tinting T-tops
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
My tint installer said this exact thing. He said the darker tint would trap heat between the tint and the glass and crack it. BUT on the other hand my '81 had the mirrored tops from the factory. The PO had put tint on them. It never cracked in the Texas summer heat. I replaced the tops with the Galaxy dark smoke tops. I put tint on them this summer. No problems. I say go for it.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
My buddy had a Z-car with glass tops his GF was a great tinter and did his on the inside it never cracked but with that said I recall back in the 80's glass tops just scared people, tire shops would make you pull your tops before they would touch the car,
I knew one fellow took his c3 to the drag strip on run your street car day, he hops out lays his hand on the scaulding hot top and it cracked,
( as he jerked his burnt hand back ) he claimed his hand was cold from holding a iced cup of soda, I saw it happen and I will not say what did it but he didn't hit it hard is all I can say.....
I knew one fellow took his c3 to the drag strip on run your street car day, he hops out lays his hand on the scaulding hot top and it cracked,
( as he jerked his burnt hand back ) he claimed his hand was cold from holding a iced cup of soda, I saw it happen and I will not say what did it but he didn't hit it hard is all I can say.....
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,524
Likes: 61
From: Medina Ohio
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
You notice that I went against his advice. Maybe we can get some responses from some tint installers here on the forum. It had to do with the M1131 mirrored glass tops only.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Tinting won't hurt anything.
Back when glass T-top Corvettes and other new cars came on the scene they were our daily drivers - in Florida the tops (and windows) got tinted immediately. Never had, or knew anyone who had a top crack because of it. Usually they cracked from mis-adjustment.
In fact, now that I think of it I had the sunroof in my current driver tinted when they did the windows.
Back when glass T-top Corvettes and other new cars came on the scene they were our daily drivers - in Florida the tops (and windows) got tinted immediately. Never had, or knew anyone who had a top crack because of it. Usually they cracked from mis-adjustment.
In fact, now that I think of it I had the sunroof in my current driver tinted when they did the windows.
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski