Conflicted with TINT%!

[86-tundra]

dark tint (<20%) only looks good on black cars IMO.

I went with 20% rear, 35% on all 3 parts of the front windows. Looks great.

I have 15% all around and limo in the back on my FJ... but it's black..

[SPEEDGOD]

do 15-20% all around. You won't regret it. But if you do it too light you will.Trust me. I had that debate too. Honestly having 15% for a few months now, I want something even lower.

[Muskokan]

Don't be a puss and get 5%, your girlfriend will thankyou.

[Steve201brz]

20% all around except windshield.
Seeing through the windows at night is a little tougher. I started taking a few extra seconds checking for pedestrians. I didn't even think about visibility when I got tints but it doesn't make me regret getting 20% at all. Just gotta be safer at night. Day-time driving is amazing
Can't recommend tinting the windshield

[Anomie]

I had 20% all around with a 5% 6" visor on the windshield on my last car for a couple years. I also live in New York, never had a problem with cops and even when pulled over for other things they wouldn't check my tints or say anything about them. This could be a different situation when driving an 86 though, as I'm sure it would be much more of a cop magnet than a family sedan...

I have heard that it's best to drive with your windows down if you're on a state parkway like southern state & northern state etc. because state police are much more strict than just regular Suffolk cops (This is Long Island of course, not sure where in NY you are).

As far as visibility, it can be difficult to back up at night if you're not comfortable with your surroundings. I've parallel parked hundreds of times in Brooklyn with 20% tints all around without a problem though. Some bright LED reverse lights always help too. When I get my 86 I will most likely be going with 20% all around again but since she'll be new and pretty I may invest in a back-up camera for added safety.

BTW, if you're looking for a good place to get them done, I got my last job done at underground tinting in bohemia, they did a great job and it was at a good price too. Once again I don't know if you're on LI, but if you are I recommend them!

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by babylobster

.......I'm mainly worried about visibility at night ............. What do you guys recommend? TIA!

I recommend that you leave the windows alone. During the dark, rainy nights in New York, you need all the visibility possible ...... I don't care how young your eyes are ....

Hey, so I'm no fun ...... but, you asked .....

humfrz

[jarviz]

Originally Posted by 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!

I got 20% in the back and 30/35?% for the front/sides. Visibility is fine, but then again 99% of my night driving is in NYC. Question for you - do you drive through Westchester 'cause I've seen a firestorm every once in a while on 9A. when going home from work.

[kodyo]

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 this. Would not go any darker in the back (wouldn't be able to see anymore) and would not do any darker in the front (legality reasons).

[Leonardo]

35% on side windows and banner across top of windshield. 30% on rear window.

[oldpueblo]

35% all around (except front). And don't bother with the strip, the area allowed is so tiny anyway. Different tint percentages look bad in my opinion, make it uniform all around and retain a little safety as well. Hell even with 35% on mine it's still dark at night.

[PSORngr]

Pretty sure mine is 32% all around since it was dealer installed and said AL, GA, and FL legal (32% being the limit for AL and GA).

I wouldn't want to go any darker. Visibility is just fine at night, but any darker than 30% I think I might have issues seeing out the back. Personally I'd stick to legal, but if I really wanted to go lower I think the lowest I'd go in a state with 70% being the limit is 50% all around.... Not worth a ticket IMO. The 32% certainly does its job in Atlanta, I don't see the point of going any darker other than for cosmetics up your way.

[ZionsWrath]

Location: NY

First of all legal in NY is 75%, the stock tint

Second anything you do will be factored by stock tint. So if you get 50% it will really be 35%

See how many tint tickets you get before you decide stock (75%) is fine. It took me 2 years on my last car. When I got my ticket at 21% I realized looking good is not worth the price.

[Kelbyat07]

Yeah if your state is strict on tints then I would go 35% or lighter all around.

[babylobster]

Originally Posted by ericmpena

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...

Good point about the dark interior of the car. Never even crossed my mind!

Yes, now that I think about it, I'd probably prefer to have the sides of the car uniform. Might be a little easier for the guy doing the tints too. I can do 20% all around (though illegal) but I'm just afraid it will be too dark at night and I don't want to risk mine and others' safety although 20% all around during daylight I think looks AWESOME

Ahhh, reverse camera! That's going to be on my list of things to get for the car now. THANKS A LOT, there goes another chunk of change hahaha. Just kidding! But not about the reverse camera going on my list of things to get. I'm so bad at estimating where the back ends on all the cars I drive; I always end up having way to much extra space It probably has something to do with the fact that I'm Asian. AND female. FAIL