Window Tint
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Advanced
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 95
Likes: 15
From: Chicago
Window Tint
Hi everyone looking for advice on window tint. Never had windows tinted before, they look cool for sure but I would like to see at night. Has anyone had a problem seeing at night with 35%
Z06 2lz
A8
Pdr
CFP
Z06 2lz
A8
Pdr
CFP
Pro
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 595
Likes: 141
From: Virginia
Nope! 35% is perfect. It might be SLIGHTLY hard to see right after you leave your house and get in the car because your eyes are adjusting to the dark, but after that you should have no issues.
20% might be a little dark for some people, but 35% is perfect IMO
20% might be a little dark for some people, but 35% is perfect IMO
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,099
Likes: 64
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '09
I've had all mine done at 35% since buying my first daily driver in 2000. I tried 20% at first and had it removed. It was way too dark to see out at night.
35% is just right at night.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,223
Likes: 556
From: Tallahassee fl
Depends on your eyes and the lighting. I find turning at night difficult in dark areas. For example, my neighborhood... I can see cars just fine but if there are people walking around I'd like to know it. I tend to roll the windows down a lot in turns to make sure I can see what is going on.
The rear doesn't matter because of the backup camera and cars behind you have lights that can clearly be seen. I went 20 percent in the back, 35 on the front glass.
Another note is the quality of the film matters a LOT. 3M has a great angle view that doesn't distort. Others are only really clear when looking direct but at angles they can distort things.
The rear doesn't matter because of the backup camera and cars behind you have lights that can clearly be seen. I went 20 percent in the back, 35 on the front glass.
Another note is the quality of the film matters a LOT. 3M has a great angle view that doesn't distort. Others are only really clear when looking direct but at angles they can distort things.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
Had mine done a few months back looks great. But nothing on the front glass.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 8,729
Likes: 1,508
From: Redmond WA
Chicago has some "Combination" laws you need to be aware of, since we have factory tint (albeit a little) you could get in trouble with too much tint in the back, for example. Rather than guess, here are the laws:
Windshield
Front side windows Must allow more than 35% of light in.
Back side windows Must allow more than 35% of light in.
Rear window
Must allow more than 35% of light in.
Combinations 1. 30-35% in the rear / up to 50% in front.
2. If you have below 30% tint in the rear, you can not tint the front.
3. If you have an MPV, which includes but is not limited to SUVs, station wagons, minivans, etc. and said MPV has factory-installed privacy glass (smoked), you are allowed to have up to 50% tint in front.
Windshield
Front side windows Must allow more than 35% of light in.
Back side windows Must allow more than 35% of light in.
Rear window
Must allow more than 35% of light in.
Combinations 1. 30-35% in the rear / up to 50% in front.
2. If you have below 30% tint in the rear, you can not tint the front.
3. If you have an MPV, which includes but is not limited to SUVs, station wagons, minivans, etc. and said MPV has factory-installed privacy glass (smoked), you are allowed to have up to 50% tint in front.
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Navigator
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Fl
Florida - I do 5% on the sides and back and 35% on the windshield. Wifey can't drive it at night as it way to dark for her. Been the standard I've done on all my cars for the last 15years so I am pretty use to it, never an issue, never a ticket. If I am in a parking lot that's too dark I just roll down the window and move on. The temperature difference is usually about 15+ degrees on sunny FL day too.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,223
Likes: 556
From: Tallahassee fl
Florida - I do 5% on the sides and back and 35% on the windshield. Wifey can't drive it at night as it way to dark for her. Been the standard I've done on all my cars for the last 15years so I am pretty use to it, never an issue, never a ticket. If I am in a parking lot that's too dark I just roll down the window and move on. The temperature difference is usually about 15+ degrees on sunny FL day too.
a) clear so I can actually see
b) legal and
c)works just as well as dark tint as far as I can tell and the specs show.
FL is strange on tint law. It isn't enforced in some places and overly enforced in others. North Florida (lucky for us) is a place where they don't seem to give a crap. Tallahassee PD and Sheriff's don't even have a way to measure. I ended up going legal this time with the good stuff and I'm glad I did because I'm all over the state these days and can't tell a difference in the usefulness.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Midco Tinting is the best in the Chicagoland area. High quality tint and an expert installer. The owner is Scott and does all the work himself. He has tinted all my cars and family members cars. Never a problem and gives lifetime warranty. He is located 8600 S.Cicero. His phone number is 773-735-0790
Pro
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 578
Likes: 151
From: Lockport Illinois
I have 35% on front windows and 20% on rear no issues driving at night. Just like Bui stated above your eyes do have to adjust at night when first getting into the car, for me especially the first time I backed out of my garage when I first had them done. Now it's just normal.
Last edited by Playboy2; May 11, 2016 at 09:53 PM.
Scientific Negotiator
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,727
Likes: 2,031
From: USA
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'10, '14
I'm at 4% and can see no problem. No question it is dark but not an issue. 35 is very easy to see out of (even 20 is barely there).
nearly spray painted black!
nearly spray painted black!
Last edited by devnull; May 11, 2016 at 10:18 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,630
Likes: 203
From: MI
Chicago has some "Combination" laws you need to be aware of, since we have factory tint (albeit a little) you could get in trouble with too much tint in the back, for example. Rather than guess, here are the laws:
Windshield
Front side windows Must allow more than 35% of light in.
Back side windows Must allow more than 35% of light in.
Rear window
Must allow more than 35% of light in.
Combinations 1. 30-35% in the rear / up to 50% in front.
2. If you have below 30% tint in the rear, you can not tint the front.
3. If you have an MPV, which includes but is not limited to SUVs, station wagons, minivans, etc. and said MPV has factory-installed privacy glass (smoked), you are allowed to have up to 50% tint in front.
Windshield
Front side windows Must allow more than 35% of light in.
Back side windows Must allow more than 35% of light in.
Rear window
Must allow more than 35% of light in.
Combinations 1. 30-35% in the rear / up to 50% in front.
2. If you have below 30% tint in the rear, you can not tint the front.
3. If you have an MPV, which includes but is not limited to SUVs, station wagons, minivans, etc. and said MPV has factory-installed privacy glass (smoked), you are allowed to have up to 50% tint in front.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,630
Likes: 203
From: MI
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,437
Likes: 59
From: Bay Area (Danville) CA
I go full limo every time.
Limo Tint, ticket, remove, sign off , limo tint , repeat
In the daytime visibility is ok but at night forget about it.
Limo Tint, ticket, remove, sign off , limo tint , repeat
In the daytime visibility is ok but at night forget about it.
Last edited by 97C5driver; May 12, 2016 at 02:27 AM.