Collection: T15 Bulbs

T15 and W16W: same bulb, two designations

The T15 is the American designation for the European W16W — two trade names for the same bulb:

• T15 = SAE (USA / Japan) nomenclature — T for Tubular, 15 refers to the physical format
• W16W = European CEE nomenclature — W wedge base, 16W power

Base W2.1×9.5d (same type as W5W/T10) but physically larger and more powerful bulb.

Uses of T15 / W16W

• Reversing lights (white) — the main use on European vehicles since 2005
• Rear position lights on certain models
• Rear fog lights on recent vehicles (with integrated red glass)

Present on almost all modern cars for reversing lights — it is gradually replacing the P21W (bayonet base) in this function.

T15 LED: advantages

• Cool white light much more intense than a 16W halogen — better visibility when reversing at night
• Instant response (unlike halogen which has a warm-up time)
• 10× longer lifespan
• No approval constraints for reversing lights — free replacement

Canbus or standard?

Recent vehicles (post-2010) have an electronic control unit that monitors the consumption of each bulb. A standard T15 LED consumes less than the original halogen — the control unit may interpret this as a blown bulb and illuminate an error light. Solution: T15 canbus LED with integrated load resistor — no errors, plug & play.

See also the detailed W16W collection and the less powerful T10/W5W.