Buzz Killington

I am going to get tint. As I live in the great police state of Virginia, I am subject to their stupid tint laws. 50% max for front side windows, 35% max for rear side windows. I also live in an area with relatively aggressive policing and frequent DUI checkpoints, so the risk of police interaction is high.

My choices:

1 go 50% on the front and rear side windows so that it looks consistent;
2 go 50% on the front and 35% on the rear; or,
3 YOLO and go 35% front and rear and risk a ticket.

Does anyone have any pictures of a 996 with varying side window tints (a option 2 above)? I'm just wondering if this will look stupid.

Thanks!

5CHN3LL

I can't offer a pic of a lighter tint - but I can offer my experience that (so far), I have not been ticketed for the tints that were on the car when I acquired it. The tint is VERY dark - but thus far, Johnny Law has not expressed interest in fix-it ticketing me.

This is just a data point from a guy who lives in a state with equally insane policing...SD PD and CHP have expressed little interest in my heavily tinted 911 and seem content to harass the youts driving Hondas. Carpe diem! (You know, YOLO for people who type with fingers AND thumbs. )

DBJoe996

I have tinted windows. Could not survive in Florida without it. It is brutally hot here and it helps with the AC and interior. Here's what's required:

Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed above the manufacturer's AS-1 line.
Front Side windows: Must allow more than 28% of light in.
Back Side windows: Must allow more than 15% of light in.
Rear Window: Must allow more than 15% of light in.

So I can go to 72% (or less on front side windows) and 85% (or less) on rear windows. That means the back windows are tinted darker than the driver/passenger side windows. Every car I see has the back windows tinted darker than the driver/passenger windows.

porsche-t

I had my windows tinted last Sunday, and I went with 30% all around which is the legal limit here in Texas. It was also the lightest tint that the shop uses.

redlineblue

I live in VA and have relevant experience but no pics. On my E36 M3 the PO had tinted to the legal allowance; lighter tint in the (coupe) doors, darker in the quarters and the back windshield. I didn't care for the look, and when I was trying to figure out why a buddy said "cause from the side it makes your car look like it's wearin' a mullet!".
It's hard to un-see that.
My current 996 is arctic silver, with a Ton of leather options. I'm not waiting to see what our summer can do to its interior. As I've done had done before, I'll go with 'cop approved' tint all around. It offers full UV protection and keeps the seats from going all George Foreman. It made my [departed] A6 and my 3.2 look subtly longer and lower. And cops, then-girlfriends, and other attitude-prone individuals seemed not to notice it.

alpine003

I have 50% on the sides with 35% on the rear window. I'll try to snap some pics if it quits raining and we get some sun. Or else in the clouds, it won't give you a true representation.

Buzz Killington

That would be awesome

5CHN3LL

If you decide to go the YOLO route, you may find it advantageous to roll the windows down when you find yourself in a LEO-rich environment.

thin_concrete

35/50 I believe (bought the car like this - going off prior experience, so I could be wrong).

alpine003

That certainly looks like 50% front and 35% rear. Some peeps like it like this so that it looks somewhat factory(like me) but others think it's a waste of time since you can't really notice it. Also I wanted to play it safe since I had black interior because tint always looks a shade darker with black interiors. In that shot it looks a bit lighter since it is taken almost directly horizontal. My tint looks slightly darker when viewing it at angles.

Buzz Killington

Thank you, that is super helpful (and the car looks great)!

50% is plainly too light. I wonder if I can get it a hair darker without eliciting suspicion.

Atrox

alpine003

IMO, 40% is doable if you don't have black interior and you go with that all the way around.

p.vanderlinden

No tint for Caitlyn

alpine003

It's clear she wants to be seen.