Windshield Window Tint
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 40,999
Likes: 9,764
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
The lawsuit issue is kind of an urban legend or myth when it comes to tinting windshields. Out of every person you've ever personally known, have they or anyone they've ever known ever been sued for a tinted windshield? Not likely. Sure, you can google it and try to pool for cases. But even after trying that, it's extremely rare, and those cases weren't even won. I agree, ridiculous dark tint on a windshield, depending when and where you're driving, may not be a very intelligent decision. However, the whole fear of civil lawsuits in cases of accidents is pretty much irrelevant. Tickets, that's a different story. But again, that depends where you live. If it were common, a google search would yield hundreds of not thousands of cases. But it doesn't.
Bill
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 40,999
Likes: 9,764
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
IR is what causes the car to get hot. But even then the glass blocks some of it. Usually what happens is certain wavelengths of IR pass through the glass and are absorbed by objects in the car making them warmer or reflect off from other objects and in the process are changed so they can't pass back through the glass again and create more heat inside the car.
Clear films can be designed to block both IR and UV. It is a matter of choosing which wavelengths you want to inhibit. All IR and UV wavelengths are outside the visible spectrum so you can stop them with something that doesn't stop visible light. However, that doesn't look sexy like a blacked out car would look.
Bill
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,940
Yep, to me it's all about some dude who wants his car to look "cool" and ends up running over someone in a crosswalk because he's effectively wearing sunglasses at night. Prior to that happening, the same individual will likely say they can see just fine. That's tantamount to saying one can clearly see without headlights and that the Earth is clearly flat.
Advanced
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 96
Likes: 12
Yep, to me it's all about some dude who wants his car to look "cool" and ends up running over someone in a crosswalk because he's effectively wearing sunglasses at night. Prior to that happening, the same individual will likely say they can see just fine. That's tantamount to saying one can clearly see without headlights and that the Earth is clearly flat.
I do most of my driving in Mexico with my tinted windshield, where vehicles have the right of way over pedestrians. So there aren't many people in the crosswalks. They pay attention and stay out of the way.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 9,399
Likes: 285
From: Somewhere Out There
Window glass does block UV that is why you don't get sunburned when driving in the sun with the windows up. However, some UV does get through and that is why things inside the car deteriorate over time due to UV exposure. Film that is blocking UV may be stopping 90% of the UV that gets through the glass but the window glass has already stopped 90% of the UV that hit it.
IR is what causes the car to get hot. But even then the glass blocks some of it. Usually what happens is certain wavelengths of IR pass through the glass and are absorbed by objects in the car making them warmer or reflect off from other objects and in the process are changed so they can't pass back through the glass again and create more heat inside the car.
Clear films can be designed to block both IR and UV. It is a matter of choosing which wavelengths you want to inhibit. All IR and UV wavelengths are outside the visible spectrum so you can stop them with something that doesn't stop visible light. However, that doesn't look sexy like a blacked out car would look.
Bill
IR is what causes the car to get hot. But even then the glass blocks some of it. Usually what happens is certain wavelengths of IR pass through the glass and are absorbed by objects in the car making them warmer or reflect off from other objects and in the process are changed so they can't pass back through the glass again and create more heat inside the car.
Clear films can be designed to block both IR and UV. It is a matter of choosing which wavelengths you want to inhibit. All IR and UV wavelengths are outside the visible spectrum so you can stop them with something that doesn't stop visible light. However, that doesn't look sexy like a blacked out car would look.
Bill
Good information and I appreciate it. Where I live, there are a few who have tinted dark windshields. It's pretty obvious when I drive past them and I can say that I've only investigated one accident where I suspect the really dark tinted side windows of a van were a factor in the crash. Of course, the driver would not admit to it and thankfully no one was injured.
However, the crash did happen at night and she was changing lanes and merging. The windows she must have been looking out of were very, very dark.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 28
Likes: 1
From: Houston, TX
For those that have tinted the windshield, does it affect the HUD? I have my truck windshield tinted with 70% Huper Optic tint mainly to keep the Texas heat out. It is hardly noticible and really does cut down on the heat.
I am debating on tinting the Corvette windshield but don't want to mess up the HUD.
I am debating on tinting the Corvette windshield but don't want to mess up the HUD.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 9,399
Likes: 285
From: Somewhere Out There
My wife's RAV4 has the top-of-the-line Llumar Ceramic tint while my 4Runner has the middle of the pack hybrid tint.
Her tint cost approximately $150 - $175 more than my tint but I would go with the Ceramic tint were I given the choice again.
People may think that "tint is tint," but you can see the difference in quality in the Ceramic versus my tint. Her windows also seem slightly darker even though we have the same percentage of light being blocked and they just look better. Her RAV4 seems much cooler, too.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 169
Likes: 36
From: Houston Texas
Yep,
I went with Huper Optic 70% on windshield and saw no real difference with HUD. You might want to clean your HUD lens as mine was spotted with overspray. I bet yours is too.
It was nice meeting you today as well! What are the odds we both bought our cars from MacMulkin and we end up meeting at a tint shop in Houston, TX.
I went with Huper Optic 70% on windshield and saw no real difference with HUD. You might want to clean your HUD lens as mine was spotted with overspray. I bet yours is too.
