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I had 3m ceramic done on mine for awhile to help keep the az heat down in the car. It was pretty high percentage wise, like 70% or so, bit 3m claimed it had the same heat rejection as normal 5% tint. I absolutely loved it. Never had an issue with the cops with it since it was so light to start with, you couldn't tell unless you knew it was there and looked around the outside edge of the windshield from the inside of the car where the film overlapped the black edge of the window.
Unfortunately, I took a rock to the windshield and have to have it replaced, so I lost my tint because the windshield company would only replace a strip across the top. I didn't have it redone either since it was rather expensive to have done the first time, especially with this special film.
I do still have it on my Grand prix though, but it's just the regular film that's about 50%. The 3m ceramic stuff was way better at keeping heat out though.
I had a couple of cars with tinted windshields, just lkke the statement above, ceramic coated to repel heat mostly, the tint % itself was almost null, so problems with the leo. Helped with glare at night too.
I stopped doing ceramic tint altogether due to interference with cellphones.
Un-tinted UV film is LEGAL on the windshield in Texas without a medical exemption. The shop I work at tints windshields with a film called Air blue 80. It has a very slight blue hue to it, illegal by the word of the law but it is clear to the commoner.
It makes a huge difference in the heat that comes into the vehicle.
So are a lot of things many people on here do - removing cats, dark tint on the sides/rear per their state, tinting marker and tail lights, modding the engine without a carb sticker in CA, exhaust cutouts, etc etc.
If youre really that worried about it, they've got a 90% tint that still blocks something like 1/3 of total solar energy. No one would ever even know you had tint with stuff that light. I never had anybody notice my 70% in the time I had it, and that includes car people.
I guess not being worth the hassle depends on where you live and how much you drive your car. A car that spends most of its time as a garage queen, or if you live in a northern state, it would only be an appearance thing. But if you drive a lot and live in a southern state, it helps a ton - same with tint on the back and sides.
Last edited by bumpin96monte; Aug 16, 2015 at 09:10 PM.
Yeah you could do it, I did it too. But too be honest I Did it but It really gave me trouble during the night time.
Plus You could do a 30% tint since only that much is legal in the states.
The more popular options are the Air Blue 80 / 90 (new) which are ceramic tints that block out the heat but are very lightly dyed (without the darkened look). I am getting mine done because there's just too much heat coming through this huge piece of glass.
Another popular option is 3M crystalline, which again, is a lightly dyed ceramic tint.
Finally - some will put 50%/60% VLT tints on the front. Which, to me, are just too dark and really asking for trouble with cops on the road.
I always seem to be driving into the sun, and in the summer heat my hand on the steering wheel starts burning up. I got 3M crystalline tint on the windshield. I went with the "CR70" and sometimes I wish I went a little darker. Honestly, it's completely unnoticeable, even at night. However it works as advertised and keeps my hand completely cool when driving into the blazing summer sunshine. I'm very pleased with it.
P.S.- it doesn't cause any interference with the GPS or cell reception.
Dont listen to the old guys on this forum, cause I imagine none of them have ever broke the speed limit being thats illegal also... But my last 15+ cars I have always done 35% entire windshield and 5% on the remaining windows. My last 07 corvette had that setup and I loved it. It does not hinder your view at night but does help keep the heat out during the summer. Plus keeps your interior from fading!
I have 20% Ceramic on all windows of vette and my truck. Truck has been that way since I bought it in 07. Never had a ticket or been pulled over for it. I also put hid in fog lights on both my truck and car and feel that my vision is not much different with the added light output.
Picture of my truck behind a vette I polished last weekend.
Dont listen to the old guys on this forum, cause I imagine none of them have ever broke the speed limit being thats illegal also... But my last 15+ cars I have always done 35% entire windshield and 5% on the remaining windows. My last 07 corvette had that setup and I loved it. It does not hinder your view at night but does help keep the heat out during the summer. Plus keeps your interior from fading!
If you say so.
One more thing -- what exactly does that number "35%" mean in regards to tint?
If you say so.
One more thing -- what exactly does that number "35%" mean in regards to tint?
-Kent
One of the Old Guys here on the forum
It refers to the amount of visible light transmitted through the tint. It's a little misleading if you don't have experience looking through different tints, because 35% is still fairly easy to see through. Just as the 86% on mine is almost impossible to notice. 20% on side windows is not enough to keep you from seeing what you need to see. 5% (aka limo tint) is too dark for anything but the rear if you don't want to roll down your windows to see to the side of you at night.
It refers to the amount of visible light transmitted through the tint. It's a little misleading if you don't have experience looking through different tints, because 35% is still fairly easy to see through. Just as the 86% on mine is almost impossible to notice. 20% on side windows is not enough to keep you from seeing what you need to see. 5% (aka limo tint) is too dark for anything but the rear if you don't want to roll down your windows to see to the side of you at night.
That's what I thought... What I wasn't understanding (and still don't) is how you could *reduce* the amount of visible light transmission by that large of percentage (35% tint reduces visible light by 65%, right?) and still not have *any* noticeable degradation in your night vision.
My car isn't tinted (yet) but this is one of the concerns I have.
That's what I thought... What I wasn't understanding (and still don't) is how you could *reduce* the amount of visible light transmission by that large of percentage (35% tint reduces visible light by 65%, right?) and still not have *any* noticeable degradation in your night vision.
My car isn't tinted (yet) but this is one of the concerns I have.
When it is really important is at night. For example, (and the numbers don't mean anything other than just to help understand it) I'll say that during the day the light is at a level of 10,000. So if 35% of that visible light gets through and you are left with 3,500. Very easy to see everything still. But at night the light is only at 100, and the tint reduces it to 35. It all depends on the amount of light out there in the first place.
In my truck I believe I have 35% tint on the side and rear windows. The only time it's difficult to see is when I'm out in the middle of the desert/ woods at night and there is no light at all.
Your best bet is to ride/drive in vehicles with different tint levels to see for yourself in person. Because while good pics/ video help, it isn't good enough to get a real world feel for it. I'd offer you a ride in mine, but you're a little far. There should be a lot of tinted Vettes out by you!
And to stay on topic with the original question of windshield tint, I would highly suggest getting the windshield done with at least the CR70 3M crystalline. The UV and infrared rejection alone makes it worth it, even if you get the lightest tint level.
Front window tint a thing?!?
