulation eliminates flickering for most applications
Adjustable beam to fine-tune alignment for precise optical outputs
5-year warranty that’s engineered for long lasting performance
Plug and play design comes with OE connectors for a quick and easy installation
Powerful cooling capacity for maximum brightness throughout the bulb life
Higher output CREE XP-L LEDs with wider viewing angle and thinner circuit board
6200k cool white color output to maximize performance and contrast.

PIAA G3 LED Bulbs

Bulb Types: H4, H8. H9, H11, H16, 9005, 9006, 9012

Coming Soon: H7 and H13

Starting at: $229.95

PIAA's Annual Trip To 2017 Eastern Jeep Safari

2017-05-01T10:52:00-05:00

One of the largest Jeep and off-road events in America is none other than the Eastern Jeep Safari that takes place every year in Moab Utah. This event started as a small single day tour of the Moab trails in 1967. Today it has morphed into a nine day events which gives off-roaders the chance to test their skills on over one hundred trails. EJS has also been a stomping ground for Manufacturers to release their new Jeep specific product, and even Jeep themselves giving customers a taste of what’s to come with the new Jeep Wranglers. This event is always a great family friendly event where you will be able to meet a ton of Jeep and off-road enthusiast which range from the everyday driver to the hardcore wheeler with a non-street legal ultra-capable rig the resembles something out of an alien movie. EJS is committed to bringing their community together to keep the passion alive for trial riding.

Our week started off on the famous Flat Iron Mesa trail which boasts scenic views of La Sal Mountains, local cliffs, and different canyons throughout the trail. Much of Flat Iron Mesa trail is two track on sandy dirt which is mostly rated a 4 being easy. Don’t be fooled you will come up to some spots on the trail where the 4wd, diff lockers, and our Falken MT tires were tested.

Later in the week there was an organized trail run that would be going up the infamous Cliffhanger trail. This trail is the only route to get onto Amasa Back which is rock formation surrounded by, Kane Spring Canyon, Hurrah Pass, Jacskon Hole, with a loop of the Colorado River. Mos of the trail consits of unlimited traction surface with some sand areas in between the rock formations. Their was different levels of difficulty along the trail so we are glad the PIAA Jeep Renegade is a failry capable rig built for this kind of wheeling. The Metal Cloak suspension and fenders give the Jeep enough clearance to articualte enough to squeeze the 37 inch Falken MT tires in the fender wells. The tougher sections of Cliffhanger is decent Kane Road to teh creek where you will need to climb back out. Depeneding on the time of year the creek can have much more water than we had this week, making the crossing much more treacherous.

You will come up on some steep ledges that will require pinpoint wheel placement and a flexible suspension. Maybe even sections where you may need to winch up for some added insurance. This trail is "buddy system" recomeded, which is always a good idea out on any trail. Cliffhanger has many amazing views to see along the entire trail. Just make sure the rig is stopped to take a good look around. The Cliffhanger trail has a lot of sections that will bring on the “pucker” factor. Some sections aren’t much wider than our Jeep Rubicon so being seasoned on the trail will make your trip that much more enjoyable.

Eastern Jeep Safari is an event that we look forward to every year. It's a great opportunity to teach customers about the benefits of our lighting products, and test out the modification of the the Jeep we built for the past SEMA show. The past year the PIAA Jeep has been put through it's paces participation in multiple off-roading events much like EJS. The countdown to the 2018 Eastern Jeep Safari has already started.

Icon 1000's Kawasaki Vulcan Tracker Features PIAA LED Lights

2017-03-06T17:25:00-06:00

ICON 1000 are the guys we turn to when we need reminding that not every custom should be a 70s throwback. We’ve seen them peddle their special brand of 80s sensibilities on bikes like the Suzuki GSX-R 750 and Kawasaki GPZ900R—with spectacular results. But Dethgrip is on another level. We can’t figure out if it’s retro or futuristic; gothic horror or sci-fi. We couldn’t even figure out the marque until we read the specs: it’s a 2015 Kawasaki Vulcan 650 S.

Yes, a Vulcan 650 S—Kawasaki’s entry-level cruiser. Popular, and reportedly fun to ride, but hardly a suitable donor for a savage dirt tracker. But ICON’s design director Kurt Walter and his team of mad scientists saw potential. On the one hand, the Vulcan’s packing the same inline twin motor as the Versys and Ninja 650. On the other hand, this one was free.

