When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Does anyone know the percentage of the factory window tint? Trying to figure out how dark to go with my tinting taking into account the legal limit for CT which the law states is:
Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed above the manufacturer's AS-1 line. Front Side Windows: Must allow more than 35% of light in. Back Side Windows: Must allow more than 35% of light in. Rear Window: Any darkness can be used.
I believe companies that provide tint account for 2-3%, so when you ask for 35%, you’re really getting 32% to account for the factory tint in the glass.
The windows from the factory have some degree of tint in them. Not a film, but integrated in the glass itself. I'm trying to find out what that percentage is
Factory tint was minimal. Do they enforce in CT? In my 20 yrs of living in CA I never had an issue with 35%. I’ve been doing 20% on my last few cars with no issue thus far. It looks so much better. I tried the 35% on my C8 first and it didn’t look good to me so I went 20%. I have the plexi roof so some light comes in the cabin and makes it less dark than a solid hardtop would.
Contrary to what most seem to believe, factory glass is tinted to some degree. Obviously its is not tinted with any type of aftermarket film, but something in the manufacturing process darkens the window slightly. Sit in your car, put the window halfway down and check out the view through the glass vs no-glass. You will see a difference. If you put a tint meter on a factory glass it will show that factory glass blocks about 20% of light from getting through. If you add ANY aftermarket film, I can assure you will be beyond the level that your state allows. Also. I could be mistaken, but I believe you have your numbers backwards. Only 35% of the light can be blocked, meaning at least 65% of the light must pass through the glass.
Contrary to what most seem to believe, factory glass is tinted to some degree. Obviously its is not tinted with any type of aftermarket film, but something in the manufacturing process darkens the window slightly. Sit in your car, put the window halfway down and check out the view through the glass vs no-glass. You will see a difference. If you put a tint meter on a factory glass it will show that factory glass blocks about 20% of light from getting through. If you add ANY aftermarket film, I can assure you will be beyond the level that your state allows. Also. I could be mistaken, but I believe you have your numbers backwards. Only 35% of the light can be blocked, meaning at least 65% of the light must pass through the glass.
That is what I was trying to articulate but couldn't put it the right wording. If you estimate 20% then I only have another 15% to work with meaning an 85% film. Thanks.
No factory tint. It's applied at dealers. 39% is what I have.
Most all of GM vehicles come with factory tint. It used to be known as “Solar Ray”. On Most GM vehicles the windshield and front side windows are marked Trans. 70% Min. In other words it’s a 30% tint allowing 70% VLC (visible light transmission). The factory tint is sandwiched between the glass.
if you put 35% aftermarket tint over the factory 70% tint you would end up with roughly 25% tint. The formula for this is: 35% x 70% = 0.245 x 100 = 24.5%
My 2020 GMC Denali has the windshield and front side windows marked 70%. My C7 is also marked 70%.
Contrary to what most seem to believe, factory glass is tinted to some degree. Obviously its is not tinted with any type of aftermarket film, but something in the manufacturing process darkens the window slightly. Sit in your car, put the window halfway down and check out the view through the glass vs no-glass. You will see a difference. If you put a tint meter on a factory glass it will show that factory glass blocks about 20% of light from getting through. If you add ANY aftermarket film, I can assure you will be beyond the level that your state allows. Also. I could be mistaken, but I believe you have your numbers backwards. Only 35% of the light can be blocked, meaning at least 65% of the light must pass through the glass.
I think you are misinterpreting the tint laws. CT is at 35% for the fronts (v CA which is at 70%). That means in CT, if there was no factory UV, he could use 35% tint, which only lets 35% of visible light through.
Last edited by Shokosugi; Jun 28, 2020 at 10:21 AM.
I think you are misinterpreting the tint laws. CT is at 35% for the fronts (v CA which is at 70%). That means in CT, if there was no factory UV, he could use 35% tint, which only lets 35% of visible light through.
I am not misinterpreting. You are exactly correct in your assumptions of using 35% tint, however, you are not accounting for the factory tinted glass. The tint laws would be enforced by a police officer using a tint meter. The tint meter does not care what percentage tint you put on your windows. It only measures the amount of light that is transmitted through. If you you put 35% tint on the door widows of your Corvette, it will not allow 65% of the light to pass through.