It was nice meeting you today as well! What are the odds we both bought our cars from MacMulkin and we end up meeting at a tint shop in Houston, TX.
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Intermediate
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 28
Likes: 1
From: Houston, TX
Yep,
I went with Huper Optic 70% on windshield and saw no real difference with HUD. You might want to clean your HUD lens as mine was spotted with overspray. I bet yours is too.
It was nice meeting you today as well! What are the odds we both bought our cars from MacMulkin and we end up meeting at a tint shop in Houston, TX.
I went with Huper Optic 70% on windshield and saw no real difference with HUD. You might want to clean your HUD lens as mine was spotted with overspray. I bet yours is too.
It was nice meeting you today as well! What are the odds we both bought our cars from MacMulkin and we end up meeting at a tint shop in Houston, TX.
After seeing your exposed carbon fiber hood i regret not getting that option on my car ... what a bummer...anyways have fun on your travels...
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 169
Likes: 36
From: Houston Texas
Can you post a picture? Want to see how noticeable the seam is on the car.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 28
Likes: 1
From: Houston, TX
I did'nt get a chance to take pics, at certain angles you can see the line of the clearbra, you definitely cant tell from a picture. I work around 290 and fallbrook drive.. let me know if you want to check the clear bra out...
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 33
Likes: 3
Hi Injun and Mike1C7 can you guys tell me where did you get your tints from? I am in Houston and got my car from MacMulkin as well and wanted to get my car tinted. Also how much did you end up paying to get it done I am looking at costs for tints and possibly getting Suntek film on the front of the car. Thanks!
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 169
Likes: 36
From: Houston Texas
Hi Injun and Mike1C7 can you guys tell me where did you get your tints from? I am in Houston and got my car from MacMulkin as well and wanted to get my car tinted. Also how much did you end up paying to get it done I am looking at costs for tints and possibly getting Suntek film on the front of the car. Thanks!
If you go with Huper Optic go to their website and look for certified installers. Executive Motorsport is no longer listed on their site. There are two in Houston. The tint in my opinion is better than all the rest especially when it comes to performance and durability. The 3M stuff scratches pretty easy which s why I didn't like it.
If you do the windshield put your inspection sticker and EZ Tag on static cling plastic so it can be removed without using a scraper and ruining the tint. Very important!
Be sure and post what you end up doing. Good luck!
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 34
Likes: 13
From: NH
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 33
Likes: 3
I had Huper Optic tint installed on all windows including windshield of my 2017 Corvette and my 2016 Ford F-150. Used 70% on windshield and whatever the legal tint was on all other windows. Installed at Executive Motorsport on N Gessner. They are expensive and they put one small razor blade scratch on my A Piller of the Corvette.
If you go with Huper Optic go to their website and look for certified installers. Executive Motorsport is no longer listed on their site. There are two in Houston. The tint in my opinion is better than all the rest especially when it comes to performance and durability. The 3M stuff scratches pretty easy which s why I didn't like it.
If you do the windshield put your inspection sticker and EZ Tag on static cling plastic so it can be removed without using a scraper and ruining the tint. Very important!
Be sure and post what you end up doing. Good luck!
If you go with Huper Optic go to their website and look for certified installers. Executive Motorsport is no longer listed on their site. There are two in Houston. The tint in my opinion is better than all the rest especially when it comes to performance and durability. The 3M stuff scratches pretty easy which s why I didn't like it.
If you do the windshield put your inspection sticker and EZ Tag on static cling plastic so it can be removed without using a scraper and ruining the tint. Very important!
Be sure and post what you end up doing. Good luck!
Intermediate
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 28
Likes: 1
From: Houston, TX
Thanks a lot I really appreciate it - the more research I do the more I am inclined to avoid Executive Motorsport. I also spoke with Mingo @ Sun Cap Auto Tint yesterday hes quite a bit far away from me so I am going to look at some authorized installers nearer to me. Good tip on the windshield! I dont plan on getting it done personally not sure if a lot of people have gotten it done. Thanks again.
Just like I mentioned in my PM - stay away from Executive - once I took it to Cquartz at Clarity Auto - I could see all the flaws in their tinting - not please with them period...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 467
From: Colorado
(old thread resurrect warning) I'm doing this on my new C7: 5% rear/wings; 30% side windows; 90% windshield (legal); 5% extra transparent top. My thought: UV is being stopped already by factory; however, most manufacturers do not worry about IR. IR is what causes heat. If factory is doing 99% UV, my guess is that 1% would be caught by tint. Adding the (so important to me) tint's IR protection at 99% is important to me.
I've done this with my Subaru and I'm not concerned with the rear sections being 5%. For backing up, that's what my backup camera is for. 90% windshield is not visually noticeable, but the reduction in heat is VERY noticeable. The side windows are legal.
There might be some fantastic counter arguments for not tinting the largest window of the car, but it won't convince me.
I've done this with my Subaru and I'm not concerned with the rear sections being 5%. For backing up, that's what my backup camera is for. 90% windshield is not visually noticeable, but the reduction in heat is VERY noticeable. The side windows are legal.
There might be some fantastic counter arguments for not tinting the largest window of the car, but it won't convince me.