So why a dirt tracker? As it turns out, the gang at Speed Merchant had challenged ICON to a flat track rumble. Naturally, they accepted. Getting the Vulcan up to par would require, and I quote, “a metric f-ton of work.” But the guys put in the hours—ripping apart and re-engineering the cruiser into a very different machine.

At the risk of stating the obvious, all the bodywork—save for the tank—is new and hand-made out of sheet metal. A significant portion of the original frame’s also gone, and there’s a Ninja 650 swing arm out back. Then there’s the springer-style front end: an engineering puzzle that bounced between three separate fabricators before it was just right. It’s running off two adjustable Nitron piggyback shocks (there’s one at the back too).

Those extended bits at the bottom of the forks are custom housings, each containing PIAA LED driving lights. The wheels are 19-inch Harley-Davidson units, now wrapped in Maxxis DTR-1 rubber. ICON threw in a few brake upgrades and Akrapovic mufflers for good measure too. Dying to know more about Dethgrip, we fired a few questions Kurt’s way. Here’s what he had to say for himself…

The Vulcan has got to be the most modern bike you’ve worked on, and the end result is the least retro in looks—is this deliberate? While it’s nice to work on new bikes, the Vulcan was a tough bike to customize. The few Vulcan customs that have been built are quite… unpretty. The ICON design team concepted a couple of different approaches to our build, with ICON Senior Product designer Justin Pyle’s concept being the eventual winner. Justin wanted to push a tracker-style build, but with aesthetics and components that would set it apart from the usual tracker solutions. At ICON we’re always looking to push the envelope in both our bike builds and gear design. Dethgrip falls in line with this design mentality.

How long did it take to build Dethgrip? The overall build length on this project was two years. That’s typical for ICON builds, with about twelve months setting initial direction for the bike and the corresponding gear collection. The remaining twelve months is used for finishing the build, commercializing the gear, and producing all the marketing materials.

Tell us a bit more about that front-end… The forks were the main component in the ‘neo’ part of the build. I’ve always wanted to use a springer on an ICON build, but they never really fit our previous concepts. The fork ‘tubes’ are actually repurposed 650 Ninja swing arm components, used for the oval tubing. Running the dual Nitron shocks seemed appropriate given the performance needs of builds. While the forks work amazingly well, they can feel a bit vague compared to traditional telescopics.

How hard was it to get the Harley wheels to fit? The Harley wheels are both front wheels from one of their CVO models. They fit into the Kawa swing arm relatively easy. The biggest issue was creating a sprocket that would bolt to the front rotor bolt pattern. Thankfully Lyndall built us the trick sprocket and lightweight rotors. It seems strange to fabricate so much bodywork by hand, but keep the stock tank. What was the thinking here? When Kawasaki commissioned us to do the build, the one caveat was that we not modify the tank in any way. So didn’t. But we did cut almost every other piece of the frame away.

You handed the keys to stunt rider Ernie Vigil to put Dethgrip through its paces. What was his feedback? He said, “Dude, that thing was massive fun! The Vulcan has a ton of low-end grunt and was a surprisingly competitive flat-tracker when I put her up against some 1200 Sportsters.” Kudos to ICON 1000 for creating a bike that does what the original never could: scare us.

All Wiper Blades Are Not Created Equal

2016-11-16T17:05:00-06:00

As the days start to get shorter, weather turns gloomy and the smell of dampness is in the air. It’s time to make sure your wiper blades are up to the task of the grueling winter months ahead. Cracked and damaged windshield wipers can severely hinder a driver’s vision in inclement weather. Neglected wipers can also scratch and damage your vehicle’s windshield, turning a thirty-dollar problem into a three-hundred-dollar headache. So, listen up, and if you hear the dreaded wiper squeal or see a plethora of streaks, then it’s time to change your blades.

At PIAA we test for wiper arm pressure on a huge range of cars trucks and SUV’s as well as curvature and angle of the windshield. Additionally, we put our silicone blades through a battery of durability tests that include accelerated UV testing of the rubber, salt spray and corrosion resistance of the frames, and lastly we subject the blades to a 500,000-revolution test on windshields to check degradation at every one-hundred thousand revolutions All to ensure that we offer the best performing, longest lasting wiper blade no the market.

