Conflicted with TINT%!

[babylobster]

I already browsed through the other tint questioned threads but I still want to ask because I have specific percentages in mind. I was debating either:

1. 20% all around OR
2. 35% in front/sides and 20% in back (I'm gonna assume no one does driver/passenger windows one percentage and the rear tiny little triangles another percentage? <- I hope that made sense)

I'm mainly worried about visibility at night (I am fully aware that the legal % in NY is 70% lol). I've seen the 20% in person and it looks pretty dark when you're looking into the car but not bad when you're inside looking out...HOWEVER, this was in broad daylight. Never got to see visibility at night. What do you guys recommend? TIA!

[EDIT] By "front/sides" I actually meant the sides of the driver and passenger, not the windshield. I plan on leaving the windshield as is.

[Anthony]

I wouldn't go any darker than 35% in front. If you tint all the glass, it should look a lot darker than tinting all but the windshield. 35% all around would probably look pretty dark. It's illegal here to have any sort of tint on your windshield though, so I never see it.

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by babylobster

2. 35% in front/sides and 20% in back (I'm gonna assume no one does driver/passenger windows one percentage and the rear tiny little triangles another percentage? <- I hope that made sense)

I did. Mainly for legal reasons and to try and avoid hassle. I did 20% rear glass and back small windows and 35% front originally. (I'm at 50% now after getting pulled over)

[ericmpena]

I have 15% on the rear window. That's pretty good since the rear window faces the sun a lot and lets in a majority of heat. You'll definitely want the rear window darker than the others.

As far as the small windows on the sides of the back seats and the driver/passenger windows...I have those at 35%. Sometimes I wish that I had gotten 25% which is the lowest we can go here in Texas, but I got my tint done at a friend's place and the darkest he had available was 35%.

The only time it doesn't look dark enough is when you're looking right through the driver window and through the passenger window during mid day. If you look at the tint at any other angle the dark interior of the car makes the tint actually look a lot darker than it really is.

Personally I'd try to match the driver/passenger windows with the backseat windows. I think it looks messy when you have two windows next to each other and they are different shades of tint. You should try to keep the sides of the car uniform IMO.

If I were you I'd go with 20% all around if it's possible. I like the uniform look.
If you can't do 20% all around then maybe 15% rear window, and 35% for the rest. That's what I have and it looks great.

FYI....15% on the rear window is still good to see out of. Any darker though and you're asking for problems. I installed a reverse camera so I actually don't use my back window for reversing much though...

[SigmaHyperion]

As far as the small windows on the sides of the back seats and the driver/passenger windows...I have those at 35%. Sometimes I wish that I had gotten 25% which is the lowest we can go here in Texas, but I got my tint done at a friend's place and the darkest he had available was 35%.

Technically 35% is the legal limit in Texas for the tint itself.

All glass has some tint to it already, and vehicle glass a little more -- about 8% give or take a couple percent. So installers in Texas use something in the range of 30-35%, as that actually puts you at about the legal light transmission rate in the state when a meter is used on the window (the law specifically states that the limit is 25% "when measured in combination with the original glass")

As for the OP: I'd go with Option 2. As far as the little windows goes most people go with something darker, simply because the laws allows it (in many places). But, given their size, and how relatively light is visible through them and you mostly see just black interior through them from most angles, they're always going to appear significantly darker than the door windows either way, so it's really a moot point.

[kALMIGHTY]

Not sure about the laws where you live, but here's what 20% all around looks like for reference. Just FYI, where I live, it's completely illegal to have ANY % tint on your front windows. You can only do rear windows here, and I still haven't been given any grief. A lot of cops have come up to me and told me my car looked nice.

[SoCal909]

Originally Posted by finch1750

I did. Mainly for legal reasons and to try and avoid hassle. I did 20% rear glass and back small windows and 35% front originally. (I'm at 50% now after getting pulled over)

Did you get pulled over for tint specifically? I've never got pulled over for tint and I don't know what % I've had, but it was always the one shade lighter than limo tint. The guy who tints my windows has 4 choices, 1 being lightest and 4 being limo tint. I always get #3.

[Wyattkb]

What are your reasons for getting tint? Are you going for the look or functionality or both?


I personally just wanted the heat and UV protection. The black out looks is cool, but gets real old when backing out at night. I also planned on tracking the car and I wanted the best visibility.

With that being said I went with the 3m Crystalline 30% all around. I don't have pics but I will get some. At night it looks blacked out unless there is a light on in the car. During the day its pretty visible, just think legal 35% tint.

The advantage comes in with the heat rejection and UV protection. The crystalline tint has dropped the interior temps substantially. Perfect visibility out all windows at night. Superb visibility during the day. I highly reccomened it if your going for function and looks.




If your just tinting it for the privacy + heat get whatever tint. But I think the 20% all around (including front) is asking to get a ticket. Remember when you tint the windshield it makes it much darker all around.

Since the legal is 70% id say the best combo is 35% with 50% or even 70% windshield. Any darker than that and it is going to very noticeable.

[OICU812]

You'll find that thIs cabin is very shaded and being such dark colors interior wise to begin with you'll be happy with a much less % then you think. I went sides and back at 30% honestly it's on verse of being too dark and I always have liked dark tint. Personally I wouldn't tint front even if I could seeing 100% clear forwards is well pretty paramount of importance and safety. Just my opinion of course.

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by SoCal909

Did you get pulled over for tint specifically? I've never got pulled over for tint and I don't know what % I've had, but it was always the one shade lighter than limo tint. The guy who tints my windows has 4 choices, 1 being lightest and 4 being limo tint. I always get #3.

Yes. Only the tint. Car was stock otherwise and i had the cruise set to the speed limit on a long road trip.

[thill]

Tint laws in NY are 70% sides and anything you want for the back.

If you are going to risk it, might as well go dark...

[frslee]

I have 20% except windshield. Few months ago, I almost hit someone who was walking on crosswalk when I was trying to make a left turn. It was raining/night, so it was kind of hard to see. Even now, to get a perfect sight, I would have to lean forward and look through front windshield... I know it's dumb, but the vision isn't good at night.

[n2oinferno]

I asked a cop buddy here what I should do when I had my GTI. Legal limit here is 28% all around minus windshield, I think. He said do 20% so that's what I did. Never had any issues with police. However, if I do tint again I'm likely doing 30ish. In dark rural areas I couldn't see a damn thing out any window except the windshield with 20% lol.

[zc06_kisstherain]

Hello OP again lol
like others said, get 35% at front and 20% back or whatever lol
mine is 35% and rarely get pulled over and it's dark enough to fullfill your satisfaction