Best LED's to use

I want to convert my taillights to LED. The standard setup uses a white backup, red tail and stop, and amber turn. The conventional reflector is somewhat visible when they are off giving a circular image. I would like to keep this look. What would be the best, brightest way to convert? Would a flexible strip wound in concentric circles be the way to go, or what?

Also what about the backup light? I was considering a MR16 spot as a possibility. I want lots of light. Also cool was the option of flashing the turn signals when backing up.

Flexible strips are not THAT flexible it's hard to get tight circles out of them
Perf board and discrete LED's are the best to get any form of circles ect

They make LED conversion bulbs that are drop in for the reverse lights

Lumiled superflux red-orange in color
Cree XRE


How good are you at soldering and making circuit boards?

bad venge wrote:

Flexible strips are not THAT flexible it's hard to get tight circles out of them Perf board and discrete LED's are the best to get any form of circles ect They make LED conversion bulbs that are drop in for the reverse lights

I forgot to mention that the stop light section is not that tight (4.5" diameter). As a matter of fact, I can use a 4" truck light conversion by grinding a section off the top and bottom of the housing. The turn signal section is smaller. I am not a fan of the conversion bulb since it can be seen through the lens.

If I go for the perf board, what leds and how many would you recommend?

bad venge wrote:

Flexible strips are not THAT flexible it's hard to get tight circles out of them Perf board and discrete LED's are the best to get any form of circles ect They make LED conversion bulbs that are drop in for the reverse lights

Its not that hard.. I received several of the first generation flexi-strips already wound into a spiral from Oznium . (Which was annoying, and I hope they've stopped doing that) . But it certainly can be done .

Cooper wrote:

Its not that hard.. I received several of the first generation flexi-strips already wound into a spiral from Oznium . (Which was annoying, and I hope they've stopped doing that) . But it certainly can be done .

OK, but what flexi strips are bight enough to go through an amber tinted lense for a turn signal?

And what about my idea of a MR16 (as I recall equivalent of a 35w halogen) for a backup light?

i think any of the flex strips oz has should be able to have light pass through a amber tinted lense.. just make sure you use the same color as the tinted lense to get the best results.