So how do you choose the type of blade that best suits your environment to give you maximum visibility in any weather type? Typically, it is best to stick with the frame type that your car came with. PIAA offers three frame types that cover almost all the applications on the road. We have a widely used traditional metal frame, a premium beam style frame, and a hybrid that is a traditional frame with a stylish, aerodynamic cover. All three PIAA frame types feature our exclusive Silicone Technology.

Silicone Rubber Technology was developed to keep your windshield clear and the wipers performing at peak operation for extended periods of time. The application of Silicone Technology is a two-step process that begins with the installation of PIAA blades. All our wipers come with a Silicone prep-pack which cleans your windshield while putting down a water repellant barrier. The second step literally takes no effort at all. Our Silicone inserts on the blades are embedded with Silicone Technology, so every time the wipers are being used; the wipers are automatically laying down the water repellant barrier.

This water repellant barrier makes rain, sleet, snow, mud, and dirt easily bead up and wisp away even when the wiper blades are not being used. You will have comfort knowing that this technology is being applied all the time when the wipers are in us and not just when you apply it or use your windshield fluid like other water repellant products on the market.

We are so confident in our wiper blades, that we stand behind them with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. We know that once you use PIAA Silicone Wiper Blades, it will leave you wondering why you ever used anything else.

Eliminate Downtime and Increase Safety with PIAA SAE compliant LED Lights.

2016-07-28T12:05:00-05:00

Eliminate Downtime and Increase Safety with PIAA SAE compliant LED Lights.

Portland, OR, (July 28, 2016)- Whether you need back-up lights on a trailer, to ground lighting attached to an Excavator, or forward illumination for long night runs PIAA has you covered with the most extensive line of compliant LED lights on the market.

Fleet and Commercial work trucks are often subject to inclement weather at all hours of the night making proper illumination and vision a necessity. PIAA offers an expanding palette of SAE Compliant vision products to illuminate the road ahead keeping operators and fellow drivers safe at all times.

PIAA developed the first in industry Reflector Facing Technology (RFT), which has catapulted our lights to an industry leader in low power draw and pure light output. RFT was developed to precisely control light output from the LED chips, thus creating more light output and far superior beam control than any other LED light on the market today. All PIAA light kit includes everything needed for installation including mounting brackets, hardware, and a plug & play wire harness complete with relay and lighted switch.

Beam control from the LP Series Round LEDs and the RF Series Light Bars is key in gaining SAE/ECE approval. The highly focused beam patterns concentrate all the light down the road and not high in the trees or into oncoming drivers eyes with light scatter. This SAE approval means no failing inspection that equals less downtime and more safety for drivers in inclement weather conditions, making PIAA compliant lighting and sounds investment for any fleet manager.

All PIAA lights go through a rigorous testing procedure when developed to withstand extreme vibration, water pressure and dust ingress compatibility to be able to handle any weather or terrain that our products will be subject to. The low power consumption and extra-long life span, make these vision products exceed the life of most vehicles on the road today.

PIAA LEDs Chosen on Oakley Canada Vehicle Fleet

2016-02-18T15:20:00-06:00

Without question, action sport brand Oakley keeps their image on point 24/7 and stays authentic with their brands discerning consumer. In 2015, it came time for Oakley to refresh their fleet of Ford F350 trucks and event trailers in Canada. Oakley Canada decided on a Baja platform for the look.

To match the stance of the truck, the art design needed to be subtle while incorporating complex textures. To achieve this, the 54blue team designed the print using only white and black. 54blue printed white ink for the hand drawn original eyewear sketches and striped gradients. Enriched black gloss block and stripe effects contrast against the white printed elements to make it all pop. This was printed on carefully selected 3M ultra matte black media. White logo di-cuts were added to finish off the unique textured look.

Xtreme White Plus Bulb Install On Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport

2015-03-31T11:15:00-05:00

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Toyota Tacoma Bulb Install

The first build of 2015 led us to the Toyota Tacoma. A versatile mid-sized truck with a ton of capabilities. We went with the V6 four wheel drive TRD Sport model. A couple upgrades that the Sport Model comes with that tickled our fancy was the limited slip differential, and the transmission and oil cooler that comes with the tow package.

When the build started, the first things we noticed from the start was that the stock headlights were in serious need to be replaced. The Toyota Tacoma takes a H4 (9003) dual filament build that acts as both the low and high beams. The most noticeable difference between the OE and our Xtreme White Plus bulb is the color of the glass globe and the blue top coat.

