school me on tint

[mightymousetech]

Good ceramic tint will have better heat rejection in lighter shades than dark dyed or metalised films. Llumar and XPEL both make ceramic tint specifically for the windshield that is nearly clear but blocks a significant amount of heat. You have to check the specs on the exact film you are getting. Darker does not necessarily mean better heat rejection.

The XPEL XR Plus has some outstanding numbers.

https://www.xpel.com/web-assets/downloads/XPEL-PRIME-Spec-Sheet-USA-V2-1.pdf

 

[bachman]

Thanks to the OP and responses for starting this, kind of in the same boat.
It looks like Colorado law is 27% sides and rear and I'd like to do my dark blue Sportwagen this summer. Four doors, rear side window and rear window. Also that teeny triangle window by the front mirrors. I do very little night driving but don't want the gangsta dark look. Something more middle ground for added security / heat related.
-Shopping for ratings or a quality shop, any tips ?
-Do the brands they have and use give any indication of a quality shop ?
-Is there a standard of sorts for the type/length of warranty?

T Y all for the input , so far very helpful.

 

[GJM120]

I have Llumar 50% on the sides and back. Hardly noticeable as far as visibility out, but, very good heat rejection. I think 80% is allowed on the windshield so I'm considering that.

 

[Delta]

Originally Posted by bachman
Thanks to the OP and responses for starting this, kind of in the same boat.
It looks like Colorado law is 27% sides and rear and I'd like to do my dark blue Sportwagen this summer. Four doors, rear side window and rear window. Also that teeny triangle window by the front mirrors. I do very little night driving but don't want the gangsta dark look. Something more middle ground for added security / heat related.
-Shopping for ratings or a quality shop, any tips ?
-Do the brands they have and use give any indication of a quality shop ?
-Is there a standard of sorts for the type/length of warranty?

T Y all for the input , so far very helpful.

Some shops have issues with the tiny triangle windows on these cars. The shop who did mine did a gloss black vinyl on the outside which has held up so far, but the car is garaged. Looks fine to me and my car is Dark Blue as well.

 

[JohnG]

This is legal tint in Florida. Nothing on windshield. Sold at MB dealership, but farmed out to a guy that does tint for about 12 dealers nearby (Daytona Auto Mall).

 

[bachman]

Originally Posted by Delta
Originally Posted by bachman
Thanks to the OP and responses for starting this, kind of in the same boat.
It looks like Colorado law is 27% sides and rear and I'd like to do my dark blue Sportwagen this summer. Four doors, rear side window and rear window. Also that teeny triangle window by the front mirrors. I do very little night driving but don't want the gangsta dark look. Something more middle ground for added security / heat related.
-Shopping for ratings or a quality shop, any tips ?
-Do the brands they have and use give any indication of a quality shop ?
-Is there a standard of sorts for the type/length of warranty?

T Y all for the input , so far very helpful.

Some shops have issues with the tiny triangle windows on these cars. The shop who did mine did a gloss black vinyl on the outside which has held up so far, but the car is garaged. Looks fine to me and my car is Dark Blue as well.


Thank you.
I think I'd be fine if they say it's too much of a pain for that teeny triangle and black it out. You didn't feel like you lost any practical visibility ? I'll look at it when I'm in the car. I know that little view is there but can't recall if I use it ever or ignore it.
I found a shop with a ton of project pictures wraps and other things. They do dealer work too so I'm comfortable going in there to see what they offer / priced at.

 

[Olas]

Its a style choice for some, and a practicality choice for others. If you get the UV blocking reflective stuff it will keep the interior significantly cooler on a hot day than the same vehicle with no tints.
If you tint because Fast&Furious then its a vanity choice which i personally disagree with, but to each their own.

If they were necessary manufacturers would fit them same as they do with brakes and steering wheels.
as a rule of thumb they look good on dusty offroad vehicles with roofracks and jerry cans, but they look trashy on anything else.
practicality overrules looks so any tinted vehicle is OK in texas/nevada/sahara etc.

 

[Pew]

Also, please go to a well known, reliable, popular shop that has lifetime warranty. Proper installation of the tint is just as important as the type of tint.

 

[Wylie6G72]

I had 35-sides and 15-rear on a car I owned years ago. Loved 15 on the rear....if you can get it legally, do it. Keeps the bro-dozer headlights from being so obnoxious when they pull up a foot from your bumper. Never had an issue backing, as the reverse lights illuminated any obstacles.

 

[Traction]

Window tint is a joke. I've peeled it off of every car I bought that had it. Looks cool, but not on front side windows, or windshield's, plus it's one less thing to get pulled over for. I managed to back into my closed garage door with limo tint on the back window of my truck years ago that I thought was cool.