I am not misinterpreting. You are exactly correct in your assumptions of using 35% tint, however, you are not accounting for the factory tinted glass. The tint laws would be enforced by a police officer using a tint meter. The tint meter does not care what percentage tint you put on your windows. It only measures the amount of light that is transmitted through. If you you put 35% tint on the door widows of your Corvette, it will not allow 65% of the light to pass through.
thank you all for your help. I think the nomenclature regarding window tinting is very confusing. For example 90% doesn’t measure the amount of tint, it measures the amount of light transmittance. I was trying to find out how much tent is in the window from the factory so that I can account for that in addition to the additional tinting I would be placing on the window. Connecticut only allows 35 % for light transmittance.
Last edited by Capt. Obvious; Jun 28, 2020 at 11:17 AM.
I am not misinterpreting. You are exactly correct in your assumptions of using 35% tint, however, you are not accounting for the factory tinted glass. The tint laws would be enforced by a police officer using a tint meter. The tint meter does not care what percentage tint you put on your windows. It only measures the amount of light that is transmitted through. If you you put 35% tint on the door widows of your Corvette, it will not allow 65% of the light to pass through.
That’s not the part I’m saying you are misinterpreting. CT allows for 35% which means he can tint up to the point that only 35% of the light is getting through, not 65%. CT allows for darker tint than CA which has a 70% threshold. In CT he should be able to layer tint on top of factory without issue as long as he doesn’t go too dark.
thank you all for your help. I think the nomenclature regarding window tinting is very confusing. For example 90% doesn’t measure the amount of tint, it measures the amount of light transmittance. I was trying to find out how much tent is in the window from the factory so that I can account for that in addition to the additional tinting I would be placing on the window. Connecticut only allows 35 % for light transmittance.
Put 50% tint and you should be well within the CT threshold. You should really be fine with 35% because even factoring in a factory tint of 80%, you would end up with 28% which would be hard to distinguish from 35%. CA is very restrictive but I’ve never had an issue with 35%.
Last edited by Shokosugi; Jun 28, 2020 at 12:02 PM.
I recently purchased a CPO Porsche from out-of-state, which came with what was claimed to be legal 35% tint in my state. In order to title and register a vehicle in my state, a safety inspection is required every time a vehicle changes hands, and tint readings must be recorded on the inspection. My car FAILED because it measured 32% and the tint had to be removed.
The installed tint was claimed to be legal, and it was by itself, but when applied over the factory glass (stamped 70%), it wasn't and had to be removed. Many tinters don't accurately take this into account, and some flat out misrepresent that to customers. The selling Porsche dealer also said it was legal.
While that small difference would likely never be checked during a traffic stop, these inspections are very strict, and it is routine for folks to have to remove tint when purchasing a used vehicle. It is common practice in MD for a potential buyer to require a seller to provide a safety inspection before completing a transaction, and that means a seller will have to pay to have the tint removed in order to sell.
I recently purchased a CPO Porsche from out-of-state, which came with what was claimed to be legal 35% tint in my state. In order to title and register that car in my state, a safety inspection is required every time a vehicle changes hands, and tint is measured. My car FAILED because it measured 32% and the tint had to be removed.
The tint, which was installed, was claimed to be legal, but when applied over the factory glass (stamped 70%), it wasn't and had to be removed. While that small difference would likely never be enforced on a traffic stop, these inspections are very strict, and it is routine for folks to have to remove tint when purchasing a used vehicle.
Whoever claimed it was legal didn’t account for the factory UV. Personally, I’d just remove it for inspection and put it back. Removal and new film on 2 windows is pretty cheap.
Whoever claimed it was legal didn’t account for the factory UV. Personally, I’d just remove it for inspection and put it back. Removal and new film on 2 windows is pretty cheap.
Yes, not terribly expensive, but it wasn't just the side windows. It ALL had to come off, which meant back and rear windows as well.
Factory window tint % ?