Those coatings on the Xtreme White series provide a 4000k cool white light output to replicate daylight, and give the driver better color recognition, depth perception, better contrast than the stock halogen bulbs. The blue top coat on this series of bulbs adds a slight blue tint to the headlight with no loss of performance, which also gives the vehicle a premium look.

Installing the PIAA Xtreme White H4 bulbs is a pretty routine task. First you must remove the rubber boot on the back of the headlight unit to access the pressure spring and the wiring connector.

Next you remove harness plug from the back of the bulb, then un-clip the pressure spring and remove the stock halogen bulb. Installing the PIAA bulbs is as easy as reversing the before steps but making sure not to touch the glass of the bulb with your fingers. This may cause a premature failure of the bulb due to heat combined with the oils from your fingers.

The Xtreme White Series of halogen bulbs have a cool white light output that gives the driver better color recognition on depth perception and better contrast than stock halogen lamps. The blue top coat on this series of bulbs adds a slight blue tint to a lamp with no loss of performance. Xtreme White Plus is PIAA’s best selling technology. These bulbs will provide a brilliant Xtreme cool white light that will light up road hazards and street signs long before a normal halogen bulb.

» 4000k Bright White Color for Visibility and Style
» Heat Resistant Quartz Glass for Long Life
» XTRA Technology for Increased Light Output
» Aerospace Alloy Filaments for Durability
» Select DOT / SAE Compliance for Street Legality

Tacoma Stock Halogen Output

Xtreme White H4 Output

Stay tuned for more on our Toyota Tacoma build.

For more information on our Xtreme White line of performance bulbs, and which bulbs fit your vehicle click here

RF3 LED Cube Lights Now In Stock

2015-02-25T15:59:00-06:00

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RF3 | LED Cube Lights Now In Stock

The RF3 3" LED light has redefined the small LED light market. Not only is the RF3 a compact housing with multitude of mounting options, it also has more effective light output than any other forward facing cube light on the market thanks to our Reflector Facing Technology

» Two 8W LEDs for low power draw

» Reflector Facing Technology puts more light where the driver needs it

» 6000K White Color Temperature to replicate daylight

» SAE Compliant Long Range Driving beam pattern for superior visibility

» 10G vibration validated to withstand the most rugged terrain

RF3 SAE Driving

RF3 Flood Pattern

» Watts: 17

» LEDs: 2
» Beam: 30° DRV
» Compliance: SAE | 10g
» Part# : 07603

» Watts: 17

» LEDs: 2
» Beam: 60° FLOOD
» Compliance: 10g
» Part# : 07340

Retail: $349.00

NEW Mounting Solutions In Stock Soon

Dodge Ram Mounting Kit

Jeep Pillar Brackets

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For more information contact:

Justin MacLauchlan
Brand Manager
503-489-6666 x 2080
justin.maclauchlan@piaa.com
www.piaa.com

Were Giving Away A FREE RF18 LED Light Bar!

2014-10-30T16:00:00-05:00

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PIAA | Win A FREE RF18 LED Lightbar At SEMA

View this email in your browser

1) Like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/PIAAlights)
2) Stop By Booth# 34239 Upper South Hall & Take a selfie in the PIAA booth.
3) Upload it to your Facebook Page and Tag PIAA in the image.
4) Use the #SEMA2014 and you will be entered in the drawing.

Not Going to be at SEMA? It's ok, here what you need to do to enter:

1) Like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/PIAAlights)
2) Take a selfie of you with your PIAA gear and or product.
3) Upload it to your Facebook page and tag PIAA in the image.
4) Use the #PIAAselfie and you will be entered in the drawing.

We will choose a winner when we return from SEMA on Veterans Day 11/11/14.
Eclusions apply, only valid in the lower 48 states and Canada. Please allow 2-4 weeks for shipping.

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PIAA ANNOUNCES IMMEDIATE AVAILABILITY OF NEW RF SERIES LED LIGHT BARS

2014-08-25T10:06:00-05:00

Portland, OR, August 19, 2014 – Following an extensive evaluation period in which samples were submitted to race teams and selected customers for feedback, PIAA’s new RF Series LED light bars are now in stock and available for immediate shipment from PIAA warehouse distributors. These exciting new high-tech light bars feature bold low-profile styling and advanced technical features that make them unlike any other light bars on the market.

