Window Tint??
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 394
Likes: 137
Window Tint??
Hi all, I'm considering applying window film to my car. I can't decide between 50% and 35%.
Is 35% too dark, hence creating noticeable visibility problems?
Or is 50% too light, making it hardly acknowledged?
(I'm told that local laws allow down to 35%).
Any thoughts (and pics) would be appreciated.
Is 35% too dark, hence creating noticeable visibility problems?
Or is 50% too light, making it hardly acknowledged?
(I'm told that local laws allow down to 35%).
Any thoughts (and pics) would be appreciated.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 11,823
Likes: 2,041
From: Midwest
I would tint to the legal limit within the State. This way you do not give the Law any excuse to bust your chops
Now- there are different types of tint which is the question you will need to ask next
Now- there are different types of tint which is the question you will need to ask next
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 6
From: Dana Point, CA
My opinion... really depends on what kind of tint you're using. Huper Optik's 40 does a much better job of keeping an interior cool than say Llumar STX 35.
I'm holding off on tinting mine for a while until I have the car a bit longer but I'm leaning towards Huper 70 on the front windshield and then Huper 60 on all the other windows. Clear, clean, with excellent glare and heat rejection.
I'm holding off on tinting mine for a while until I have the car a bit longer but I'm leaning towards Huper 70 on the front windshield and then Huper 60 on all the other windows. Clear, clean, with excellent glare and heat rejection.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,437
Likes: 403
From: Taxoronto
Hi all, I'm considering applying window film to my car. I can't decide between 50% and 35%.
Is 35% too dark, hence creating noticeable visibility problems?
Or is 50% too light, making it hardly acknowledged?
(I'm told that local laws allow down to 35%).
Any thoughts (and pics) would be appreciated.
Is 35% too dark, hence creating noticeable visibility problems?
Or is 50% too light, making it hardly acknowledged?
(I'm told that local laws allow down to 35%).
Any thoughts (and pics) would be appreciated.
On the GT4 I am going with either 30 or 35, depending on which tint I choose.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,094
Likes: 1,429
From: some where nice
it also depends if you are tinting for looks or to help with sun heat in the summer. I find german cars need to be tinted as their AC is borderline good and the glass is thinner than usual, so you definitely need tint and Ill GO WITH 35 percent of good quality tint. Having said that all tint , and have tried a bunch of them including what is considered the best, will affect visibility at nite in particular if the surrounding is dark. This is why i never tinted the front windshield.
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Hi all, I'm considering applying window film to my car. I can't decide between 50% and 35%.
Is 35% too dark, hence creating noticeable visibility problems?
Or is 50% too light, making it hardly acknowledged?
(I'm told that local laws allow down to 35%).
Any thoughts (and pics) would be appreciated.
Is 35% too dark, hence creating noticeable visibility problems?
Or is 50% too light, making it hardly acknowledged?
(I'm told that local laws allow down to 35%).
Any thoughts (and pics) would be appreciated.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 3,111
Likes: 23
From: Austin, TX
The first time I got tint on a car, I asked the shop to quickly put a square each of 50 and 35 side by side on my window to see what they looked like, which they did. 50 does indeed look almost clear, so I'd use it only if I wanted pure heat rejection. What I actually wanted was mostly heat rejection with a bit of extra visual flair without it looking tacky or the tint pulling focus away from the rest of the car, and 35 was exactly that for me. I used Llumar FormulaOne Pinnacle Ceramic and love it because it just has a very OEM smoke color to it, with no tinge of purple, green, or orange like other brands.
I also ended up getting Llumar Air 90 on the windshield both because Texas summers are brutal and on this car because of the leather dash. People who got the extended dash option and live in hot climates should feel even more compelled to do this, since I've read about shrinkage issues with leather in that area anyway. Windshield film also means you can go without sunglasses when it's bright out without your eyes hurting. My M3 had Air 80, which was even better for heat rejection but it was made illegal between when I got it on the M3 and took the GT4 for tint because Air 80 is bluish, which the authorities here thought might interfere with the ability to see emergency vehicle lights properly. Totally absurd, but there you go. Air 90 by contrast is so clear that I have trouble seeing the film edges in the cutout area in the corner for my registration sticker even though I know right where they are! It actually made it a bit of a challenge to put the sticker on while being sure that I wasn't attaching it to the film itself.
I also ended up getting Llumar Air 90 on the windshield both because Texas summers are brutal and on this car because of the leather dash. People who got the extended dash option and live in hot climates should feel even more compelled to do this, since I've read about shrinkage issues with leather in that area anyway. Windshield film also means you can go without sunglasses when it's bright out without your eyes hurting. My M3 had Air 80, which was even better for heat rejection but it was made illegal between when I got it on the M3 and took the GT4 for tint because Air 80 is bluish, which the authorities here thought might interfere with the ability to see emergency vehicle lights properly. Totally absurd, but there you go. Air 90 by contrast is so clear that I have trouble seeing the film edges in the cutout area in the corner for my registration sticker even though I know right where they are! It actually made it a bit of a challenge to put the sticker on while being sure that I wasn't attaching it to the film itself.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 808
Likes: 2
I think it depend on whether you like the look of tint, and how much heat and light reduction you want.
I don't like the tinted look so i never tint my weekend cars. For my family cars, i usually do 50% because it doesn't look dark at all, but still blocks enough heat and sun to keep the kids comfortable.
But if you like the look of tint, and don't care about the law or live in state with lax laws, i would do 35% or lower since 50% is pretty light IMO.
I don't like the tinted look so i never tint my weekend cars. For my family cars, i usually do 50% because it doesn't look dark at all, but still blocks enough heat and sun to keep the kids comfortable.
But if you like the look of tint, and don't care about the law or live in state with lax laws, i would do 35% or lower since 50% is pretty light IMO.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,315
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From: Colorado Springs
Since I'm getting a black car, I'm going to wait a bit to see how I like the look without tint (have tinted every other car). Car will not be a DD.