Best batteries, Road n Track’s opinion Options

[oakdalecurtis]

Seems like “what’s the best battery for our teeners” always comes up. Here’s Road n Tracks current opinion...

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/ca...s-from-experts/

[horizontally-opposed]

Interesting to see the comments re: Optimas going dead without being on a tender.

I've been running them since 1992~, and have only had 2-3 Optima batteries in all that time. Early on, I had to have a kill switch due to a draw (turned out to be the horn relay, which was "on" all the time). Since then (2003-2004?), I've never had an issue.

And I've never kept them on tenders. Car sometimes sat for months. Started right up every time. My only motivation in looking at an Odyssey or an Anti-Gravity is a desire to claim back some of the 120~ lbs added by the six conversion, and these batteries look to be good for about a 1/4 of it, and up high too.

[bbrock]

Interesting to see the comments re: Optimas going dead without being on a tender.

I've been running them since 1992~, and have only had 2-3 Optima batteries in all that time. Early on, I had to have a kill switch due to a draw (turned out to be the horn relay, which was "on" all the time). Since then (2003-2004?), I've never had an issue.

And I've never kept them on tenders. Car sometimes sat for months. Started right up every time. My only motivation in looking at an Odyssey or an Anti-Gravity is a desire to claim back some of the 120~ lbs added by the six conversion, and these batteries look to be good for about a 1/4 of it, and up high too.

I should clarify about my Optima going dead. I had a yellow top in my snow plow that would sit for months not on a tender and through many brutal -20 to -30 winters. When I did run it, it had the extra draw of a snow plow to contend with. It always fired up and was amazing. It finally died this year after an incredible 12 years of service. Amazing battery! When I traded in the core, I told the FLAPS guy it belonged in a museum rather than recycled. At the same time I had a red top in a truck parked next to the snow plow under the same conditions. I let that one sit nearly a year without starting and the battery went flat. Couldn't bring it back even following Optima's instructions.