PIAA’s RF Series lights are different from every other light bar currently available. The RF Series light bars feature Reflector Facing Technology (RFT) that concentrates and focuses the beam pattern of the reflector-facing LED bulbs more precisely than forward-facing LED lights. This allows for a true, controlled beam pattern, along with more light output per watt than competitive designs. PIAA has harnessed the full light output of the LED chips to provide maximum light output while maintaining the low amp draw characteristics of LEDs.

PIAA (pronounced pe'-uh) offers these new LED light bars in three sizes -- 6 inch, 10 inch, and 18 inch, and they all utilize the latest CREE LED chips. The six inch model, RF 6, incorporates two high intensity 8w LED chips. The ten inch model, RF 10, features four such chips, and the massive RF 18 light bar sports eight of these powerful LED chips.

All three sizes are available in either fog or driving light configuration, and all of these light bars feature PIAA’s exclusive Reflector Facing Technology (RFT), in which the LED bulbs are oriented back toward a computer-designed multi-surface parabolic reflector that concentrates and focuses the beam pattern more precisely than other LED designs on the market. This provides greater light output while maintaining the low power consumption characteristics of LED lights. The result: more concentrated light exactly where you need it. PIAA invented RFT technology, and was the first company to offer fog and driving lamps using this design. A particularly clever feature of the RF Series lights is their modular design, which allows multiple lights to be linked together for a clean, unified appearance in a wide range of lengths.

Justin MacLauchlan, Brand Manager for PIAA explains, “PIAA pioneered Reflector Facing Technology (RFT), which allows our LED lights to produce much more illumination with fewer LED chips than competitive forward-facing designs. A few competitors need to use, in some cases, up to 5 times the number of LEDs in their lights to produce light output similar to that of our RF Series lights. As a result of our Reflector Facing Technology (RFT), we are able to produce light that will give the customer a true beam pattern, more usable light output and distance, and much lower amp draw.”

“Our RF Series light bars also feature a modular design that allows them to be linked together to suit a wide variety of sizes for virtually any application. Installation is simple with our pre-assembled wiring harness, and these light bars can be mounted on bumpers, roof racks, roll bars or on any other convenient surface.”

PIAA Introduces a LED light kit for 2014 Toyota Tundra

2014-06-10T14:51:00-05:00

PIAA has introduced two new kits for mounting LP530 LED lights in 2014 and 2015 Toyota Tundra pickup trucks. These kits allow for the installation of PIAA’s LP530 LED lights, and feature the Reflector Facing Technology (RFT) that PIAA pioneered. The LP530 lights come in either 20° driving pattern, or 70° SAE-compliant fog pattern.

Each kit includes all the parts needed to install a pair of PIAA’s LP530 LED driving lamps (kit is part number 5362) or LP530 LED SAE fog lamps (part number 5360). Each kit includes a pair of PIAA LP530 driving or fog lamps, 2 mounting brackets, wiring harness, and mounting hardware, along with simple installation instructions. MSRP for each kit is just $379.00.

These kits from PIAA (pronounced pe'-uh) have been specifically engineered to replace the dim OEM lamps in the bumpers of the new Toyota Tundra. These new LED kits provide roughly three times the light output of the stock lights, and feature easy installation which gives the front of the vehicle a premium LED look. They are also easily installed in trucks that were produced with no OE lamps in the bumper, requiring only the addition of factory bezels readily available from any Toyota dealer. Plus, these kits offer truck owners the choice of driving or fog lamps depending on the nature of their night time driving.

PIAA’s LP Series LED lights all feature PIAA’s exclusive Reflector Facing Technology (RFT), in which the LED bulbs are oriented back toward a computer-designed multi-surface parabolic reflector that concentrates and focuses the beam pattern more precisely than other LED designs on the market. This provides greater light output while maintaining the low power consumption characteristics of LED lights. The result: more concentrated light exactly where you need it. PIAA invented RFT technology, and was the first company to offer fog and driving lamps using this design.

The LP530 LED lamps in these kits each use two 3-watt LED bulbs that provide extraordinary illumination without the very high current draw associated with halogen lamps. PIAA’s LEDs have a nearly unlimited lifespan, and are covered by PIAA’s two year warranty.