 

[Pew]

Originally Posted by Traction
Window tint is a joke. I've peeled it off of every car I bought that had it. Looks cool, but not on front side windows, or windshield's, plus it's one less thing to get pulled over for. I managed to back into my closed garage door with limo tint on the back window of my truck years ago that I thought was cool.


It makes a considerable difference when driving through hot climates and gives you privacy.

 

[atikovi]

Originally Posted by Pew
Originally Posted by Traction
Window tint is a joke. I've peeled it off of every car I bought that had it. Looks cool, but not on front side windows, or windshield's, plus it's one less thing to get pulled over for. I managed to back into my closed garage door with limo tint on the back window of my truck years ago that I thought was cool.


It makes a considerable difference when driving through hot climates and gives you privacy.


Hot climates yes, but what exactly are you doing inside the car that requires privacy?

 

[RhondaHonda]

35% is the darkest we can go legally on the front doors and anything goes behind them. That being said, I see more dark windshields and 5% front windows now than I ever had. I guess the police just don't care anymore. My wife and I got stopped a few times years ago for having darker front windows. I like tint from both practical and visual reasons. I have 5 % over the factory tint on the rear doors and back glass in my Raptor, 35% on the front doors which is too light and I'll be swapping for 20% as the F-150 front door glass is way too large. I have 20% over the factory tint in my wife's Yukon and 35% on the front doors and 20% on the Corvette back windows and 35% on the doors. No blinding sun in the baby's face and you can't see any of our belongings in the back when looking in from the outside.

 

[Pew]

Originally Posted by atikovi
Originally Posted by Pew
Originally Posted by Traction
Window tint is a joke. I've peeled it off of every car I bought that had it. Looks cool, but not on front side windows, or windshield's, plus it's one less thing to get pulled over for. I managed to back into my closed garage door with limo tint on the back window of my truck years ago that I thought was cool.


It makes a considerable difference when driving through hot climates and gives you privacy.


Hot climates yes, but what exactly are you doing inside the car that requires privacy?

Sleep in the car on roadtrips. People have wandering eyes too, I don't need nor want them to be looking inside my car regardless of what I'm doing.

 

[Wolfshead]

Window tint keeps the cops from seeing if seatbelts are being used !

 

[FordBroncoVWJeta]

Originally Posted by Wolfshead
Window tint keeps the cops from seeing if seatbelts are being used !

Real smart.

 

[atikovi]

Originally Posted by Wolfshead
Window tint keeps the cops from seeing if seatbelts are being used !

And while your texting I assume.

 

[atikovi]

Actually forgot I had a car with dark tint. It came from Georgia so the previous owner must have put 20% or even darker tint on everything except the windshield. Drove it today in overcast skies and it was hard to make out the model of cars behind me. Would I put it on a personal car of mine? Maybe. It does look nice from the outside and I'm sure it's great in bright sunshine and summer heat.

 

[Dave9]

Originally Posted by hallstevenson

There was another discussion here not that long ago where folks were arguing that what you said about your car being legal in your home, registered state, didn't matter. Problem is, some of them just made it blanket statement that covered the entire country and insisted it was fact. I can assure them that that is NOT the case in Ohio no matter how strongly they think they're right. Ohio has tint laws but it specifically pertains to, I'm paraphrasing but it makes the point well enough, "vehicles registered in Ohio". So, someone from state "A" that allows 5% tint (I'm making up numbers) can't be cited for a tint violation in Ohio.


You are correct that it varies by state but incorrect about Ohio. That is not what their law states. Quote Ohio 4501-41-03
http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/4501-41-03v1

Quote
No person shall operate, on any highway or other public or private property open to the public for vehicular travel or parking, lease, or rent any motor vehicle that is required to be registered in this state with any sunscreening material...


"Registered in this state" refers to the owner leasing or renting their tinted vehicle to someone else. The leaser or renter can be cited for doing so even if they are not the person driving it. The driver can be cited no matter where the vehicle is registered if in violation of any of the rest of 4501-41-03 which includes 70%+/-3% VLT windshield and 50%+/-3%VLT for the rest.

You cannot drive a vehicle with tinting below 70%/50% in Ohio no matter whether the state of registration allows less than that.

 

[Dave9]

Originally Posted by Pew
Originally Posted by atikovi

Hot climates yes, but what exactly are you doing inside the car that requires privacy?

Sleep in the car on roadtrips. People have wandering eyes too, I don't need nor want them to be looking inside my car regardless of what I'm doing.


The better answer is nonyabusiness. That's what privacy is.