PIAA’s LP530 lamps, with a nominal diameter of 3.5 inches, along with PIAA’s LP550 (5 inch diameter), LP560 (6 inch diameter), and LP570 (7 inch diameter) all share common construction features that include a cast aluminum housing, high strength polycarbonate lens, and protective grill. All of these lamps provide a 30-degree driving beam with a sharp white beam of light with a color temperature of 6000 kelvin.

Justin MacLauchlan, Brand Manager for PIAA, notes that these new vehicle-specific kits are an important addition to PIAA’s growing LED product line. “We continuously monitor vehicle sales figures in North America and adjust our product mix to match the growth patterns of popular vehicles. The new-generation Toyota Tundra trucks have already been shown to be a major sales success, and it’s important to us to offer the lighting products that will enhance the visibility of drivers of these vehicles.”

Continues PIAA’s MacLauchlan, “These two new Tundra kits are an important addition to our vehicle-specific kits for cars, trucks, motorcycles, and powersports vehicles, as well as the universal-fit brackets and lamp bars we offer for these same types of vehicles. And it makes our RFT LED technology available to drivers who prefer this enhanced illumination over that which is offered by the OEs. The fact that LP530 fog lights are SAE and DOT-compliant will make them a popular choice throughout the United States and Canada.”

In addition to PIAA’s new Toyota Tundra vehicle-specific kits, PIAA also offers high performance halogen headlight bulbs to match the brilliant white output of the LEDs. Pair those with PIAA’s new Aero Vogue premium silicone wiper blades, and you have the perfect combination for maximum vision in any kind of weather or driving situation.

PIAA Brightens Pickup Headlights with Night Tech Bulbs

2014-04-09T12:58:00-05:00

A quick review from Bruce Smith at www.hardworkingtrucks.com

If your work truck headlight’s effectiveness leave a lot to be desired, PIAA Corporation’s advanced-technology Night-Tech replacement bulbs are a sure way to brighten up the road. PIAA’s SAE/DOT-compliant 9007 and H13 Halogen bulbs provide 90-percent more light than OE bulbs thanks to Night-Tech science.

Night-Tech bulbs are made with an exclusive blend of gases with a proportionally higher level of inert gases, encased in a rugged glass enclosure.

A special aerospace alloy filament material and shape, along with proprietary dual band bulb coatings, also contribute to the performance and longevity advantages of these bulbs compared to other designs.

This translates into an increase in illumination range of as much as a hundred feet/35 meters compared with conventional bulbs.

PIAA Night-Tech bulbs produce light in the 3600 Kelvin range. This color temperature affords whiter illumination than conventional bulbs, while retaining SAE/DOT approval.

More information on Night Tech Halogen Bulbs: http://www.piaa.com/store/pg/44-night-tech-halogen-bulb.aspx

Permalink: http://www.hardworkingtrucks.com/piaa-brightens-pickup-headlights-with-new-bulbs/

PIAA High Performance Silicone Wiper Blades

2013-12-03T13:17:00-06:00

PIAA has provided high performance Silicone wiper blades to the automotive aftermarket industry since 1984. PIAA silicone wipers have the perfect combination of design and quality components that ensure maximum performance in any weather condition.

The silicone wiper inserts of all PIAA Wipers are constructed from a patented Silicone infused rubber. With every wipe, the windshield is coated with water repellent silicone solution. This coating lowers the surface tension between the water and the windshield, allowing the rain to bead up and be wiped away streak-free with no noise or chatter. Not only do they have excellent performance, but the silicone rubber stands up to the elements much better than traditional rubber. This dramatically increases the life of the wiper. All PIAA Silicone Wiper Blades come with a silicone solution prep-pack that thoroughly cleans the windshield. The silicone prep-pad also consists of the same silicone solution that is embedded into the silicone rubber that promotes water beading and decreases surface tension, for maximum streak free operation.

PIAA has developed this great invention and made it into the best wiper blades on the market. The following are the features that make this tool a must have for most car owners:

1. Tough all season performance, in all kinds of weather conditions.

2. They have a low profile, aerodynamic design to give it a firm and strong architecture.

3. The Si-Tech Blades have a unique frame less design that comes in handy, especially in the winter season to help eliminate snow and ice build-up.

4. Have enough pressure points to keep the blades firmly planted against the windshield.

5. All PIAA wiper blades have a silicone coated wiper inserts that enables it to provide quiet, streak free wiping for a long period of time.

6. This wiper blade has a wide variety of applications.

PIAA has years of experience that have enabled them to create cutting edge and unique wiper blades that are better than your ordinary basic wiper blades. They have designed many different types of blades to suit a wide variety of vehicles. The Aero Vogue is one of them. This is one of the most technological advanced wiper blades to come to the automotive market. The Aero Vogue has a wind-cheating aero cover that effectively produces maximum down force on the windshield, while tiny air ducts in the cover allows wind to pass through the blade; thus preventing wind lift at higher speeds. Pair that with the silicone rubber inserts and you have a wiper blade that will keep your windshield clean in the harshest environments.

These PIAA wipers are built for maximum use and with the following fitting tips you will be assured of durability, and performance.

1. Make sure to clean the window thoroughly.

2. Apply provided PIAA silicone prep-pack solution to the windshield.

3. After installation make sure to run the blades on a dry windshield for 5 minutes to maximize the coating process.

4. Always after washing, run the blades again after the windshield has dried to re-apply the silicone coating.

If you follow these simple steps you will be ensured that the fitting is okay and that the wiper blades will be working effectively for your vehicle with increased longevity.

PIAA's Return to SEMA will Not Disappoint.

2013-09-19T17:52:00-05:00

After a 7-year absence, the PIAA is returning to the SEMA show with an exhibit that is bigger than ever, and will feature a host of new products and new technologies in auxiliary lighting products and wiper blades.

PIAA exhibit will span an impressive 30’x30’ with a new and dramatic booth design. The booth is representative of the creativity and innovation that have been taking place in the company’s R&D labs, and provides an appropriate showcase for PIAA’s lighting and wiping products, particularly their exciting and exclusive LED lighting products.

“We’re returning to SEMA for two primary reasons,” explains Justin MacLauchlan, Brand Manager for PIAA. “First, the market for vehicle accessories has seen an upturn as the economy improves. But even more important,” adds the PIAA executive, “We’re exhibiting at SEMA because we have a host of new and exciting lighting and visibility products to showcase, and we want our customers and prospects to have the opportunity to see them all, in one place, at one time.”

Of particular interest in the PIAA display will be LED lamps featuring PIAA’s exclusive Reflector Facing Technology (RFT), in which LED’s face rearward into a computer-designed reflector, which concentrates, focuses, and re-directs the light into a precise forward-facing beam of light. This technology provides the precise beam pattern of a halogen lamp, the color temperature of H.I.D. and the low power requirements of LEDs. PIAA is the first and only manufacturer in the automotive lighting industry to offer lamps utilizing RFT.

Other new products to be displayed include an innovative new line of rugged light bars engineered so they can be bumper-mounted, body-mounted, or roof-mounted, as well as 5 and 6-inch versions of the company’s popular RFT LED fog and driving lamps. And the exhibit will also include PIAA’s innovative new premium silicone Aero Vogue Wiper Blades, which feature an attractive and effective aero design that provides a sleek look while reducing wind lift at higher speeds.

PIAA’s return to once again exhibit at SEMA marks yet another milestone in the company’s checkered record of illumination innovation, and is a proper forum in which to mark the company’s 50th anniversary. Since 1963 PIAA has been at the leading edge of lighting and visibility products for on- and off-road vehicular use, all forms of motorsports, and the burgeoning powersports market, with products for motorcycles, snowmobiles, personal watercraft, and ATVs.

Every PIAA customer enjoys the benefits of The PIAA Advantage, which features advanced technology from the best minds worldwide, lamps and bulbs for virtually every type of vehicle, and race-proven quality and durability supported by a Limited Lifetime Warranty on many products. Motorists, off-roaders, and racers have access to technical and product support unmatched in the industry. Most important, everyone using PIAA products is assured of the finest illumination safety available at any price.

Thanks to The PIAA Advantage, the road to better visibility begins with PIAA.

PIAA Corporation is a global leader in the design and manufacture of replacement and specialty lighting products for the on- and off-highway automotive, powersports, all-terrain, and motorsports industries. Founded in 1963, The PIAA Corporation offers nearly a half-century of expertise in developing and manufacturing world-class products that customers can use with pride and confidence. Offerings include Halogen, H.I.D. (High Intensity Discharge), and LED (Light Emitting Diode) lamp assemblies and bulbs, as well as a variety of related bulbs, installation kits, and accessories.

ATV_UTV _Tech Reviews PIAA LP 570 LED Lights.

2013-06-20T10:54:00-05:00

If you spend anytime riding at all you have without a doubt been out riding at night. Night riding is great! high daytime temperatures normal drop significantly at night. Besides, there is just something cool about riding at night. The only downside is most ATVs and UTVs have only marginal headlamps and to make matters worse their charging systems are poor in stock form so often times upgrading to high power lighting is not an option. That's where PIAA comes in with their new LP 570 Reflector Facing LED lights.

By reversing the LED and redirecting the beam with the reflector, PIAA is able to provide off-roaders with a highly efficient beam of light that surpasses the competition's standard LED lighting with far less draw on your charging system. Each lamp uses only two 5 watt LED bulbs to provide you with a super bright 6000k output! Wrap all this light power in a tuff, ultra-thin cast aluminum housing and you have one of the best light for your night time riding needs. After all Mike Penland depends on PIAA for his lighting needs when racing in Baja! If they perform in Baja under the speeds Mike runs when racing they are sure to withstand anything most of us will ever encounter on our average trail ride.

Getting the LP 570's mounted on our Ranger 900

Getting the light mounted was a snap. The mounts will rotate forward and backwards 180º offering you multiple mounting options. The wiring simply could not be easier! It was all pretty much plug and play with only two connections that required a wrench to attach. Included in the kit is a rubber-shielded push button on/off switch that resists water and is easily attached most anywhere with a simple piece of two-sided tape. Installation could not have been easier!

So how do they work?

The PIAA LP 570 LED light are so bright you will have to use caution so small animals don't ignite when they run out in front of you! OK so I may be exaggerating slighting on this however I will say these lights literal turn darkness to daylight. Without a doubt the PIAA 570 light are the brightest lights we have ever tested. I took nearly 30 pictures for this article and none do justice to the brightness of these lights. Couple that with PIAA's world famous reputation for extreme high quality and these light are tough to beat! Oh and did i mention these super bright lights only draw 1.5 amps each! Now that is what I'm talking about. These light will work just fine on most any utility ATV or UTV with no dreaded charging system issues. We ran our 2013 Ranger 900 for over two hours of trail riding with the PIAA lights on along with the Ranger light with no issue what so ever!

Overall Thoughts

At a sizable 7-3/16" diameter these lights are large and this will tend to limit mounting locations on most ATVs and UTVs but if you make room for them you will be glad you did! Night riding is a whole lot more fun when you can see what's in front of you. The LP 570 light kit will you a bright white light that will illuminate even the darkest of trails to a near sun-glass needed level of brightness. PIAA lighting of any kind is not cheap. But with PIAA you get what you pay for and the LP 570's are no exception. High quality, super bright and an amazingly low amp draw make these lights a true winner in our book!.PIAA LP 570 High Intensity LED Driving Lamps Review By Rex Ostrander of ATV-UTVTECH.com

PIAA's 570 LED's Blind The Competition In Overland Journal's LED Lighting Test

2013-03-04T12:07:00-06:00

In a request from Overland Journal’s Chris Collard, PIAA submitted their 570 LED lamps to be tested against the industry’s competition. The result; Two awards for the PIAA 570 LED’s, one the Editor’s Choice Award and the other was the Value Award.

From the multitude of tests that Overland Journal performed, the PIAA 570’s separated themselves from the pack in beam pattern, intensity, color temperature, beam reach and a handful of other durability tests. PIAA’s

LED Technology
When PIAA went to the drawing board with their LED lights, they wanted to revolutionize the LED world by not using standard LED technology. Thus PIAA’s Reflector Facing Technology (RFT) was born. PIAA’s design of advanced Reflective Facing Technology (RFT) allows the rearward-facing 5-watt LED bulbs to project off the finely tuned reflector for a precise beam pattern, which in turn leads to improved long-range sighting and visibility during nighttime driving. The RFT also serves to maximize the output of the lamps’ LED bulbs. The result: fewer bulbs are needed to achieve better overall brilliance and illumination. Having fewer LEDs means less heat and lower power consumption. Each PIAA 570LED lamp has two 5-watt high output LED bulbs and an 8 watt circuit board. For two lamps the total draw at 12 volts is only 3 amps.